A star was born, a whirlwind celebrity marriage ended and a city officially changed its name… here are some of the most interesting things that have happened on this day in history
Lady Gaga was born
Year: 1986
It's almost impossible not to have heard about Stefani Germanotta, professionally known as Lady Gaga, who rose to fame thanks to chart-topping singles like Just Dance and Poker Face from her debut 2008 album The Fame.
Since then, she has only gone from strength to strength, having released successful albums like Born This Way (2011) and Artpop (2013). Known for her stage presence and eccentric fashion sense (who can forget the meat dress in 2010 that was widely condemned by Peta?), Gaga is just as famous for her on stage persona as she is for her music. She is one of the best-selling artists around the world, having won 11 Grammy Awards.
Meanwhile, her performance in A Star is Born (2018) had her making history once again. She's the first person to win an Academy Award, Grammy, Bafta and Golden Globe in one year for her role in the movie as well as for the movie's soundtrack Shallow. Her birthday on March 28 is a big day for the music industry indeed.
Famed British novelist Virginia Woolf passed away
Year: 1941
She’s widely one of the most influential modernist and feminist writers of the 20th century.
Adeline Virginia Stephen was born in 1882 into an affluent household, but suffered several tragedies growing up, including the early death of her mother in 1895, followed by the death of a half-sister. Despite several hardships, she went on to start Hogarth Press along with her husband Leonard Woolf.
In 1915, she published her first novel The Voyage Out, although she is better known for her works Mrs Dalloway, To the Lighthouse and Orlando. Besides her novels, she is known for her prolific essays on history, women's issues and politics. To this day, she is widely known for changing the role of women in society by questioning their independence.
Woolf battled mental illness throughout her life, with some estimating that she had bipolar disorder. In 1941, she took her own life.
The city of Constantinople officially changed its name
Year: 1930
On March 28, 1930, the city of Constantinople officially requested all countries only refer to it as Istanbul.
In the past, the city has been a gateway between the east and the west thanks to its strategic location. Ancient Greeks called the settlement Lygos, while the city has also been known as Byzantium. When Emperor Constantine made it the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, he renamed it Constantinople, after himself. However, with the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1923, the Republic of Turkey looked to standardise the name, officially changing it to Istanbul (the word is derived from a Greek phrase meaning “in my city” or “to my city”).
Julia Roberts and Lyle Levitt filed for divorce
Year: 1995
She may have starred in the 1999 hit Runaway Bride but actress Julia Roberts off-screen love life was just as dramatic. The Academy award winning actress was previously engaged to Kiefer Sutherland but ended things three days before their scheduled wedding.
Two years later, she raised eyebrows again when she eloped with singer songwriter Lyle Lovett. Their marriage was widely talked about due to their unlikely pairing, and their short, three-week courtship.
However, like many other celebrity whirlwind relationships, it failed to stand the test of time and, on March 28, Roberts filed for divorce. While no formal reason was given for the split, People Magazine reported that the breakup was due to career demands, and that the duo would continue to remain friends.
Barack Obama launched the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change
Year: 2009
Former US president Barack Obama is famous for making the battle against global warming one of the key priorities of his administration. On March 28, he stood by this goal with the launch of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF).
The aim of the forum was to facilitate a candid dialogue among developed and developing nations, generate the political leadership necessary to achieve a successful outcome at the December UN climate change conference in Copenhagen and advance the exploration of initiatives that increase the supply of clean energy.
