While Welch took the surname of her first husband, James Welch, to whom she was married from 1959 to 1964, she refused to get rid of Raquel — the Spanish variant of Rachel.

While Welch took the surname of her first husband, James Welch, to whom she was married from 1959 to 1964, she refused to get rid of Raquel — the Spanish variant of Rachel.

They wanted to change her first name from Raquel to, I think, Debbie Welch. Very much in the Sandra Dee, Doris Day tradition, you know. But she refused.” ...

Raquel Welch was encouraged by people in Hollywood to downplay her Hispanic roots. The actress - who passed away in February 2023, aged 82 - is the focus of a new CW documentary, titled 'I am ...