It came about when I was at drama school. You couldn't have the same name as any other actor - the reason why Richard E Grant has that E. Someone had my real name, the one I was born with. I trawled through some family names, came up with a combination I liked - Sarah Dakin - and asked my tutor what he thought. He said he'd think about it. Weeks later, when I needed to start writing to agents I asked him. He said he liked the name Sarah Duncan. It wasn't what I'd given him, but it seemed OK so I went with it.
When I started writing, it seemed a good idea to carry on using Sarah Duncan, because I was pretty certain the Only Fools and Horses link would get me publicity. Now, everybody knows me by my pseudonym, even me. One of my brothers sent me a card addressed to my real name, not even my married name, and I actually wrote "not known at this address" on the envelope before I clicked.
I sometimes wonder what would happen if someone tried to steal my identity. Which one would it be? The one with credit cards and bank accounts, but no birth certificate? Or the one with the birth certificate but no money to steal? Perhaps I ought to change it by deed-poll, but then why have the hassle? And besides, if I was going to change it officially, I think I'd rather have something a bit more exotic. I've always fancied Laetitia...
