News | Entertainment
26 Dec 2025 19:57
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Chase Infiniti was named after characters in Batman Forever and Toy Story

    The 25-year-old One Battle After Another star, whose full name is Chase Infiniti Payne, has revealed her parents chose her unusual moniker by taking inspiration from movies - naming her after Nicole Kidman's character in 1995 superhero film Batman Forever while her middle name is inspired by Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear and his iconic catchphrase.


    She told the Guardian newspaper: "I love explaining it! I love my parents very much, and they spent a lot of time on my name.

    "My first name comes from Batman Forever - I'm named after Nicole Kidman's character Chase Meridian.

    "And then my middle name, because Infiniti is my middle name, that comes from Toy Story, when Buzz Lightyear says: 'To infinity and beyond.'

    "My parents definitely love the movies."

    Chase kicked off her career with a role in Apple TV Plus drama series Presumed Innocent before landing a part in Paul Thomas Anderson's movie One Battle After another playing Leonardo DiCaprio's onscreen daughter - and she's revealed she "freaked out" when she was told she would be auditioning with the actor.

    She added to the publication: "I was definitely freaking out the first time that they told me. And I called my parents right away, and I was like: 'Mom, I'm about to meet Leo DiCaprio and Regina Hall tomorrow.'

    "So they were freaking out too, even more than me. Once I got there, on the day, I was like: 'OK, I came here to do my job, and I'm gonna make sure that I'm doing right by myself and my scene partners.'

    "Standing in front of DiCaprio, the facade kind of fades the second that they call 'Action'. Also he's such a kind person, and really funny. So even the first time I met him, it was really easy to drop in from the start."

    Chase explained the audition process was long and tough as she spent six months going through the process and even taking karate classes to win the role of Willa Ferguson.

    She said: " I did six months of auditioning for the film while I was working on my first project, Presumed Innocent ... I had in-person auditioning, callbacks, chemistry reads and camera tests, and then I had four days of intensive karate training, private lessons and group classes.

    "Paul came to watch the final one, and then after that, he told me I'd got the part."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     26 Dec: Kate Winslet thinks Brits often struggle "talking about grief"
     26 Dec: Paul Rudd lied about playing Hamlet "in a production directed by Sir Ben Kingsley" at the beginning of his career
     26 Dec: Erika Jayne's style is an "S+M chic kind of vibe"
     26 Dec: Anthony Joshua believes his boxing career has suffered because he has been "distracted" by things outside of the sport in recent years
     26 Dec: James Van Der Beek's gaunt appearance during the Dawson's Creek reunion was due to a stomach virus - and not related to his cancer battle
     26 Dec: Tom Brady would be ready to play if he made a second comeback to the NFL
     26 Dec: Kourtney Kardashian hasn't had Botox injections in four years
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Blues recruit Pita Ahki feels he's wiser and more experienced for his time in the Northern Hemisphere More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Some good news on the horizon for cattle and sheep farmers More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Kate Winslet thinks Brits often struggle "talking about grief" 19:50

    Entertainment:
    Paul Rudd lied about playing Hamlet "in a production directed by Sir Ben Kingsley" at the beginning of his career 19:20

    Living & Travel:
    The Coastguard's expecting a busy summer on the water, and urges people to prioritise key safety steps before heading out 18:56

    Entertainment:
    Erika Jayne's style is an "S+M chic kind of vibe" 18:50

    Boxing:
    The series may be gone but the England cricketers seemingly don't care, as they ripped through the Australian batters before tea in the Boxing Day test 18:37

    Entertainment:
    Anthony Joshua believes his boxing career has suffered because he has been "distracted" by things outside of the sport in recent years 18:20

    Motoring:
    Following in Hayden Paddon's tyre tracks on the World Rally Championship is the end goal for New Zealand-born Japanese rally driver Zeal Jones 18:07

    Entertainment:
    James Van Der Beek's gaunt appearance during the Dawson's Creek reunion was due to a stomach virus - and not related to his cancer battle 17:50

    Rugby:
    Blues recruit Pita Ahki feels he's wiser and more experienced for his time in the Northern Hemisphere 17:27

    Rugby:
    An unexpected farewell from his French legion of fans was a special moment to Pita Ahki  17:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd