Actress and model Bijou Phillips has formally requested a legal name change for her 11-year-old daughter, Fianna Francis, marking another step in her separation from her ex-husband, actor Danny Masterson. According to court documents, Bijou is seeking to change her daughter’s surname from Masterson to Phillips, effectively severing any remaining public association with Masterson, who is serving a lengthy prison sentence.
Bijou Phillips’ decision comes more than a year after Masterson was convicted on two counts of forcible rape in 2023 and sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. The move signals her intent to protect her daughter’s identity from the lingering public stigma surrounding Masterson’s case. Legal experts note that name change requests of this nature are typically approved when they are deemed to serve the best interest of the child.
The actress’ filing underscores her determination to rebuild her family’s life away from the shadow of her former marriage. Once the judge signs off, Fianna will officially carry her mother’s surname — a symbolic step toward a new chapter for both mother and daughter.
A Long and Difficult Journey
Bijou Phillips and Danny Masterson married in 2011, after several years of dating, and were together for 11 years. Throughout the initial stages of Masterson’s legal troubles, Phillips publicly supported him — even attending court sessions and standing by his side during his first trial. However, after Masterson was convicted in a retrial, Phillips filed for divorce just one week after the sentencing, marking a clear break from her husband’s troubled past.
The couple’s divorce filing cited irreconcilable differences, though the underlying circumstances were widely understood to be tied to Masterson’s criminal conviction. Sources close to Phillips have indicated that she wants to focus entirely on her daughter’s well-being and future, away from the media scrutiny that has followed the case.
Masterson remains incarcerated at North Kern State Prison in Delano, California, where he continues to serve his sentence. His legal team has filed an appeal, but no major developments have emerged.
Moving Forward with a New Partner and a Fresh Start
Since ending her marriage, Bijou Phillips has begun a new relationship with businessman Jamie Mazur, known for his previous engagement to model Alessandra Ambrosio. Friends of the actress describe her as “reclaiming her life” and focusing on creating a stable, positive environment for her daughter.
Bijou Phillips’ choice to change Fianna’s surname not only reflects her emotional and legal separation from Masterson but also her effort to reestablish her family identity under her own name. Observers see it as a definitive step toward healing and closure after years of personal and public turmoil.
While the name change awaits final judicial approval, the move symbolizes the end of a painful chapter and the beginning of a new one — one defined by independence, renewal, and maternal protection.
