actor

ac·tor  (ktr)

n.

1. A theatrical performer.

2. One who takes part; a participant: "France, Britain . . . and any other external actors now involved . . . in the affairs of the continent" (Helen Kitchen).

3. Law One, such as the manager of a business, who acts for another.

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[Middle English actour, doer, probably from Latin ctor, from ctus, past participle of agere, to drive, do; see ag- in Indo-European roots.]

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actor or fem actress

Noun

a person who acts in a play, film, or broadcast

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	actor - a theatrical performer               histrion, thespian, role player, player actress - a female actor barnstormer, play-actor, playactor, trouper - an actor who travels around the country presenting plays character actor - an actor who specializes in playing supporting roles comedian - an actor in a comedy ham actor, ham - an unskilled actor who overacts heavy - an actor who plays villainous roles ingenue - an actress who specializes in playing the role of an artless innocent young girl leading man - actor who plays the leading male role mime, mimer, mummer, pantomimer, pantomimist - an actor who communicates entirely by gesture and facial expression performer, performing artist - an entertainer who performs a dramatic or musical work for an audience plant - an actor situated in the audience whose acting is rehearsed but seems spontaneous to the audience reenactor - a person who enacts a role in an event that occurred earlier scene-stealer - an actor who draws more attention than other actors in the same scene; "babies are natural scene-stealers" movie actor, screen actor - an actor who plays a role in a film principal, star, lead - an actor who plays a principal role extra, spear carrier, supernumerary - a minor actor in crowd scenes tragedian - an actor who specializes in tragic roles understudy, standby - an actor able to replace a regular performer when required upstager - a selfish actor who upstages the other actors walk-on - plays a small part in a dramatic production
	2.	actor - a person who acts and gets things done; "he's a principal actor in this affair"; "when you want something done get a doer"; "he's a miracle worker" doer, worker individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do" demon - someone extremely diligent or skillful; "he worked like a demon to finish the job on time"; "she's a demon at math" busy bee, eager beaver, live wire, sharpie, sharpy - an alert and energetic person animator, energiser, energizer, vitaliser, vitalizer - someone who imparts energy and vitality and spirit to other people go-getter, whiz-kid, whizz-kid, ball of fire - someone whose career progresses rapidly man of action, man of deeds - someone inclined to act first and think later ball of fire, human dynamo, powerhouse, fireball - a highly energetic and indefatigable person

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actor or actress

noun performer, player, artiste, leading man or lady, Thespian, luvvie (informal) trouper, thesp (informal) play-actor, dramatic artist, tragedian or tragedienne

USAGE The use of actress is now very much on the decline, and women who work in the profession invariably prefer to be referred to as actors.

Translations

actor [ˈæktəʳ] n → actor m

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actor [ˈæktəʳ] n → acteur m

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actor [ˈæktəʳ] n → Schauspieler m

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actor [ˈæktəʳ] n → attore m

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actor, actress act