actress

actress — noun

1. a woman whose job is to act in plays, films, or television shows by taking on th

1.nounA1
Definition

a woman whose job is to act in plays, films, or television shows by taking on the role of a character.

Example

Leila has wanted to be an actress since she played Juliet in high school.

be + an actress for stating a profession or ambition

The lead actress thanked her parents during her acceptance speech at the awards.

collocation: lead actress

Common collocations
  • lead actress
  • famous actress
  • stage actress
  • young actress
  • talented actress
  • best actress (award)
Synonyms
  • actor

    increasingly used for women too; gender-neutral preference in modern usage

  • performer

    broader; covers singers, dancers, comedians as well as actors

  • star

    informal; implies fame, not just the profession

  • leading lady

    old-fashioned; specifically the main female role in a film or play

Antonyms
  • actor

    when 'actor' is used in the male-only sense, contrasted with 'actress'

Grammar Patterns

a/an + actress

[adjective] + actress

Usage Note

Many people now prefer 'actor' for women as well as men, treating it as a gender-neutral term. 'Actress' remains common in award names (Best Actress) and journalism, but feels old-fashioned to some speakers.

Common Mistakes

He is a famous actress in Korea.
He is a famous actor in Korea.
'actress' refers only to a woman; use 'actor' for a man.
She works as actress.
She works as an actress.
countable noun, so it needs an article.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words name someone who appears in front of an audience, but they differ in scope and modern feel. 'Actress' specifically means a woman who acts in plays, films, or TV; some readers now find the word old-fashioned and use 'actor' for any gender. 'Actor' is the gender-neutral choice in most modern writing, though awards like 'Best Actress' still keep the gendered form. 'Performer' is broader — it includes singers, dancers, magicians, and comedians, not just people who play characters. 'Star' is informal and focuses on fame rather than the job itself, so a beginner in a school play is an actor or actress but not yet a star. Compare: 'She is a stage actress' (her profession), 'She is a brilliant performer' (any kind of show), 'She is a Hollywood star' (famous in films).

actress ↗actor ↗performer ↗star ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • actress role
  • actress career

Phrases

  • aspiring actress
  • supporting actress
  • Academy Award for Best Actress

Prepositions

  • actress in [a film/play]
  • actress from [country/city]

Etymology

LatinLate LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Formed in English in the late 1500s by adding the feminine ending '-ess' to 'actor', which came from Latin 'actor' meaning 'doer' or 'performer' (from 'agere', to do or drive). The '-ess' ending itself travelled into English through Old French from Late Latin '-issa'. The word became common in the 1700s once women were allowed on the English stage; before that, female roles were played by boys.