People who perform in plays, movies, or shows, or people who take action in a situation.
From Latin 'actor,' meaning 'one who does or acts,' from 'agere' 'to do.' Originally, an actor was simply someone who performed an action, then specialized to theatrical performance.
In science and history, we still use 'actor' to mean someone who makes things happen—like 'political actors' or 'social actors'—showing the word's original meaning of 'someone who acts' rather than just 'stage performer.'
Historically, 'actor' was male-only; female performers were 'actresses.' This gendered distinction reinforced theater as a male-dominated profession and treated women as a separate category.
Use 'actor' for all performers regardless of gender. 'Actress' remains acceptable if a person self-identifies with it, but default to gender-neutral.
["performer","artist"]
Women performers fought for decades to claim 'actor' as their professional title; many major award ceremonies now use 'actor' for all nominees.
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