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Actor




An actor or actress is a person that performs in films, television, theater,
radio, video games or even on the street.

The first recorded case of an actor performing took place in 534 B.C.
(probably on November 23rd, though the changes in calendar over the years
make it hard to determine exactly) when the Greek performer Thespus stepped
on to the stage at the Theatre Dionysus and became the first person to speak
words as a character in a play. Prior to that, stories were told in song and
dance and in third person narrative, but no one had assumed the role of a
character in a story. In reverence to Thespus, actors are formally referred
to as thespians. Theatrical myth to this day maintains that Thespus exists
as a mischeivious spirit, and disasters in the theatre are sometimes blamed
on his ghostly intervention.

In the past, the term "actor" was restricted to men. Women did not begin
performing until the 17th century. When they did the term "actress" was
used. In the ancient and medieval world, it was considered disgraceful for a
woman to go on the stage, and this belief continued right up until the 17th
century, when in Venice it was broken. In the time of William Shakespeare,
women's roles were played by men or boys, though there is some evidence to
suggest that women disguised as men also (illegally) performed.

Today "actor" is frequently used to refer to both men and women, although
the older terminology is still in common usage, notably in the titles of
awards within the industry. See also: gender-specific job title, non-sexist
language.

An actor usually plays a fictional character . In the case of a true story
(or a fictional story that involves a real person) he or she may play a real
person (or a fictional version of the same), possibly him- or herself.

In the case where an adult actor is used to play a prepubescent boy this is
sometimes a woman because in some regards a woman has a closer resemblance
to a boy than a man. An adult playing a child occurs more in theater than in
film. Peter Pan, for example, is traditionally played by a woman. The
tradition of the principal boy in pantomime may be compared.

Mary Pickford played the part of Little Lord Fauntleroy in the first film
version of the book. Linda Hunt won an Academy Award for Best Supporting
Actress in The Year of Living Dangerously, in which she played the part of a man.

Having an actor play the opposite sex for comic effect is also a long
standing tradition in comic theatre and film. Most of Shakespeare's comedies
include instances of cross dressing, and both Dustin Hoffman and Robin
Williams appeared in hit comedy films where they were required to play most
scenes dressed as women.

Index of actor biographies

     List of male actors
     List of female actors

     Actors' hobbies and other careers

Acting Awards

     European Theatre Award
     Laurence Olivier Awards (United Kingdom)
     Tony Award (USA)
     Academy Award


In Greek mythology, Actor was the father of Menoetius and Astyoche. He was
King of Opus in Locris.

In graphical Video Games an actor is a character uncontrolled by the player.

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