Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.

"ACTORS" is a plural of: actor. |
Date "ACTORS" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1350. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Computing | Actors |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
An actor is a person who acts, or plays a role, in films, television, theater, radio, video games or even on the street. In addition to playing dramatic roles, actors may also sing or dance. A female actor is sometimes called an actress.
See: List of male movie actors , List of female movie actors , List of male theater actors and List of female theater actors
See also: acting
History
In Greek mythology, Actor was the father of Menoetius and Astyoche. He was king of Opus in Locris.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 graphical video games, an actor is a character uncontrolled by the player, except for his mimic and movements. In the computing sense, especially in the Unified Modeling Language, an actor plays a role.
Term
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, the term "actor" is frequently used by some to refer to both men and women, considering the term "actress" to be sexist. However, the term actress is still in widespread use.
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.
See also: gender-specific job title, non-sexist language
Actresses in Male Roles
Women actors sometimes play the roles of prepubescent boys, 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. The role of 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.
Acting awards
See also: stunt work, actors' hobbies and other careers
- Oscar Academy Awards (movies)
- Golden Globe Awards (movies)
- Emmy Awards (television)
- Tony Awards (theater)
- European Theatre Awards (theater)
- Laurence Olivier Awards (theater)
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Actor."
Synonym: ACTORSSynonym: Performers. (additional references) |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | Audiences don't know somebody sits down and writes a picture; they think the actors make it up as they go along (Sunset Blvd.; writing credit: Charles Brackett) One of the great American actors of the 20th century (Being John Malkovich; writing credit: Charlie Kaufman) And I love actors, all actors (Mulholland Dr.; writing credit: David Lynch) If we could just get rid of these actors and directors, maybe we've got something here (The Player; writing credit: Michael Tolkin) It will be Terry's job to give the actors their hand cue. (Wayne's World; writing credit: Mike Myers) | |
Lyrics | Dead actors fakin' lines (Hemorrhage (in my hands); performing artist: Fuel) Actors took their (Carnival; performing artist: Natalie Merchant) | |
Movie/TV Titles | Actors and Sin (1952) Screen Actors (1950) The Hungry Actors (1915) Some Actors (1915) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
Books |
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Periodicals |
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Theater & Movies | |||
Music |
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Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
![]() | Still photograph from first on-screen kiss between movie actors May Irwin and John C. Rice from the film "The Kiss", 1896. Credit: Library of Congress. | ![]() | U.S.S. Maine, the actors. Credit: Library of Congress. |
![]() | Shakespearean players. Group of actors on stage I. Credit: Library of Congress. | ![]() | Electric Institute of Washington, Potomac Electric Power Co. Building. Actors at Electric Institute I. Credit: Library of Congress. |
![]() | John Drew, Al Jolson and other prominent actors with President and Mrs. Coolidge. Credit: Library of Congress. | ![]() | Actors Pauline Lord, Lenore Ulric, Alfred Lunt, and Louis Wolheim. Credit: Library of Congress. |
![]() | The new 8 bells the famous Brothers Byrne in the everlasting success : the world's greatest acrobatic actors. Credit: Library of Congress. | ||
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
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| "Time travel" by Loretta Humble Commentary: "Civil War actors pitch their tents around a space exhibit at Navarro College, Corsicana, TX." |
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers. |
| Author | Quotation |
Henri Frederic Amiel | We become actors without realizing it, and actors without wanting to. |
William Hazlitt | Actors are the only honest hypocrites. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Title | Author | Quote |
Les Miserables | Hugo, Victor | They had a company of actors of darkness at the disposition of every cavernous tragedy |
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man | Joyce, James | It seemed now to play itself, he and his fellow actors aiding it with their parts |
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead | Tom Stoppard | We're actors! We're the opposite of people |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | Lawyers, teachers, clergy, cheerleaders, and professional voice users such as singers and actors often develop these types of voice disorders. (references) | |
Business | Tight competition exists among many actors in the Intranet services sector. (references) | |
It should be noted that different and distinct actors dominate each segment of wireless communication market. (references) | ||
Due to the limited number of actors in the industry and the fact that almost all of them participate in the trade fairs this approach ensures a rapid and effective exposure to the potential customers. (references) | ||
Children | Bosnia and Herzegovina | After anti-integration riots, often instigated by parents or outside political actors, disrupted the 2000-01 academic year, the District government insisted on starting the 2001-02 school year with integrated schools. (references) |
Civil Liberties | United Kingdom | The Government at all levels generally protects this right in full and does not tolerate its abuse, either by governmental or private actors. (references) |
Turkey | In October Kurdish writer Mehmet Uzun's book "Creating a Language" was confiscated by the Istanbul SSC on the grounds that it "incited hatred and enmity." In April a court acquitted Uzun of charges of "assisting illegal organizations" (the PKK) for his book "Brightness Like Love, Darkness Like Death." A group of human rights activists, actors, journalists, and academicians have mounted a series of challenges to existing legal restrictions on expression by republishing banned articles and signing their names as the "publishers." In September a military court acquitted 16 members of this group of charges that they "turned persons away from military service", but at year's end they still faced charges at the Istanbul SSC. In October another group of 65 activists published a new "Freedom of Thought" booklet and began their trial at the Istanbul SSC on charges of supporting illegal organizations and spreading separatism. (references) | |
Economic History | Colombia | It is estimated that there are fewer than fifty thousand lawless actors. (references) |
Morocco | The Tourism Federation, grouping private actors in the tourism industry has elaborated and submitted to the government an ambitious plan called the Framework Agreement (Contract-Program). (references) | |
Russia | However, the sector remains characterized by a lack of transparency, judicial uncertainty, and extensive influence by Russian oil and gas firms over the government and other economic actors. (references) | |
Human Rights | Guatemala | There were plausible allegations of politically motivated killings by nonstate actors during the year, with only limited willingness on the part of prosecutors to investigate such murders. (references) |
Nicaragua | Specifically, the reform transferred powers from the National Attorney General to a newly created State Defense Attorney's Office, which is charged with defending the Government against legal action taken by private or other public actors. (references) | |
Political Economy | MALAYSIA | Advertising: Foreign film footage is restricted to 20 percent per commercial, and only Malaysian actors may be used. (references) |
Political Rights | Congo | The President convenes the Interim National Legislature, the CNT. The CNT was elected at the 1998 national reconciliation forum, which included some representatives of opposition political parties and nongovernmental actors; however, the event was orchestrated by the executive branch and did not constitute a sufficiently broad-based forum from which to elect a genuinely representative legislature. (references) |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| Speaker | Phrase(s) |
Brad Silberling | Well, I think what she felt was chemistry, and that there is incredible chemistry between, certainly, Susan Sarandon and Jake Gyllenhaal and all the actors. |
Celine Dion | I'm trying to. Every time I get back into my emotion and I'm trying to bring as much emotion as possible into the microphone and for the people to receive it. I do my best every time to get into it. We're like actors, singers are like actors. |
Julianne Moore | I love actors and I love talking with them before the take and when they say cut, I keep talking. |
Pierce Brosnan | Oh, sure, there is nothing you can do about that. And so it should be. But Bruce Beresford was fantastic. He's just very masterful with actors, and it was a great ensemble cast. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| "ACTORS" is generally used as a noun (plural) -- approximately 98.51% of the time. "ACTORS" is used about 1,610 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Noun (plural) | 98.51% | 1,586 | 5,219 |
| Noun (proper) | 1.49% | 24 | 71,196 |
| Total | 100.00% | 1,610 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| Hypenated Usage | |
Ending with "ACTORS": non-actors. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day |
20locations.htm actors.castnet.net breakdown ml multiple | 17 |
actors.castnet.net breakdown | 4 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Language | Translations for "ACTORS"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Chinese | 演员 (Actor). (various references) | |
Danish | trup af unge skuespillere (troupe of young actors). (various references) | |
Dutch | jeugdtheater (troupe of young actors), jeugdteater (troupe of young actors). (various references) | |
French | troupe de jeunes acteurs (troupe of young actors), Fédération internationale des acteurs (International Federation of Actors). (various references) | |
German | Schauspieler (actor, comedian, comedians, performer, play actor, player). (various references) | |
Greek | θίασος νέων ηθοποιών (troupe of young actors). (various references) | |
Italian | attori. (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | 河原者 (unflattering term for actors), 河原乞食 (unflattering term for actors), 殺陣師 (man who teaches actors or actresses how to use swords). (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | たてし (man who teaches actors or actresses how to use swords), かわらこじき (unflattering term for actors), かわらもの (unflattering term for actors). (various references) | |
Korean | 배우 (Actor). (various references) | |
Pig Latin | actorsay.(various references) | |
Portuguese | grupo de jovens actores (troupe of young actors), Federação Internacional dos Actores (International Federation of Actors). (various references) | |
Spanish | los actores. (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | catervam. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words ending with "ACTORS": abstractors, attractors, benefactors, bioreactors, chiropractors, coactors, cofactors, compactors, contractors, detractors, enactors, exactors, extractors, factors, hyperreactors, impactors, malefactors, nonactors, nonfactors, nonreactors, protractors, reactors, redactors, refractors, retractors, subcontractors, tractors, transactors, varactors. (additional references) | |
Words containing "ACTORS": factorship, factorships. (additional references) | |
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"ACTORS" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: acorss, acrorst, actas, acters, actort, actos, Actron, acwos, Aitor, arctos, Astros, ator, atory, attorns, auctor, Autores, catori, lctors. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "ACTORS" (pronounced a"kterz) |
| 5 | a" k t er z | detractors, factors, reactors, refractors, tractors. |
| 4 | -k t er z | abductors, connectors, constrictors, constructors, contractors, benefactors, characters, chiropractors, collectors, conductors, defectors, detectors, directors, doctors, electors, injectors, inspectors, instructors, malefactors, objectors, predictors, proctors, projectors, prospectors, protectors, sectors, semiconductors, subcontractors, superconductors, vectors, victors. |
| 3 | -t er z | accelerometers, accumulators, actuators, adapters, adjusters, administers, administrators, agitators, alligators, allocators, altars, alters, ammeters, amphitheaters, ancestors, animators, anteaters, applicators, appropriators, arbiters, arbitrators, asters, auditors, aviators, conservators, consolidators, conspirators, contributors, converters, coordinators, copywriters, babysitters, backwaters, barometers, barristers, batters, beaters, betters, bettors, bitters, blisters, blockbusters, boaters, bolsters, boosters, broadcasters, burgomasters, busters, butters, calculators, canisters, cannisters, capacitors, captors, carburetors, carpenters, carters, casters, caters, catheters, centers, centimeters, centres, chapters, charters, cheaters, cloisters, clusters, coasters, cogenerators, collaborators, comforters, commentators, communicators, commuters, competitors, computers, counterfeiters, counters, covenanters, craters, creators, creditors, critters, curators, cutters, daughters, debaters, debtors, decorators, defaulters, defibrillators, demonstrators, depositors, deserters, detonators, dictators, dieters, disasters, discounters, dissenters, distributors, dosimeters, doubters, drafters, drifters, dumpsters, dusters, eaters, editors, educators, elaters, elevators, enchanters, encounters, enters, escalators, esters, estimators, excavators, executors, exhibitors, experimenters, exporters, exterminators, fabricators, facilitators, falters, fetters, fighters, filibusters, filters, firefighters, floaters, floodwaters, flutters, forecasters, foresters, fosters, frankfurters, freighters, gangbusters, gangsters, garters, gators, generators, getters, gladiators, glitters, granddaughters, grantors, gunfighters, gutters, halters, hamsters, harvesters, haters, headhunters, headquarters, headwaters, heaters, helicopters, hindquarters, hitters, hooters, hucksters, hunters, illustrators, imitators, impersonators, importers, impostors, incinerators, incubators, indicators, infiltrators, inhibitors, initiators, innovators, inquisitors, instigators, insulators, integrators, interceptors, interlocutors, interpreters, interrogators, inventors, investigators, investors, irrigators, janitors, jitters, kilometers, lamplighters, legislators, letters, lifters, lighters, linters, liquidators, liters, litigators, litters, lobsters, looters, magnetometers, manipulators, marketers, martyrs, masters, matters, mediators, mentors, meters, microcomputers, microliters, milliliters, millimeters, minicomputers, ministers, misters, mobsters, moderators, molesters, monitors, monsters, mortars, motors, musters, mutters, narrators, navigators, negotiators, nesters, newscasters, newsletters, odometers, oldsters, operators, orators, orbiters, originators, oscillators, otters, overnighters, oysters, painters, parameters, pastors, perimeters, perpetrators, persecutors, Peters, picketers, pilasters, planters, plasters, platters, plotters, pointers, pollsters, polluters, polyesters, porters, posters, postmasters, potters, predators, presenters, printers, promoters, proprietors, prosecutors, protesters, protestors, psalters, putters, quarters, quilters, quitters, radiators, rafters, raptors, raters, realtors, receptors, recruiters, refrigerators, registers, regulators, rehabilitators, renovators, renters, repeaters, reporters, resistors, respirators, rioters, roasters, roosters, rooters, rosters, rotors, Salters, scooters, scouters, screenwriters, scriptwriters, sculptors, seedeaters, semesters, senators, sequesters, sequiturs, setters, sharpshooters, shatters, shelters, shooters, shoplifters, shutters, shysters, simulators, sisters, sitters, skaters, skeeters, skywriters, slaughters, smelters, solicitors, songwriters, sorters, spatters, spectators, speculators, speechwriters, sportscasters, sportswriters, spotters, sprinters, sputters, squatters, starters, staters, stentors, stepdaughters, stepsisters, stimulators, stonecutters, stutters, suitors, supercomputers, superminicomputers, supporters, sweaters, syndicators, tartars, tasters, tatars, tatters, teamsters, teeters, telecommuters, telemarketers, testers, theaters, theatres, thermometers, thrusters, toasters, tormentors, traitors, transistors, translators, transmitters, transporters, treaters, tricksters, tutors, twisters, typewriters, underwriters, utters, Venters, violators, visitors, voters, waiters, wasters, waters, weightlifters, wildcatters, winters, writers, yachters, youngsters. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
Direct Anagrams: castor, costar, scrota, tarocs. | |
| Words within the letters "a-c-o-r-s-t" | |
-1 letter: actor, ascot, carts, coast, coats, costa, orcas, ratos, roast, rotas, scart, tacos, taroc, taros, toras, torcs. | |
-2 letters: acts, arco, arcs, arts, cars, cart, cast, cats, coat, cors, cost, cots, oars, oast, oats, ocas, orca, orcs, orts, osar, rato, rats, rocs, rota, rots, scar, scat, scot, soar, sora, sort, star, stoa, taco, taos. | |
| Words containing the letters "a-c-o-r-s-t" | |
+1 letter: cantors, captors, carrots, cartons, castors, cavorts, coaster, coaters, contras, costard, costars, cottars, cratons, factors, ostraca, oxcarts, scrotal, surcoat, trocars, turacos. | |
+2 letters: acrobats, acrostic, acrotism, actorish, ancestor, aoristic, apricots, cabestro, cabresto, caltrops, carotids, carotins, carports, cartoons, castrato, chantors, chariots, citators, coactors, coarsest, coasters, comparts, congrats, contrast, copastor, corantos, costards, costmary, courants, creators, cryostat, curators, dogcarts, ectosarc, enactors, escargot, exactors, forecast, haricots, locaters, locators, orgastic, ostracod, ostracon, outraces, overacts, overcast, piscator, postcard, postrace, reactors, redcoats, ricottas, sectoral, stockcar, surcoats, thoraces, touracos, tractors, trochars, turacous. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Modern | 5. Usage: Commercial 6. Images: Slideshow 7. Images: Photo Album 8. Images: Digital Art | 9. Quotations: Familiar 10. Quotations: Fiction 11. Quotations: Non-fiction 12. Quotations: Spoken | 13. Usage Frequency 14. Expressions 15. Expressions: Internet 16. Translations: Modern | 17. Translations: Ancient 18. Derivations 19. Rhymes 20. Anagrams | 21. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.