actress

[ak-tris]

noun

1. a woman who acts in stage plays, motion pictures, television broadcasts, etc., especially professionally.

actress

/ ˈæktrɪs /

noun

1. a woman who acts in a play, film, broadcast, etc

2. informal,  a woman who puts on a false manner in order to deceive others

Usage

Use of the word actress to refer to a female who acts is old-fashioned. The modern gender-neutral form is actor

Gender Note

What's the difference between actress and actor? See -ess.

Word History and Origins

Origin of actress¹

First recorded in 1580–90; act(o)r + -ess

Example Sentences

Keaton received her second nomination for best actress but ultimately did not win.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Diane Keaton’s combination of beauty and kookiness won the actress her only Oscar, but the job was easy: She said the title role in “Annie Hall” was “an affable version of myself.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton, whose emotionally wrenching performances and idiosyncratic personal style made her a touchstone to generations of American women, died in her native California.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The actress, whose Hollywood career spanned more than 50 years, died in California, her family told People magazine.

Read more on BBC

On the latest episode, beloved veteran actress Celia Imrie was seen telling her fellow participants: "People think I'm nice, but I'm not."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• diva 
• leading lady 
• starlet