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

The British actress has appeared in two Godzilla films and a Sherlock Holmes spin-off, based on the detective's teenager sister, Enola.

Read more on BBC

It was a big night for Maxwell-Martin, also named best actress for her performance in ITV true crime series Until I Kill You.

Read more on BBC

For her role as a young woman in conflict with her headstrong father in 1985’s “Twice in a Lifetime,” Madigan received an Oscar nomination for supporting actress.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But a rainy weather forecast means the sun's rays will not be able to light the parabolic mirror used by actresses in the garb of ancient priestesses.

Read more on Barron's

Executives said they have made progress with young women—a group that brings with it a lot of purchasing power and loyalty—after launching a product line this year with actress Zendaya.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• diva 
• leading lady 
• starlet