actress

American  

[ak-tris] / ˈæk trɪs /

noun

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

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actress British  

/ 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

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Usage

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

Gender

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

Etymology

Origin of actress

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

Example Sentences

The US actress appeared in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical last year, and made headlines for leaving the stage during each performance to perform Don't Cry For Me Argentina to the general public.

From BBC

The actress plays a professor who falls for a new faculty member as her husband becomes mired in scandal in this shaky eight-part series.

From The Wall Street Journal

Byrne, a native of the greater Sydney area, is vying for the best actress Oscar this month for her powerhouse role as an overwhelmed mother in "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You".

From Barron's

Created by López to honor the legendary Mexican American actress, the award is bestowed to a filmmaker whose work amplifies Latino voices.

From Los Angeles Times

“She was beautiful inside and out: a model, actress, producer, animal lover, warm and weird in the best way possible,” writer and friend Merle Ginsberg wrote Sunday on social media.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• diva
• leading lady
• starlet