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

One eccentric grandmother had been a regional stage actress and was a painter who slept all day and painted at night; the other was an interior designer.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created,” Dern wrote.

Read more on Salon

“She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created,” “Marriage Story” star Dern said in her statement.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"She was the greatest daughter, mother, grandmother, actress, artist and empathetic spirit that only dreams could have seemingly created," Dern said.

Read more on BBC

After Baldoni's case was dismissed in June, the actress's lawyers called it "a total victory and a complete vindication".

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Related Words

• diva 
• leading lady 
• starlet