leading lady

American  

[lee-ding] / ˈli dɪŋ /

noun

1. an actress who plays the principal female role in a motion picture or play.

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Etymology

Origin of leading lady

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

And I think, for me as an artist, this will probably be the only time in my life where I get to play a leading lady and a leading man at the same time.

From Los Angeles Times

"I thought I'll get into the back seat beside the son's friend, but oh no the leading lady has to sit in the front seat," she continued.

From BBC

They are handed an envelope from Santa containing a letter from a viewer asking how he can show his "leading lady" he loves her through food.

From BBC

Though Kelly is not nearly as funny as Cameron Diaz in “The Holiday,” she’s a leading lady both radiant and relatable.

From Los Angeles Times

Crawford’s rise from chorus line to leading lady was driven by the actress’s commitment to her movie-star dreams.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• heroine