Actors & Actresses

An actor is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is ὑποκριτής (hupokritḗs), literally "one who answers".

The actor's interpretation of their role—the art of acting—pertains to the role played, whether based on a real person or fictional character. This can also be considered an "actor's role," which was called this due to scrolls being used in the theaters. Interpretation occurs even when the actor is "playing themselves", as in some forms of experimental performance art.

Formerly, in ancient Greece and Rome, the medieval world, and the time of William Shakespeare, only men could become actors, and women's roles were generally played by men or boys.

While Ancient Rome did allow female stage performers, only a small minority of them were given speaking parts. The commedia dell’arte of Italy, however, allowed professional women to perform early on: Lucrezia Di Siena, whose name is on a contract of actors from 10 October 1564, has been referred to as the first Italian actress known by name, with Vincenza Armani and Barbara Flaminia as the first primadonnas and the first well-documented actresses in Italy (and in Europe). After the English Restoration of 1660, women began to appear onstage in England. In modern times, particularly in pantomime and some operas, women occasionally play the roles of boys or young men.

Japanese Actors

Hiroshi Abe Tadanobu Asano Sonny Chiba Shintaro Katsu Takeshi Kitano
Tatsuya Nakadai Joe Shishido Bunta Sugawara Susumu Fujita Toshiro Mifune


Western Actors

Christian Bale Benicio Del Toro James Stewart Timothy Dalton George Clooney
Robert De Niro Johnny Depp Samuel L. Jackson Steve McQueen Jared Leto
Al Pacino Brad Pitt Arnold Schwarzenegger Bruce Willis Kevin Costner
Elvis Presley Bruce Lee Jackie Chan Clint Eastwood James Dean

 

Female Actresses

Audrey Hepburn Elizabeth Taylor Sophia Loren Jane Russell Marilyn Monroe
Meiko Kaji Uma Thurman Grace Kelly Demi Moore Judy Garland
Julie Andrews Brigitte Bardot Rita Hayworth Doris Day Katharine Hepburn