Actor

An actor is a person who performs or adapts a character within a production. This performance can happen "in the flesh" on a traditional theatre stage. It also occurs through modern media like film, radio, and television.

An actor's work involves the interpretation of a role. A role is the specific character being played, whether it is a fictional person or a real historical figure. Even in experimental performance art, an actor might interpret the role of themselves. This process of interpretation is the core of the craft.

The history of acting traces back to ancient Greece. In 534 BC, a performer named Thespis made a major change to storytelling. Before this, Greek stories were expressed only through song, dance, and third-person narration. Thespis stepped onto the stage at the Theatre Dionysus to speak words as a character. Because of this moment, actors are often called Thespians.

In ancient Greece, actors were exclusively male. They performed in three specific types of drama: tragedy, comedy, and the satyr play. The Romans later expanded these traditions into diverse forms. These included street theatre, acrobatics, and verbally elaborate tragedies.

During the Middle Ages, the status of actors changed significantly. In the Early Middle Ages, traveling troupes were often viewed with distrust. The Church sometimes denounced them as immoral or pagan. In some parts of Europe, actors were even denied Christian burials. However, by the 11th century, churches began staging liturgical dramas. These were dramatized versions of biblical events. By the Late Middle Ages, mystery plays were produced in 127 different towns. These plays used local people as actors to play characters like devils or clowns.

The Renaissance brought new professional styles to Europe. One major tradition was the Italian commedia dell'arte. This was an actor-centered theatre that required very little scenery. Troupes typically consisted of 13 to 14 members. They used loose frameworks to improvise action around stock characters.

While many countries kept acting male-only, Italy allowed professional women early on. Lucrezia Di Siena is noted in a contract from 10 October 1564. She is considered the first known Italian actress by name. Other early well-documented Italian actresses included Vincenza Armani and Barbara Flaminia.

In England, the rules for performers shifted during the 17th century. For a long time, men or boys played all female roles. This changed after the English Restoration in 1660. At this time, women were finally allowed to appear on the English stage in female roles. This period saw the rise of the first professional actresses and celebrity performers.

The 19th century saw a major shift in how society viewed the profession. While some people held negative prejudices against actresses, others became massive stars. Sarah Bernhardt was a notable example of this new era of celebrity. Acting eventually became an honored and popular profession.

As the industry grew, the role of the "actor-manager" emerged. These were individuals who formed their own companies. They controlled the productions, the financing, and the other actors.

Henry Irving was a very successful British actor-manager. He was famous for his Shakespearean roles and his technical innovations. For example, he turned out the house lights to focus attention on the stage. His success helped transition acting into a highly respected social position. By the early 20th century, the economics of large productions began to replace this model.

Terminology in the profession has often been a subject of debate. For much of history, the word "actor" meant anyone who does something. It was not used specifically for theatre performers until the 16th century. The term "actress" became common for women, influenced by the French language. However, since the 1950s and 1960s, many have adopted "actor" as a gender-neutral term. This shift happened as women's contributions to culture came under closer scrutiny. Some performers, like Whoopi Goldberg, argue that "actor" is better because it implies the ability to play any role.

In the United States, the term "player" was common during the silent film era. While it is now considered archaic in film, it is still used in theatre groups and improvisational theatre.