Actress

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈaktɹəs/, /ˈaktɹɪs/
• US IPA: /ˈæktɹəs/

Alternative forms

• actoress

Origin

From actor + -ess.

Full definition of actress

Noun

1. (now rare) A female doer or "actor" (in a general sense). from 16th c.
• 1796, Matthew Lewis, The Monk, Folio Society 1985, p. 290:My mental anguish, and the dreadful scenes in which I had been an actress, advanced the period of my labour.
2. A female actor on the stage or in films. from 17th c.
• 2011, "Not going quietly", The Economist, 27 Jan 2011:Court documents appear to show that Ian Edmondson, a senior News of the World journalist, had authorised Mr Mulcaire to hack phones belonging to Sienna Miller, an actress.

Usage notes

Actor may also be used to refer to a female player.

Anagrams

• casters
• recasts