2006-11-03 21:57:31 · 13 answers · asked by sea_beach_boy4u 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
Some actresses won't accept the word actress as they think it is sexist, until they get the "Best Actress" Oscar; that they will accept.
2006-11-03 22:11:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The two words can be used interchangably. Most people I know use the word actor unless it's important to clarify that the actor in question is a woman.
Sigourney Weaver once said a great thing about it: "I am an actor. An actress is someone who wears a feather boa."
She sort of has a point - there are a lot of actresses out there who don't want to be mistaken for a starlet. It's the difference between Kate Winslet and Paris Hilton.
Do you call a female doctor a doctress? Lawyer a lawyress? Firewoman? Singress? Teachress? Why does there need to be a separate word?
2006-11-04 09:05:27 · answer #2 · answered by nomadgirl1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a friend that adamantly uses the word 'actor' instead of 'actress' because he says 'actress' once meant 'little actor,' not necessarily 'a female who acts.' I think that's a little ridiculous. 'Waitress' means 'little waiter' and so on. I don't think that's true. Many languages have gender endings, and this is just an example of that.
The meanings of words change over the time, and currently there is a conscious effort to wipe out this word and do away with any English gender delineations. I don't see why it's necessary. Whether or not what they are called, they are still 'women who act.' A word is arbitrary.
2006-11-04 06:35:16 · answer #3 · answered by mellotron12 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's because 'actress' is considered nowadays to be a little sexist; after all, if a female is in the acting profession, she is an actor, at least by 21st century standards....as in, a waitperson (what a stupid word!!) is a waiter, whether male or female..same thinking, I guess!!
2006-11-04 06:02:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A well known actress was interviewed on a talk show and she was asked about being an actress, and she said: Actresses are concerned with their lipstick, actors are concerned with their acting.
2006-11-07 01:14:48 · answer #5 · answered by newyorkgal71 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I missed the question in this, but will still try and answer it. I usually refer to a group of mixed gendered acting people as actors, but if it is just girls I will try and call them actresses!
2006-11-04 12:14:17 · answer #6 · answered by Alex 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My friends and I use actor. I call myself and actor, and I'm female. IT's almost as if you can use both, unless you are looking for a specific gender
2006-11-04 07:59:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because 'actor' is a common noun and can be used for both male and a female personality. Hope u r satisfied with my answer!
2006-11-04 06:08:40 · answer #8 · answered by saanchkpr 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ya, and how did the word troop which means a group of people end up being used for one soldier these days? The media always says that and it irks me.
2006-11-04 06:01:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think it goes back to the women's liberation movement.Equal pay, equal work, same job title.
2006-11-04 06:08:16 · answer #10 · answered by Pat C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋