actress

actor. Women who call themselves actors point out that they are members of the U.S. Screen Actors' Guild or British Actors' Equity Association. "Actor" was used for both sexes for about seventy-five years before the appearance of "actress" ("a woman who is an actor"). In addition the binary awards categories "best actor/best actress" reinforce divisive, noninclusive norms for binary and trans actors. Gender-bending actor, writer, producer Ser Anzoategu says, "To place me in the actress category is to make me invisible" ("Don't call me an actress," Los Angeles Times, June 24, 2019). When the Television Academy allowed her to submit in the supporting actor category for the Emmys, she said, "While I am masculine-presenting, that's not the reason I chose this category. I think all performers ought to perform and be recognized under a gender-neutral descriptor, and 'actor' is the closest we have to an umbrella term." Use "actress" for women who so identify themselves. All others are actors. See also feminine word endings.