Leading actor: Difference between revisions
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A '''leading actor''', '''leading actress''', or simply '''lead''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|iː|d}}), plays the role of the [[protagonist]] of a film, television show or play.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/lead_10 |title=lead noun (ACTOR) - definition in the British English Dictionary & Thesaurus - Cambridge Dictionaries Online |publisher=Dictionary.cambridge.org |date=2014-04-28 |accessdate=2014-05-15}}</ref> The word ''lead'' may also refer to the largest role in the piece and ''leading actor'' may refer to a person who typically plays such parts or an actor with a respected body of work. Some [[actor]]s are [[typecasting (acting)|typecast]] as leads, but most play the lead in some performances and [[supporting actor|supporting]] or [[character actor|character]] roles in others. |
A '''leading actor''', '''leading actress''', or simply '''lead''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|iː|d}}), plays the role of the [[protagonist]] of a film, television show or play.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/lead_10 |title=lead noun (ACTOR) - definition in the British English Dictionary & Thesaurus - Cambridge Dictionaries Online |publisher=Dictionary.cambridge.org |date=2014-04-28 |accessdate=2014-05-15}}</ref> The word ''lead'' may also refer to the largest role in the piece and ''leading actor'' may refer to a person who typically plays such parts or an actor with a respected body of work. Some [[actor]]s are [[typecasting (acting)|typecast]] as leads, but most play the lead in some performances and [[supporting actor|supporting]] or [[character actor|character]] roles in others. |
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Sometimes there is more than one significant leading role in a dramatic piece, and the actors are said to play ''co-leads''; a large [[supporting actor|supporting role]] may be considered a ''secondary lead''. Award nominations for acting often reflect such ambiguities. Thus, sometimes two actors in the same performance piece are nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] or [[Academy Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] -- categories traditionally reserved for leads. For example, in 1935 [[Clark Gable]], [[Charles Laughton]] and [[Franchot Tone]] were each nominated for the Best Actor [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] for ''[[Mutiny on the Bounty (1935 film)|Mutiny on the Bounty]]''. There can even be controversy over whether a particular performance should be nominated in the Best Actor/Actress or |
Sometimes there is more than one significant leading role in a dramatic piece, and the actors are said to play ''co-leads''; a large [[supporting actor|supporting role]] may be considered a ''secondary lead''. Award nominations for acting often reflect such ambiguities. Thus, sometimes two actors in the same performance piece are nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] or [[Academy Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] -- categories traditionally reserved for leads. For example, in 1935 [[Clark Gable]], [[Charles Laughton]] and [[Franchot Tone]] were each nominated for the Best Actor [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] for ''[[Mutiny on the Bounty (1935 film)|Mutiny on the Bounty]]''. There can even be controversy over whether a particular performance should be nominated in the Best Actor/Actress or Best Supporting Actor/Best Supporting Actress|Actress category. |
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A [[title role]] is often but not necessarily the lead. A lead role must also be differentiated from a [[starring role]], which means that an actor is credited as a part of the main cast, but not that he necessarily plays the main character. |
A [[title role]] is often but not necessarily the lead. A lead role must also be differentiated from a [[starring role]], which means that an actor is credited as a part of the main cast, but not that he necessarily plays the main character. |
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Revision as of 01:03, 2 September 2020
A leading actor, leading actress, or simply lead (/ˈliːd/), plays the role of the protagonist of a film, television show or play.[1] The word lead may also refer to the largest role in the piece and leading actor may refer to a person who typically plays such parts or an actor with a respected body of work. Some actors are typecast as leads, but most play the lead in some performances and supporting or character roles in others.
Sometimes there is more than one significant leading role in a dramatic piece, and the actors are said to play co-leads; a large supporting role may be considered a secondary lead. Award nominations for acting often reflect such ambiguities. Thus, sometimes two actors in the same performance piece are nominated for Best Actor or Best Actress -- categories traditionally reserved for leads. For example, in 1935 Clark Gable, Charles Laughton and Franchot Tone were each nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award for Mutiny on the Bounty. There can even be controversy over whether a particular performance should be nominated in the Best Actor/Actress or Best Supporting Actor/Best Supporting Actress|Actress category.
A title role is often but not necessarily the lead. A lead role must also be differentiated from a starring role, which means that an actor is credited as a part of the main cast, but not that he necessarily plays the main character.
See also
References
- ^ "lead noun (ACTOR) - definition in the British English Dictionary & Thesaurus - Cambridge Dictionaries Online". Dictionary.cambridge.org. 2014-04-28. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
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