actress

/ˈæktrəs/

/ˈæktrɛs/

Other forms: actresses

Definitions of actress

1. noun

   a female actor
   examples:

   Lucille Ball

   United States comedienne best known as the star of a popular television program (1911-1989)

   Tallulah Bankhead

   uninhibited United States actress (1903-1968)

   Georgiana Emma Barrymore

   United States actress; daughter of John Drew and wife of Maurice Barrymore; mother of Ethel Barrymore and John Barrymore and Lionel Barrymore (1854-1893)

   Ethel Barrymore

   United States actress; daughter of Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Barrymore (1879-1959)

   Ingrid Bergman

   Swedish film actress (1915-1982)

   Henriette Rosine Bernard

   French actress (1844-1923)

   Shirley Temple Black

   popular child actress of the 1930's (born in 1928)

   Katherine Cornell

   United States actress noted for her performances in Broadway plays (1893-1974)

   Joan Crawford

   United States film actress (1908-1977)

   Bette Davis

   United States film actress (1908-1989)

   Maria Magdalene von Losch

   United States film actress (born in Germany) who made many films with Josef von Sternberg and later was a successful cabaret star (1901-1992)

   Eleonora Duse

   Italian actress best known for her performances in tragic roles (1858-1924)

   Jane Fonda

   United States film actress and daughter of Henry Fonda (born in 1937)

   Lynn Fontanne

   United States actress (born in England) who married Alfred Lunt and performed with him in many plays (1887-1983)

   Greta Louisa Gustafsson

   United States film actress (born in Sweden) known for her reclusiveness (1905-1990)

   Judy Garland

   United States singer and film actress (1922-1969)

   Lillian Gish

   United States film actress who appeared in films by D. W. Griffith (1896-1993)

   Harlean Carpenter

   United States film actress who made several films with Clark Gable (1911-1937)

   Helen Hayes

   acclaimed actress of stage and screen (1900-1993)

   Katharine Houghton Hepburn

   United States film actress who appeared in many films with Spencer Tracy (1907-2003)

   Lena Calhoun Horne

   United States singer and actress (born in 1917)

   Glenda Jackson

   English film actress who later became a member of British Parliament (born in 1936)

   Princess Grace of Monaco

   United States film actress who retired when she married into the royal family of Monaco (1928-1982)

   Emilie Charlotte le Breton

   British actress and mistress of the prince who later became Edward VII (1853-1929)

   Gertrude Lawrence

   English actress (1898-1952)

   Eva Le Gallienne

   United States actress (born in England) (1899-1991)

   Vivien Leigh

   English film actress (1913-1967)

   Beatrice Lillie

   British actress (born in Canada) (1898-1989)

   Sofia Scicolone

   Italian film actress (born in 1934)

   Mary Martin

   United States actress (1913-1990)

   Anna Amalia Mercouri

   Greek film actress (1925-1994)

   Norma Jean Baker

   United States film actress noted for sex appeal (1926-1962)

   Alla Nazimova

   United States actress (born in Russia) (1879-1945)

   Mary Pickford

   United States film actress (born in Canada) who starred in silent films (1893-1979)

   Virginia Katherine McMath

   United States dancer and film actress who partnered with Fred Astaire (1911-1995)

   Moira Shearer

   Scottish ballet dancer and actress (born in 1926)

   Sarah Kemble Siddons

   English actress noted for her performances in Shakespearean roles (1755-1831)

   Cornelia Otis Skinner

   United States actress noted for her one-woman shows (1901-1979)

   Meryl Streep

   United States film actress (born in 1949)

   Barbra Joan Streisand

   United States singer and actress (born in 1942)

   Gloria May Josephine Svensson

   United States actress in many silent films (1899-1983)

   Jessica Tandy

   United States actress (born in England) who made many stage appearances, often with her husband Hume Cronyn (1909-1994)

   Elizabeth Taylor

   United States film actress (born in England) who was a childhood star; as an adult she often co-starred with Richard Burton (born in 1932)

   Dame Alice Ellen Terry

   English actress (1847-1928)

   Dame Sybil Thorndike

   English actress (1882-1976)

   Ethel Waters

   United States actress and singer (1896-1977)

   Mae West

   United States film actress (1892-1980)

   Natalie Wood

   United States film actress (1938-1981)

   Loretta Young

   United States film and television actress (1913-2000)

   types:

   leading lady

   actress who plays the leading female role

   starlet

   a young (film) actress who is publicized as a future star

   tragedienne

   an actress who specializes in tragic roles

   type of:

   actor, histrion, player, role player, thespian

   a theatrical performer