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Tere-arg
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Actor: femenine and masculine?
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I have always known two forms -according to gender- for nouns like actor and waiter:
actor/actress waiter/waitress
Some years ago I started to use New English File. There it said it was common to use actor/waiter for both genders.
Talking with native speakers and teachers I was told it was not so.
Now I find the same in other text book (English in mind)
Any help?
Tks in advance
ps Need a new grammar book urgently!
Any advice?
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5 May 2009
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Spagman63
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It used to be that way but it changed a few years ago. Now it is actor for both male/female.
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5 May 2009
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Zora
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It might have changed but to us natives (at least me, myself and I  )... actor is for a man and actress for a woman... same with waiter/waitress...
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5 May 2009
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Spagman63
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When I was in acting school in TN everyone was called an actor regardless of race, colour, creed or gender. I´ve been here toou long. I am using Us in all my wourds. lol
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5 May 2009
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aftab57
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What about these? 
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5 May 2009
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libertybelle
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I agree with Zora.
I would never call Meryl Streep and actor.
She is an actress!
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5 May 2009
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Akanah
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Well, i �ve never called a female "actor" but, the truth is that I �ve read things like "Vote the best actor (female)". My question for the native speakers: Do you use "actress" when talking and "actor (female)" for awards, lists, groups...?
In Spanish we also have two words "actor" = actor (Eng) and "actriz" = actress. As Libertybelle and Zara, we never say "actor" reffering to a woman but, when talking about a group, we say "a group of actors" (both men and women)
regards from Spain :=) |
5 May 2009
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libertybelle
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The Oscars nominate people in the categories of:
Best leading actor or best leading actress.
You can �t go any higher than that.
See here.
http://www.oscar.com/nominees/?pn=nominees
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5 May 2009
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Zora
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Akanah
Yes, we do use a "group of actors" to refer to both as you would in Spanish... And the answer to the other question is that I have seen... Best Supporting Actress, Best Actress awards... so the answer is "yes" - I guess we do when we want to specify who the award goes to. Now if the award could go to a man or a woman - then we probably would only use "actor".
Oops butted in on Liberty!! Sorry girl!
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5 May 2009
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Akanah
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Thxs girls :=)
I always use "actress" but I �ve seen "best actor (female)" in some sites. Take a look:
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5 May 2009
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Zora
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Hi again! I took a look at both sites and they seem to be "foreign" awards... So, it might just be that is the reason for the "Actor (female)" thing... I honestly can �t say that I �ve paid much attention to this before now BUT to me, as a native, it sounds funny to say "Best Female Actor" / "Best Actor (Female) award.. sounds like the actor in question is a guy pretending to be a woman!!!
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5 May 2009
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