An actor is a person who performs a character in a play, movie, or television show. Actors memorize lines, study how their characters think and feel, and bring stories to life on stage or screen. When you watch a movie about a brave knight or a curious detective, you're watching actors pretending to be those people so convincingly that you forget they're performing.

Acting requires imagination, hard work, and careful attention to detail. Actors study their characters' backgrounds, practice different ways of speaking, and work with directors to understand each scene. A skilled actor playing a villain must seem genuinely menacing, while the same actor in a comedy must make audiences laugh. Some actors specialize in certain types of roles, while others play wildly different characters throughout their careers.

While we often think of famous movie stars, actors also perform in school plays, community theaters, and countless other places. The craft of acting has existed for thousands of years, dating back to ancient Greek theater, where actors wore masks and performed stories about gods and heroes for entire cities.