# When Did the Term "Actress" Go Out? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 23, 2009, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-term-actress-go-out/482729 "2009-01-23T23:19:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-term-actress-go-out/482729/1 "2009-01-23T23:19:22Z")
I was watching an old rerun of _the Carol Burnett Show_ and she was doing her audience question thing, and a young man stands up and asks her “Do you think you’re a good actor?” Then the audience and Carol break up laughing. Carol reply: “I’m a good actor but I’m a much better _actress_.” Most people now refer to “actor” to mean either man or women. I know a lot still use the “correct” terms, but when did the meaning switch to make actor the common term for either sex ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-term-actress-go-out/482729/2 "2009-01-24T06:37:10Z")
It hasn’t. People use \*actor \*when they want to be to inclusive, but \*actress \*is still the common term among the public and within the industry when referring specifically to a woman. (Casting directors will ask for an _actress_, not a _female actor_. Magazine articles will call someone an \*actress \*more often than a _female actor_.) SAG now gives an award for best performance by a female actor, but it’s in the minority. I don’t think actress is likely to go the way of aviatrix or authoress any time soon because males and females remain very different in the kinds of roles they are called on to play. Google the two terms and see the results. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-term-actress-go-out/482729/3 "2009-01-24T16:28:51Z")
And the Academy Awards still separate the two categories, giving two awards to Actors and two awards to Actresses each year. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-term-actress-go-out/482729/4 "2009-01-24T20:46:22Z")
i’ve always thought the “ess” endings were a bit awkward, as english tends toward neutral nouns. most have been dropped. won’t be long now and there will be best actor male role, best actor female role. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-term-actress-go-out/482729/5 "2009-01-24T20:52:40Z")
[Semi-recent thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=485103) with some discussion, including the Oscar category point. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-term-actress-go-out/482729/6 "2009-01-25T00:30:18Z")
The two actresses whom I know insist on being referred to by the feminine form. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-term-actress-go-out/482729/7 "2009-01-25T01:16:34Z")
Virtually every gender-specific English word is going the way of the Dodo in favor of gender-neutral terms. Other examples (besides actor/actress): Stewardess - “Flight Attendant” Waiter/Waitress - “Server” Police + Fireman/woman - “Police officer”, “Firefighter” Businessman - “Business person” Secretary - “Administrative/personal assistant” (unless you’re talking about a governmental department head) Mailman - “Postal worker” or “mail carrier” Barman or barmaid - “Bartender” Etc. etc. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-term-actress-go-out/482729/8 "2009-01-25T01:24:12Z")
From what I’ve observed, it seems to depend on the publication. Some have changed over to actor for all performers. Others still maintain the actor/actress distinction. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-the-term-actress-go-out/482729/9 "2009-01-25T01:25:39Z")
I noticed the talk shows, like Letterman, Leno, Oprah and the entertainment shows like TMZ will refer to females as actors. Like they ask “When did you decide to become an actror” or “She thinks she’s a great actor?” On another note, I think female pilots should demand to be call an aviatrix 🙂