Actor

Mr Badger said:
Rather than "chairperson" don't you just drop the "man" to make it genderless, so the title becomes "chair"? Or possibly "corner sofa" for the aspirational.
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It's confusing.

I know some political commentators when talking about Harriet Harman, they say Harperson as a joke.
 
It was somebody like Helen Mirren on Jonathan Ross a few years ago and he said something like "So it's been x amount of years as a famous actress" and she immediately replied "Actor" and then Jonathan apologised.
She said we shouldn't differentiate between genders, we all do the same job.
 
I recall the first Brit awards where they deleted gender and no women made the short lists. Egg on face.
 
‘Actress’ still has a meaning; an actress that’s a girl/woman. Not offensive in itself and it can still make sense to use it: “I would like to find an actress to play Queen Elizabeth in my play.”

At the same time, using ‘actor’ for all genders isn’t going to create mass confusion and hysteria, when the appropriate context and adding a bonus word or two for clarification can cover all scenarios. Nobody is going to get outraged over a female getting turned down after seeing an ad: “Actor wanted to play Henry VIII”. The ad could also just say ‘male actor wanted…’

A total non-issue.
 
Nitefly said:
‘Actress’ still has a meaning; an actress that’s a girl/woman. Not offensive in itself and it can still make sense to use it: “I would like to find an actress to play Queen Elizabeth in my play.”

At the same time, using ‘actor’ for all genders isn’t going to create mass confusion and hysteria, when the appropriate context and adding a bonus word or two for clarification can cover all scenarios. Nobody is going to get outraged over a female getting turned down after seeing an ad: “Actor wanted to play Henry VIII”. The ad could also just say ‘male actor wanted…’

A total non-issue.
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A non issue if it was natural, but it isn't, it's been pushed by those with an agenda. Insert language is thought, slippery slope, yada yada etc.
 
Zefan said:
A non issue if it was natural, but it isn't, it's been pushed by those with an agenda. Insert language is thought, slippery slope, yada yada etc.
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The agenda being… woman that want to be called actors (rather than actresses)?

Some just don’t want the title of the profession to reflect their gender. What’s wrong with that?
 
Nitefly said:
‘Actress’ still has a meaning; an actress that’s a girl/woman. Not offensive in itself and it can still make sense to use it: “I would like to find an actress to play Queen Elizabeth in my play.”

At the same time, using ‘actor’ for all genders isn’t going to create mass confusion and hysteria, when the appropriate context and adding a bonus word or two for clarification can cover all scenarios. Nobody is going to get outraged over a female getting turned down after seeing an ad: “Actor wanted to play Henry VIII”. The ad could also just say ‘male actor wanted…’

A total non-issue.
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You are underestimating the moral panic of the regressive right though, for some reason they think it's a big issue leading to slippery slopes etc
 
SexyGreyFox said:
It was somebody like Helen Mirren on Jonathan Ross a few years ago and he said something like "So it's been x amount of years as a famous actress" and she immediately replied "Actor" and then Jonathan apologised.
She said we shouldn't differentiate between genders, we all do the same job.
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By that notion we should call her Sir, same thing right?
 
Zefan said:
By that notion we should call her Sir, same thing right?
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I don’t think that follows… One is a title. One is a profession. If we were to remove gender from all professions, we don’t need to also remove it from titles. Why would we need to do that? Not that I think anyone is saying ‘actress’ is a forbidden word.

The whole actor / actress thing is a very old topic. I’m sure it was something I discussed at school. There’s an interesting range of opinions in this short article, worth a look:

www.theguardian.com

The readers' editor on… Actor or actress?

The readers' editor: Some female thespians say it is offensive to be described as an actress
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com

^^^ I don’t think the situation is any different from back then. Different contexts lend towards different words being used.

Oscar for ‘Best Actress’ etc.
 
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Nitefly said:
The agenda being… woman that want to be called actors (rather than actresses)?

Some just don’t want the title of the profession to reflect their gender. What’s wrong with that?
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You will call me "king" from now on then as that is my chosen pronoun, I will be highly offended if you don't use it, and may have to report you for a hate crime.
 
I cant post photos said:
I always liked that actor and actress differentiated between men and women. There was something charming about women having their own reference, instead of being just like the men, like in every other profession. Added a certain air of success and allure.


Not particularly bothered that it's changed, but I did most certainly notice it gradually phase out over the years.
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It probably resulted from the time when most actors were men. Women had to fight to be able to play the roles and it's nice to recognise that fact by seeing them separately.
 
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Dis86 said:
It probably resulted from the time when most actors were men. Women had to fight to be able to play the roles and it's nice to recognise that fact by seeing them separately.
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I really don't think it's that deep, actress was a useful word, if you're casting for a part in a play, traditionally at least, whether they are male or female is quite important to the specific role.

Sure, you could write female actor or male actor required in the casting call, or more simply just write actor or actress required.
 
adidan said:
OP asked who made this decision? Well, it was me. Get over it, I don't care.

They act, they're actors. Simple. I've had to streamline the language ever since people started making new words up.
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Well, if they all get referred to as actors because they act.

What word are we supposed to use to describe the likes of Jack Black and Michael B. Jordan? :cry:
 
Sythe79 said:
I really don't think it's that deep, actress was a useful word, if you're casting for a part in a play, traditionally at least, whether they are male or female is quite important to the specific role.

Sure, you could write female actor or male actor required in the casting call, or more simply just write actor or actress required.
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The Bishop jokes would not work half as well, "the female actor said to the Bishop... ".
 
It’s weird considering the Oscars and the BAFTAs both call their awards “actress in a leading role” etc. for example.

I don’t see how “actress” is offensive in the same way princess, queen, that lady over there when describing someone :p
 
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