I.

Introduction

Acting, the creation, on stage or on screen, of the image of a character involved in a series of actions and situations usually outlined by an author, or set out in a script or scenario, and conveyed by the actor to an audience.

The tools an actor uses to express character are his or her own attributes: vocal and physical apparatus, and emotional and kinetic responses. The finished performance may be enhanced by the use of, for instance, make-up, costume, masks, or specialized lighting. Styles of acting, and the status of the acting profession within society, have greatly fluctuated over the years.