Actor

An actor (also called atariisho) is a person whose profession is to portray a character in a story presented in theatre, film, television, radio, or digital media. Actors use their voice, movement, facial expression, and speech to represent a person other than themselves to an audience.

The word "actor" comes from European languages (English: actor; Italian: attore), ultimately derived from Latin "actor," meaning "one who does." Women performers have historically been designated by a specific term (for example, English "actress"), but in modern usage the same word is applied to both genders.

Work and practice

An actor begins with a script that specifies dialogue and movement. The actor reads the script, understands the character's purpose, and then rehearses with the director and other actors. During filming, scenes are often shot multiple times to achieve the right flow for the story.

Essential skills include memorizing the script, controlling vocal tone, managing physical movement, and the ability to balance emotional authenticity with self-control. In theatre, voice and movement must reach distant audiences, whereas in film and television, the camera's proximity to the face is sufficient to convey meaning.

Training and profession

Many countries have schools and universities that teach acting, offering instruction in theatre, speech, singing, and movement. Some actors develop their craft through work in theatre groups or short films. The profession is largely competitive; actors go through auditions to be cast, and usually work with an agent.

Types of performance

Acting is categorized by medium: live theatre, film, television drama, radio, and voice acting used for animated films or dubbing. There is also video game acting, in which physical movement is captured using motion capture technology.

Somali acting

Somali-language theatre plays, films, and television dramas have been produced, particularly from the mid-twentieth century onward, with drama groups and radio stations playing a major role. Somali actors often combine singing, poetry, and speech, making performance grounded in oral tradition.