Actor

An actor (also called jilid or fanaan bandhig) is a person whose profession is to perform before audiences by embodying a character through gesture, voice, movement, or music to convey a story or idea. The actor's craft relies primarily on the body and voice as tools, rather than on tangible objects such as drawings or books.

The Somali term 'jilaa' is commonly applied to someone who performs in narrative, film, or television. It can be used more broadly for singers, dancers, musicians, and those who create visual art. The boundaries are fluid, since twentieth-century Somali theatre merged song, poetry, performance, and music into a single form.

Role and practice

The actor assumes a 'role'—a character that belongs to the story—and attempts to convey that character's behaviour, speech, and emotions in a way the audience will understand. Preparation methods vary by tradition: some rely on script study and movement coaching, others work through 'improvisation,' drawing on spontaneous speech and action. Training typically covers breathing, voice work, physical movement, and use of the stage space.

Performance venues

Performances take place in purpose-built theatres, outdoor spaces, social events and celebrations, and film and television studios. A key difference is that stage performance happens live in real time, whereas recorded performance can be edited, reshot, and reworked. This affects how actors work: theatre requires projection of voice and movement to reach the back rows, while film demands subtlety for the camera.

Employment and income

Most actors work on a project-by-project basis: each new production is a separate contract. Income is therefore variable, and actors commonly take other work. Many countries have professional associations and labour agreements setting pay, hours, and recording rights; in other places, work often lacks formal written terms.