Claim: Jim Rash is a performer.

An actor -LRB- often actress for females ; see terminology -RRB- is a person who portrays a character in a performance . The actor performs `` in the flesh '' in the traditional medium of the theatre , or in modern mediums such as film , radio , and television . The analogous Greek term is , literally `` one who answers '' . The actor 's interpretation of their role pertains to the role played , whether based on a real person or fictional character . Interpretation occurs even when the actor is `` playing themselves '' , as in some forms of experimental performance art , or , more commonly ; to act , is to create , a character in performance .   Formerly , in some societies , only men could become actors , and women 's roles were generally played by men or boys . When used for the stage , women occasionally played the roles of prepubescent boys .