An actor (sometimes actress for female; see terminology) is a person who acts in a dramatic or comic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity. The ancient Greek word for an "actor," ὑποκριτής (hypokrites), means literally "one who interprets"; in this sense, an actor is one who interprets a dramatic character.

After 1660, when women first appeared on stage, actor and actress were initially used interchangeably for female performers, but later, influenced by the French actrice, actress became the usual term. The etymology is a simple derivation from actor with ess added. The word actor refers to a person who acts regardless of gender, and this term "is increasingly preferred", while actress refers specifically to a female person who acts. Actress "remains in general use", although in a survey of a "wide cross-section of current British English", compiled in 2010, actor was almost twice as commonly found as actress. Within the profession, however, the re-adoption of the neutral term dates to the 1950s–60s, the post-war period when women's contribution to cultural life in general was being re-evaluated.Actress remains the common term used in major acting awards given to female recipients.

Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon (born March 22, 1976), better known as Reese Witherspoon, is an American actress and film producer. Witherspoon landed her first feature role as the female lead in the film The Man in the Moon in 1991; later that year she made her television acting debut, in the cable movie Wildflower. In 1996, Witherspoon appeared in Freeway and followed that appearance with roles in three major 1998 films: Overnight Delivery, Pleasantville and Twilight. The following year, Witherspoon appeared in the critically acclaimed Election, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

2001 marked her career's turning point with the breakout role as Elle Woods in the box office hit Legally Blonde, and in 2002 she starred in Sweet Home Alabama, which became her biggest commercial film success to date. 2003 saw her return as lead actress and executive producer of Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde. In 2005, Witherspoon received worldwide attention and praise for her portrayal of June Carter Cash in Walk the Line, which earned her an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Amy Lou Adams (born August 20, 1974) is an American actress and singer. Adams was born in Vicenza, Italy to American parents, and began her performing career on stage in dinner theaters, before making her screen debut in the 1999 black comedy film Drop Dead Gorgeous. After a series of television guest appearances and roles in B movies, she was cast in the role of Brenda Strong in 2002's Catch Me If You Can, but her breakthrough role was in the 2005 independent film Junebug, playing Ashley Johnsten, for which she received critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Adams subsequently starred in Disney's 2007 film Enchanted, a critical and commercial success, and received a Golden Globe Award nomination for her performance as Princess Giselle. She received her second Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations the following year for her role as a young nun, Sister James, in Doubt. Though she has appeared in a range of dramatic and comedic roles, Adams has gained a reputation for playing characters with cheerful and sunny dispositions. Adams starred in Sunshine Cleaning with Emily Blunt and Alan Arkin, and the following year appeared as Amelia Earhart in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. She appeared in Julie & Julia in 2009 portraying writer Julie Powell followed by Leap Year in 2010. Her recent role as Charlene Fleming in The Fighter earned Adams her third Academy Award nomination, her third Golden Globe Award, second BAFTA Award, and fifth Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. In 2011, Adams appeared in the critically acclaimed musical film The Muppets alongside Jason Segel. She is scheduled to play Lois Lane in the upcoming Superman reboot Man of Steel in 2013.

Vasundhara Kashyap (born 19 August) is an Indian film actress and model. She first appeared in the 2006 Tamil film, Vattaram and later starred in films including Kaalaipani, Jeyamkondaan and Peraanmai. She took part in the Miss Chennai contest and was crowned Miss. Creativity, following which she took up modelling. She changed her name to Vasundhara Kashyap while filming Thenmerku Paruvakaartru.

Vasundhara took part at the Viba Miss Chennai and won the 'Miss Creativity' title. Director Saran subsequently signed her for a pivotal role in his film Vattaram, which did not fare well at the box office. She received critical acclaim for her performances as Samvedhna in Rajesh Selva's Kaalai Pani and Poongodhi in Kannan's Jayamkondaan. This was further cemented by her portrayal of the plucky Kalpana in Peraanmai, following which she performed the role of Pechi in the national award winning film Thenmerku Paruvakaatru.

She more notable release which got her critical appreciation was Samuthirakani's Poraali which was also released in telugu as Sangarshana. She is now set to debut in Telugu cinema with M. S. Raju's yet-to-be-titled film starring Sumanth Ashwin.

Donna Douglas (born September 26, 1933) is an American actress best known for her role as Elly May Clampett, in the long-running television series The Beverly Hillbillies.

Donna Douglas was born Doris Smith on September 26, 1933 in Pride, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, Louisana. She was the only daughter of Emmett Ratcliff Smith Sr. (1907–1988)] and his wife, the former Elma Robinson (1910–2003).

Douglas attended St. Gerard High School where she played both softball and basketball. She was a member of the school's first graduating class. In 1949, she married Roland Bourgeois and together they had a son and then divorced. She was awarded the titles “Miss Baton Rouge” and, in 1957, was named “Miss New Orleans”.

Douglas moved to New York to pursue a career in entertainment and started out as an illustration model for toothpaste ads. She was featured as the “Letters Girl” on The Perry Como Show in 1957, and as the “Billboard Girl” on The Steve Allen Show in 1959. These and other TV appearances led New York photographers and newspaper reporters to award her the “Miss By-line” crown, which she wore on The Ed Sullivan Show.