featured player
Billed but secondary
A featured player is a performer who receives prominent billing below the lead roles—recognized enough to be highlighted, but not the star.
In theater and film, featured players occupy the tier between supporting cast and headliners: She spent years as a featured player before landing her first lead.
The term also applies to sketch comedy shows where ensemble members rotate through segments.
- second bananaSupporting performer, not lead
- understudyBackup actor, ready nightly
- ensembleUnified group or outfit
- scene partnerFellow actor in dialogue
- backupStored duplicate for recovery
walk-on role · bit part · character actor · spotlight · name in lights · stage · silver screen · screen · Hollywood · Broadway · rising star · breakout · big break · star turn · credits · role · performance · marquee
- actorsactor, actors, actresses, film actor, actress
- SNLSaturday Night Live, Weekend Update, cold open, sketch comedy, cue cards
- theater rolesprotagonist, antagonist, villain, hero, heroine
- leading roleslead role, leading role, lead actor, lead actress, leading man
- performersactor, dancer, actress, singer, musician
- theater peopleactors, actor, directors, actresses, actress
featured playerlead
Dense metal, symbol Pb
star · extra · top billing · background actor · headliner
featured playerextra
Additional, beyond necessary
lead actor · protagonist · leading lady · leading man · title role
feature, features, featuring, featured, featureless, player, players, play, plays