lead role
Top billing position
The lead role is the principal part in a play, film, or other performance—the character with the most stage time and narrative focus.
An actor in this position is said to play the lead or have the lead role.
The term extends beyond entertainment: someone taking the lead role in a project assumes primary responsibility.
- heroineBrave female protagonist
- starLuminous astronomical object
- main characterStory's central figure
- protagonistStory's central figure
- actorOne who portrays characters
character actor · scene stealer · Method acting · top billing · performance · iconic · Oscar winner · archetype · big break · casting · pivotal · typecast · narrator · focal point · ensemble cast · debut · stage · charisma
- portrayalsportrayal, depiction, characterization, representation, rendering
- fan castsvoice cast, ensemble cast
- actingacting, act, performing, playacting, actor
- Broadwaymusicals, musical, Tony Award, musical theatre, theaters
- theatreBroadway, acting, theatre, stage, actor
- film elementsscenes, plot, credits, soundtrack, score
lead rolesupporting role
Minor character in production
bit part · minor role · walk-on · extra · secondary role
lead rolesupporting character
minor character · background character · comic relief · sidekick · foil
lead, leader, role, leading, led, leadership, mislead, leaders, leads