play-actor
One who feigns
A play-actor is someone who performs in theatrical productions, though this literal sense is old-fashioned.
The word now usually carries a negative connotation—someone who behaves insincerely or dramatically for effect, putting on a performance in real life: He's just a play-actor, pretending to care about the cause.
The verb play-act follows the same pattern.
Faker claiming false expertise
- impostorOne feigning another's identity
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- fakerOne who pretends
- phonyFraudulent person or thing
sham · deceiver · dissembler · poseur · hypocrite · masquerader · pretense · affectation
Theatrical performer
- performerOne who entertains audiences
- stageRaised performance platform
- dramaTheatrical art or turmoil
- tragedyDisastrous or sorrowful event
monologue · soliloquy · hamlet · script · dialogue · costume · rehearsal · audition
Dependable theatrical veteran
- vaudevillianVariety show performer
- clownComedic performer in makeup
- jesterRoyal household comedian
- minstrelTraveling performer of songs
storyteller · busker · mime · magician · juggler · bard · raconteur · cabaret
One who copies others
- imitatorOne who copies others
- impressionistPerformer copying famous voices
- lookalikeOne who closely resembles another
- body doublePerformer replacing the star
stand-in · parodist · satirist · caricaturist · chameleon · copycat · doppelganger · transformation
charlatan
Faker claiming false expertise
phony · sham · deceiver · dissembler · poseur · hypocrite · masquerader · pretense · affectation · insincerity
thespian
Theatrical performer
tragedy · monologue · soliloquy · hamlet · script · dialogue · costume · rehearsal · audition · director
trouper
Dependable theatrical veteran
- vaudevillianVariety show performer
- clownComedic performer in makeup
- jesterRoyal household comedian
minstrel · storyteller · busker · mime · magician · juggler · bard · raconteur · cabaret · emcee
mimic
One who copies others
- imitatorOne who copies others
- impressionistPerformer copying famous voices
- lookalikeOne who closely resembles another
body double · stand-in · parodist · satirist · caricaturist · chameleon · copycat · doppelganger · transformation · disguise
play-actorstraight shooter
Forthright, blunt person
genuine article · honest broker · true believer · real deal · straight talker
play-actoropen book
One easily understood
transparent · vulnerable · candid · forthright · unaffected
play, actor, plays, played, playing, player, players, playful, playfully