prima donna
High-maintenance performer
Prima donna literally means "first lady"—the lead female singer in an opera company.
By extension, it describes anyone who behaves as if they deserve star treatment: demanding, temperamental, and convinced of their own importance.
The director quit after dealing with the prima donna's constant tantrums.
The term applies to men as readily as women despite its feminine origin.
Operatic solo piece
- coloraturaElaborate vocal ornamentation
- bel cantoElegant Italian vocal style
- recitativeSpeechlike operatic singing
- cadenzaExtended solo passage
libretto · contralto · vibrato · legato · lyric · dramatic · diva · proscenium
Dramatic vocal stage performer
- coloraturaElaborate vocal ornamentation
- ariaOperatic solo piece
- bel cantoElegant Italian vocal style
- vocalistOne who sings professionally
chanteuse · songstress · leading lady · headliner · spotlight · stardom · limelight · celebrity
Requiring excessive attention
- drama queenHabitual emotional exaggerator
- attention-seekerOne craving notice
- scene-stealerPerformer eclipsing the lead
- showboatOstentatious attention-seeker
grandstander · narcissist · egotist · entitled · demanding · tantrum · meltdown · histrionics
Obsessed with one's image
- self-centeredPreoccupied with oneself
- arrogantExcessively high self-regard
- conceitedExcessively proud of oneself
- vainExcessively proud or futile
self-important · entitled · pompous · haughty · overbearing · domineering · imperious · snobbish
Requiring great effort
- difficultRequiring much effort
- high-maintenanceRequiring excessive attention
- tantrumsOutbursts of childish anger
- capriciousSubject to sudden changes
mercurial · volatile · petulant · moody · touchy · dramatic · temperamental · unpredictable
aria
Operatic solo piece
- coloraturaElaborate vocal ornamentation
- bel cantoElegant Italian vocal style
- recitativeSpeechlike operatic singing
cadenza · libretto · contralto · vibrato · legato · lyric · dramatic · diva · proscenium · curtain call
opera singer
Dramatic vocal stage performer
- coloraturaElaborate vocal ornamentation
- ariaOperatic solo piece
- bel cantoElegant Italian vocal style
vocalist · chanteuse · songstress · leading lady · headliner · spotlight · stardom · limelight · celebrity · icon
high-maintenance
Requiring excessive attention
- drama queenHabitual emotional exaggerator
- attention-seekerOne craving notice
- scene-stealerPerformer eclipsing the lead
showboat · grandstander · narcissist · egotist · entitled · demanding · tantrum · meltdown · histrionics · insufferable
narcissistic
Obsessed with one's image
- self-centeredPreoccupied with oneself
- arrogantExcessively high self-regard
- conceitedExcessively proud of oneself
vain · self-important · entitled · pompous · haughty · overbearing · domineering · imperious · snobbish · attention-seeking
demanding
Requiring great effort
- difficultRequiring much effort
- high-maintenanceRequiring excessive attention
- tantrumsOutbursts of childish anger
capricious · mercurial · volatile · petulant · moody · touchy · dramatic · temperamental · unpredictable · finicky
- performing artsacting, dance, music, drama, theater
- theatreBroadway, acting, theatre, stage, actor
- borrowed wordschic, naive, passe, avant-garde, faux
- difficult peopleegomaniac, egotist, nitpicker, drama queen, control freak
- ego displaysarrogance, vanity, boasting, showboating, braggadocio
- egotismarrogant, conceited, egocentric, egomaniac, egotist
prima donnawallflower
Shy person avoiding socializing
shrinking violet · nobody · doormat · everyman · regular Joe
prima donnateam player
One who collaborates willingly
collaborator · company man · worker bee · utility player · good sport
prima donnatrouper
Dependable theatrical veteran
stoic · professional · good egg · mensch · steady hand
prime, primary, primitive, primer, primacy, soprano, primeval, prima, prime number