romantic lead
Story's main sweetheart
The romantic lead is the main character in a story whose love life drives the plot.
In film and theater, it's both the role and the actor who plays it: She was cast as the romantic lead.
The term implies attractiveness and charm—qualities expected of someone the audience should root for in matters of the heart.
- heroOne admired for courage
- heartthrobObject of romantic admiration
- box office drawProfitable film attraction
- love interestRomantic focus of a story
- protagonistStory's central figure
star-crossed lovers · suitor · sweetheart · ingenue · meet cute · kiss · love scene · chemistry · passion · courtship · grand gesture · ballroom · serenade · embrace · swept off feet · swoon · devotion · charisma
- actingacting, act, performing, playacting, actor
- character typesprotagonist, hero, antagonist, villain, heroes
- leading rolesstarring role, principal role, protagonist, title role, main character
- protagonistsprotagonist, hero, heroine, main character, title character
- rom-comsrom-com, romcom, Pretty Woman, meet-cute, Notting Hill
- Romance Filmsrom-com, romcom, love story, chick flick, date movie
romantic leadvillain
Wicked story antagonist
antagonist · heavy · bad guy · nemesis · archnemesis
romantic leadextra
Additional, beyond necessary
background actor · bit player · walk-on · minor character · spear carrier
romantic leadaction hero
Film's combat-driven protagonist
comic relief · tragic hero · final girl · detective · dramatic lead
romantic, lead, romance, romanced, romancing, romances, romantically, romanticize, romanticized