supporting role
Not the lead
A supporting role is a part in a film, play, or other performance that is secondary to the lead.
The actor appears prominently but doesn't carry the story: She won an Oscar for her supporting role.
The term extends beyond entertainment to any position that assists rather than leads: He's content playing a supporting role in the company's expansion.
- understudyBackup actor, ready nightly
- character actorSpecialist in memorable sidekicks
- character partTheatrical role performed
- sidekickSubordinate adventure partner
- second bananaSupporting performer, not lead
foil · co-star · scene stealer · thankless · confidant · ensemble · second fiddle · performer · bit player · antagonist · unsung hero · behind the scenes · assistant · actor · utility player · typecasting · straight man · background actor
- secondarysecondary, second fiddle, second string, second choice, second place
- actingacting, act, performing, playacting, actor
- showbizHollywood, Bollywood, Tinseltown, backstage, behind the scenes
- theatreBroadway, acting, theatre, stage, actor
- TV dramaepisode, series, season, TV drama, drama series
- character typesprotagonist, hero, antagonist, villain, heroes
supporting rolelead role
Principal character in production
leading role · starring role · lead · protagonist · title role
supporting rolelead
Dense metal, symbol Pb
principal · star · headline act · marquee name · bit part
support, role, supporter, supported, supporting, supportive, roles, supports, supporters