A descriptor used for actors that I don't get
A post questioning the label “serious actor” sparked a lively debate about looks, skill, and where the expression came from.
“Serious actor”
For real...
We don't say stuff like “singing-focused singer,” “cooking-focused chef,” “overseas-focused foreigner,” or “pitching-focused pitcher” lmaoooo
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This is actually a misunderstanding that arose when “character actor,” the opposite of a leading-role actor in English, was translated into Korean... It originally started as a label for memorable actors who specialized in distinctive characters, like villains, clowns, gangsters, or priests. Though its meaning is a little vague overseas now too...
People have always used labels like “skilled” in fields such as acting, modeling, and singing, where charisma and looks matter.
Don't people say “skilled singer” a lot too? And some actors rely more on their looks than their acting, so doesn't it mean an actor who's good regardless of looks?