enactor

An enactor is a person who enacts or performs actions, often in a dramatic or interpretive context. In contemporary usage, the term is most commonly applied to participants who portray characters in theatre, film, or other performances. It can also refer to individuals who enact scenarios in educational, training, or research settings.

Etymology and usage: The word enactor derives from the verb enact, with the agent noun suffix -or. Although it is valid English, enactor is relatively uncommon in everyday speech, and writers typically use actor, performer, or participant depending on the context.

In theatre and film, an enactor is essentially an actor who brings a script to life by embodying a role, delivering lines, and expressing a character's intentions and emotions. The term highlights the performative action of bringing a scene into existence.

In simulations, drills, and education, enactors take on predefined roles to create realistic interactions. They may play patients, clients, stakeholders, or other figures in role-play exercises, while observers study outcomes and dynamics.

In cultural contexts, enactors may participate in living history events, ritual reenactments, or community performances that dramatize past events or traditions.

See also: actor, performer, role-play, living history, simulation.