The 3 Groups of Actors on a Film
Generally speaking actors can be divided into 3 groups (although obviously there is some degree of overlap):
First come LEAD ACTORS. These are the ones who already have a name and are known and who can carry a film on their own: Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, Javier Bardem, Audrey Tautou, Mohanlal and so on. They may have auditioned for the role but most probably they will have been invited to play in the film early on. Their names may appear above the title on the poster if they’re big enough, for example Leonardo di Caprio in The Wolf of Wall Street.
Then come actors who have roles in the film. There are different names for them: supporting actors, co-stars, featured artists, guest artists, character actors, co-leads and so on. Or just plain ACTORS. The role could be very significant (think Emma de Caunes in Mr Bean’s Holiday, Eva Green in Casino Royale, etc) or it could be just a single line in one scene.
Then come EXTRAS or, as they’re often known, background artists or supporting artists (SAs) These are people (not always trained actors) who walk along the street in the background to the action, who sit in the coffee shop in the corner or who dance at a nightclub. They don’t speak and are there just to make the scene look realistic.
Note that talent or skill has little to do with which type of actor you are. There are lead actors who are regarded as stiff or wooden when they appear on screen but they have the name so everyone accepts that.
Then there are brilliant character actors who appear regularly, are superb in their craft, but who are largely unknown by the general public.
But remember, no matter what type of actor you are, you will always be part of a team.
