Personality Traits of British Actors

Abstract

We live in a society where the entertainment industry has gained major significance. Actors are an important part of society, especially because of the characters they impersonate, which tend to become role models for young men and women around the world. The purpose of the study is to investigate some personality traits of twenty-two British actors. They were investigated with two questionnaires, which measure extraversion, neuroticism, rigidity, and emotional empathy maturity. Comparisons based on gender have been made. The results indicate that actresses are more emotionally mature and more neurotic than actors, whereas male actors are more extravert than actresses. We obtained no significant difference for rigidity. The results are discussed with reference to the demands and rewards of acting.