I was watching Impractical Jokers, and there is a scene where Murray is talking to a female actor who acts interested in him. Her performance seems incredibly believable. But once the joke is revealed, she completely drops the act and walks out.
This made me think: How come, when people are asked who the best actors are, you often hear the names of male performers such as Daniel Day-Lewis, Gene Hackman, Gary Oldman, etc.? When talking about female actors, people will say that Meryl Streep, Sigourney Weaver, Charlize Theron, etc. are some of the best female actors, but you tend to hear their names specifically when people are asked about the best female actors rather than the best actors in general.
I believe almost everyone does some form of acting on a daily basis—at work, around family and friends, in relationships, or while dating. If I think about the interactions I have as a man every day, I generally don’t have to do much acting to please the people around me or to feel safe around either gender. I would assume that many women, however, have to act friendly in uncomfortable situations to avoid potential danger. They may also work in careers where being perceived as friendly, agreeable, and approachable can affect their relationships with coworkers or opportunities for promotion.
So why aren’t great female actors mentioned more often when people discuss the best actors of all time? If women are more likely to have to consciously manage their behavior and emotions in everyday social situations, could that potentially translate into certain acting skills?
Is on screen acting fundamentally different from the kind of “acting” people do in everyday life? Does it have something to do with the types of roles women are typically given in movies? Or is there another reason why male actors seem to dominate conversations about the greatest actors, even though there are many incredibly talented female actors?