play leading role vs act leading role

Both phrases are commonly used in English, but they have slightly different meanings. 'Play a leading role' is more commonly used to describe someone performing a role in a play, movie, or other performance. On the other hand, 'act a leading role' is also correct but less common. It is used to emphasize the action of portraying a character in a prominent position.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 760 views

play leading role

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to describe someone performing a role in a play, movie, or other performance in a prominent position.

Examples:

She played a leading role in the school play.
He will play the leading role in the upcoming movie.
They both played leading roles in the TV series.
The actress played a leading role in the Broadway production.
Who will play the leading role in the new play?

Show examples from the web [+]

India and the Union will continue to collaborate closely on mutual interests and to play leading roles regarding the DDA.
Most women working in industrialised farming work in less-valued jobs, whereas, in other fields of agricultural activity, they tend to play leading roles on which the maintenance of these landscapes depends.
Local scientists must play leading roles and governments must be persuaded to buy in.
The Committee backs the Commission's plan for a proactive approach to ensuring that Europe plays leading role in shaping IoT so that the Internet of Things becomes an Internet of Things for People.
The public sector must play a leading role in improving energy efficiency.
The Commission plays the leading role within the EU in long-term peacebuilding and conflict prevention.
However, governments cannot play a leading role in the forest certification process.
We hope to play a leading role in the negotiations.
In this reform process, Europe should play the leading role.
It occupies a pivotal position in terms of geopolitical affairs and plays a leading role.
The EU should play a leading role internationally regarding the tackling of environmental issues.
The Commission will continue to play a leading role.
ICT systems will play a leading role.
My second observation: you want to play a leading role in Europe.
Europe is being called upon to play a leading role in the Mediterranean.
In addition, the EU plays a leading role on certain policies, such as environmental and climate-change research.
Europe must play a leading role in globalisation!
The EU should play a leading role in securing agreement to exert this international pressure.
Member States should play the leading role regarding the integration of this and other minority groups.
I appreciate that solidarity plays a leading role in relations between EU Member States.

Alternatives:

take on a leading role
perform a leading role
portray a leading role
assume a leading role
have a leading role

act leading role

This phrase is correct but less common than 'play a leading role.'

This phrase is used to emphasize the action of portraying a character in a prominent position.

Examples:

She acted the leading role with great skill.
He will act the leading role in the new play.
They both acted leading roles in the movie.
The actor acted a leading role in the TV series.
Who will act the leading role in the upcoming production?

Show examples from the web [+]

We need to act, and Europe has to take a leading role in this.
The urgent adoption of a comprehensive Small Business Act will contribute greatly to the development of the SME sectors in all Member States, thus also contributing to the reinforcement of the leading role of Europe in sustainable and technology-oriented industrial production.
The European Security Research Advisory Board will play a leading role in helping to develop a longer-term vision, as it will act as a forum where users and the Commission discuss the structure of the Research Programme.
Parliament played a leading role in this.
The European Parliament is proposing a leading role for the Commission as well as the creation of a European Influenza Task Force representing all the Member States in order to be able to act rapidly and decisively to control avian influenza.
We are quick to criticise the leading role of the USA - and I believe that this leading role is, in fact, too big.
But she's giving me the leading role.
The European Union should assume the leading role in achieving this goal.
The public sector must play a leading role in improving energy efficiency.
Governments must take a leading role and be forced to sign the Convention.
The Commission plays the leading role within the EU in long-term peacebuilding and conflict prevention.
However, governments cannot play a leading role in the forest certification process.
The European Union must take a leading role in the work towards global sustainability.
The Commission believes that SADC has a leading role to play in the resolution of the increasingly serious Zimbabwe crisis.
Firstly, we want Europe to commit itself to playing a leading role in global affairs.
The public sector must play an important and leading role in promoting sustainability.
We hope to play a leading role in the negotiations.
We are determined to continue to take a leading role in carrying forward this important initiative.
We want to make more of the Union's leading role in environmental protection.
In this reform process, Europe should play the leading role.

Alternatives:

perform the leading role
portray the leading role
take on the leading role
have the leading role
be in the leading role

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play leading role vs act leading role