Actress’s is the standard singular possessive form you should use if you follow the rules of Chicago manual of style. E.g., “The actress’s performance was exceptional.” Additionally, actress’ is another singular possessive form you should use when the following word starts with ‘s’ “The actress’s seat was decorated with locally crafted engravings.”
As the following chart shows, there are two versions of the singular possessive for the term actress. The first is created by adding an apostrophe to the end of the word “actress”. The second form requires adding an apostrophe and an “s.”
| Form | Example |
| Singular | Actress |
| Plural | Actresses |
| Singular possessive | Actress’ / Actress’s |
| Plural possessive | Actresses’ |
Here are some examples of the different forms in context.
Singular: I watched an interview with the actress and her co-star.
Plural: The actresses’ dedication to their roles is commendable.
Singular possessive: The actress’ script is full of annotations.
Singular possessive: The actress’s talent shines in every scene.
The Chicago Manual of Style And the AP stylebook specifies that you should use actress’s. This rule states that you should add ’s (apostrophe + s) to a singular noun that ends in -s.
Furthermore, the plural form of actress, actresses, is more likely to appear in reference to several individuals in the acting profession, as shown in the plural example.
This example shows how the plural possessive form of actress appears in a sentence.
- The actresses’ costumes were designed by a renowned fashion designer.
You have read the basics concerning the term actress. Now, you should keep reading the rest of the page, where we explain more about each form and how to use them.
Actress’s
The term actress’s is the standard singular possessive form of actress. You should use it to indicate that something belongs to a specific actress.
- The actress’s portrayal of the character was praised by critics.
Furthermore, it is the version you must use according to the Chicago Manual of Style and the AP stylebook.
You may omit the “s” at the end of actress’s if the following word starts with “s.” This is acceptable by many styling guides. So if you choose to do this, ensure consistency throughout the text.
- The actress’ stunning performance captivated the audience.
You can use the possessive to refer to various aspects of an actress’s life or career.
- The actress’ interview revealed insights into her creative process.
Actress’
The term actress’ is also another singular possessive form of the word actress. Therefore, you should use it when you want to convey that something belongs to a particular actress.
But many styling guides recommend using this form only when the following word begins with ‘s’
- In the actress’ script, there’s a suspenseful scene that captivates the audience.
- Surprisingly, the actress’ singing ability is equally impressive.
Additional resources
https://ellii.com/blog/forming-the-possessive-of-words-ending-in-s