From the Vaults: The Etymology of "Actressexuality"
Sunday, March 22, 2015 at 5:16PM Yesterday a reader by the name of Noah Tsika (who just wrote a book on Nollywood) was asking about the coinage of the term "Actressexual" a word popularized at The Film Experience. The term grew beyond us obviously and people have since used it online who probably haven't even read this site or Nick's. Noah found the original post himself but I thought I'd share it for newer readers.
It was originally published on August 2nd in 2006 (hence the very mid Aughts examples) and went like so:
Recently, during the umpteenth Oscar Best Actress discussion over at Nicks Flick Picks his partner Derek, continuously bewildered by our communal enthusiasm, quipped "Is Best Actress, like, its own sexual orientation?" After laughing out loud I had to face facts. This was a lightning bolt of truth.
I'm an Actressexual. 
It explains so much. It explains those nights lying in bed dreaming, not of glistening male hardbodies but of actresses swathed in Valentino, Saab, Armani, and vintage whomever. It explains the shared lust, not for their tuxedoed dates, but for that gold statue. It explains the dreams not of Ethan Hawke but of Uma Thurman. I'd like to think my love for Michelle Pfeiffer transcends any sexual orientation but it probably explains that, too.
Come to think of it, it even explains Warren Beatty. Actressexuality defies hetero and homo boundaries. Beatty may have screwed everything with a vagina back in his Hollywood heyday but notice: the only serious relationships --Julie Christie, Natalie Wood, and Annette Bening-- these were women who had just been nominated for an Oscar. Or were named Madonna. But, readers, she somehow counts.
OMG. How am I going to explain this to my parents?
Reader Comments (4)
Speaking of which: the week you say no actress related Q&A, they announce that Sony is working on the film version of the Carole King musical. I feel like we need the TFE think tank to fantasy cast this!
LOL THe partents usually already know. They just don't always want to hear the actual words.
This is great - I've wondered how this all begain.
Now I'm imagining the HBO 1/2 hour sitcom of your lives and wondering who'd be cast as Nathaniel, Nick and Derek.
My mom found Emma Thompson's Sense and Sensibility journal under my bed when I was teenager. It was a tough conversation, but I was honest with her.