occupy a peculiar place in the social phylum;  people who literally stand out from the rest of  the species ...
They bring stories to life, tapping into our emotions, often becoming the vessels that allow us to experience a moment of realization, sometimes self-recognition.  Many become reference points common to people around the world, elements in universally shared experiences.  We tend to look upon the practitioners of the acting profession as special.
                                                                                                                    A. Scott Berg, biographer