Character

A character is a person or being in a narrative. The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person, in which case the distinction of a "fictional" versus "real" character may be made. Derived from the Ancient Greek word χαρακτήρ, the English word dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones by Henry Fielding in 1749.

From this, the sense of "a part played by an actor" developed.
A character, particularly when enacted by an actor in the theater or cinema, involves "the illusion of being a human person".
In literature, characters guide readers through their stories, helping them to understand plots and ponder themes.

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Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · Public domain