matinée idol

noun

1. a male actor, usually a leading man, idolized especially by female audiences.

matinée idol

noun

1. (esp in the 1930s and 1940s) an actor popular as a romantic figure among women

Word History and Origins

Origin of matinée idol¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

"I mean I just sit at the piano and play the piano. I'm in my 70s, I'm not a matinee idol. So why are you coming to see me in the first place? But it all has to do with the music."

From BBC

Some movie stars appear to have already accepted the demise of the matinée idol and jumped to streaming services.

From BBC

Everyone knows that his cultivated image of a wealthy playboy who wined and dined beautiful women like he was some kind of matinee idol is another one of his lies.

From Salon

Brad Pitt’s star had been on the rise since his memorable breakthrough in 1991’s “Thelma & Louise,” but it was the one-two punch of “Interview with the Vampire” and “Legends of the Fall” in late 1994 that made him a real movie star — and a matinee idol to boot.

From New York Times

Indeed, Sessa has the appeal of an actor from that earlier era, when performers made their names with presence, chops and attitude more than matinee idol looks.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• leading man