Ingénue
{{Short description|Stock character in literature and media}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2020}}
{{Other meanings}}
{{Italic title}}
{{nofootnotes|date = January 2017}}
File:MaryPickford13.jpg played a number of ingénue roles.]]
File:Mildred Davis, in "Temporary Marriage" 1923-04.png in 1923]]
The ingénue ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˈ|æ̃|ʒ|ə|nj|uː|,_|-|ʒ|eɪ|n|-}}, {{IPAc-en|US|ˈ|æ|n|(|d|)|ʒ|ə|nj|uː|,_|ˈ|ɑː|n|-}}, {{IPA|fr|ɛ̃ʒeny|lang|LL-Q150 (fra)-Tamahashi-ingénue.wav}}) is a stock character in literature, film and a role type in the theater, generally a girl or a young woman, who is endearingly innocent. Ingénue may also refer to a new young actress or one typecast in such roles. The term comes from the feminine form of the French adjective {{lang|fr|ingénu}} meaning "ingenuous" or innocent, virtuous and candid. The term may also imply a lack of sophistication and cunning.
Typically, the ingénue is beautiful, kind, gentle, sweet, virginal and often naïve; additionally, she is often in mental, emotional, or even physical danger—usually a target of the cad, whom she may have mistaken for the hero. The ingénue usually lives with her father, husband, or a father figure. The vamp (femme fatale) is often a foil for the ingénue (or the damsel in distress).
The ingénue is often accompanied by a romantic side plot. This romance is usually considered pure and harmless to both participants. In many cases, the male participant is as innocent as the ingénue. The ingénue is also similar to the girl-next-door stereotype.
In opera and musical theater, the ingénue is usually sung by a lyric soprano. The ingénue usually has the fawn-eyed innocence and sometimes subtle sexual appeal.
See also
- {{section link|Gamine|In film}}
- Loosu ponnu
- Moe
- Soubrette
References
- {{cite web
|ref = guardian
|last = Child
|first = Ben
|date = January 5, 2015
|title = Russell Crowe: Female Actors Should Act Their Age
|url = https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/05/russell-crowe-female-actors-should-act-their-age
|work = The Guardian
|location = London
|access-date = 2015-01-05
}}
- {{cite web
|ref = silver
|last = Silver
|first = Elizabeth L.
|date = August 19, 2013
|title = The Death of the Ingénue
|url = http://www.themillions.com/2013/08/the-death-of-the-ingenue.html
|work = The Millions
|access-date = 2015-01-05
}}
External links
- {{Wiktionary-inline|ingenue}}
{{Stock characters}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ingénue}}