matinee idol
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Even better, he has used his beauty not to become a matinee idol but to unsettle and surprise us, portraying characters whose handsomeness is very much the point but not the whole story.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026
Olivier, who was playing Archie Rice, was at the peak of his acting career and considered something of a matinee idol.
From BBC • Jan. 17, 2025
There was a stiffness to Mr. Belafonte’s early, untrained movie performances, and he admitted he was self-conscious in matinee idol roles.
From Washington Post • Apr. 25, 2023
There’s former matinee idol Brendan Fraser, whose turn as a morbidly obese teacher in “The Whale” has earned him a lead actor nomination.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2023
He's no matinee idol for looks; maybe you wouldn't even call him good looking.
From The Brown Study by Richmond, Grace S. (Grace Smith)
