Starring roles are prominent, leading or key performances in a movie, play or musical. These roles are often attributed to the protagonist or the hero of the story. Some synonyms for starring roles include lead roles, main roles, principal roles and featured roles. These synonyms can be used interchangeably and are often dependent on the context in which they are used. Nonetheless, all these terms refer to roles that are significant and require a great deal of skill from the actor. Whether it's the lead ballerina in a ballet performance or the protagonist in a blockbuster film, the role is deemed important and requires the actor's utmost dedication.