Actors Status in traditional societies In Oriental Cultures the view of actors as people with extraordinary abilities is still widespread, and in South America and Africa. But in times past, hundreds of years ago, actors in western societies also performed the role of visionary, healer and sage. Actors were essentially performing mystics. Experience in the western cultures Many actors as Shirley MacLaine reports to a disembodied state: an experience accompanied by ecstatic emotions and visions. This description is very like the traditional actor’s practice of “flying” to the spirit world to discover the secrets of life.