[custom_adv] The Actress is a 1953 American comedy-drama film based on Ruth Gordon's autobiographical play Years Ago. Gordon herself wrote the screenplay. [custom_adv] The film was directed by George Cukor and stars Jean Simmons, Spencer Tracy, Teresa Wright, and Anthony Perkins in his film debut. [custom_adv] The film is basically a series of vignettes involving Ruth, her parents, her best friends, and the college boy romantically pursuing her. [custom_adv] Although Gordon did in fact become an accomplished Academy Award-winning actress and a successful writer, the film ends without the audience seeing Gordon achieve her goals.