The phrase "actor rather than a" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing two roles or identities, emphasizing a preference for one over the other.
Example: "She sees herself as an actor rather than a mere performer in the industry."
Alternatives: "performer instead of a" or "actress rather than a".
The actor, being an actor rather than a real sultan, didn't know.
I heard you originally wanted to be an actor rather than a writer?
Susannah Cibber, the first soprano soloist, was an actor rather than a singer.
Still, it's impressive that the game makes you feel like an actor rather than a puppetmaster.
"I think Jeff would certainly identify himself as a character actor rather than a leading man," he said.
Many said yes, but when they were asked who he was, they often replied "a rock star" or "an actor" rather than "a fashion designer".
We should, moreover, be very wary of steps intended to instrumentalize our endowment in ways that would appear to position the University as a political actor rather than an academic institution.
Despite that early start, and a subsequent lifestyle that sees him equally at home in London and Los Angeles, Ejiofor's progress was that of a critic's darling and actor's actor, rather than an audience favourite.
Her arguments were mostly macroeconomic (why disinvest when society still buys the companies' products?) and financial (the endowment supports school operations, scholarships and much more), although she also wrote that an endowment shift "would appear to position the University as a political actor rather than an academic institution".
Clapper, speaking at the Aspen Security Forum, acknowledged that "there's just a few usual suspects out there" who might be responsible for the cyber intrusion, suggesting it was the work of a state actor rather than an independent hacking group.
You get to sit among out-of-work actor friends and remind yourself you're one of the lucky ones; you're actually in employment as an actor, rather than being a chugger, or a receptionist, or signing on and spending the day smoking weed, debating if it's worth dressing up as a gummy bear and serving vodka shots at an all-night bar for the minimum wage, because at least you'll be "in character".
