What is "ingenue"

1848, from French ingénue "artless girl, especially on the stage," fem. of ingénu "ingenuous, artless, simple" (13c.), from Latin ingenuus (see ingenuous). Italicized in English into 20c.

n. 1 An innocent, unsophisticated, naïve, wholesome girl or young woman. 2 A dramatic role of such a woman; an actress playing such a role. 3 (context rare English) An innocent, unsophisticated, naïve, wholesome person.

1. n. an actress who specializes in playing the role of an artless innocent young girl

2. an artless innocent young girl (especially as portrayed on the stage)

3. the role of an innocent artless young woman in a play

Ingénue is the second solo album by k.d. lang, released in 1992. It has more of a cabaret flavor than Lang's previous work, and was her most successful album on the pop charts both in her native Canada and internationally.

The samba-inspired "Miss Chatelaine" was ironic; Chatelaine is a Canadian women's magazine which once chose Lang as its "Woman of the Year", and the song's video depicted Lang — who was usually best known for a fairly androgynous appearance — in an exaggeratedly feminine manner, surrounded by bright pastel colours and a profusion of bubbles reminiscent of a performance on the Lawrence Welk show, complete with an accordion in the instrumentation.

The multi-format hit single " Constant Craving" inspired (albeit subconsciously) The Rolling Stones' 1997 single " Anybody Seen My Baby?", from their Bridges to Babylon album, with the result that the Stones gave writing credits on that song to Lang and her collaborator Ben Mink.

Both "Save Me" and "Still Thrives This Love" were used in the 2003 Showtime film Soldier's Girl.

Ingenue may refer to:

• Ingenue (stock character), a stock character in literature, film and theatre
• Ingénue (album), the second solo album by k.d. lang
• Ingenue, a song on the album Amok by Atoms for Peace.

The ingénue is a stock character in literature, film, and a role type in the theatre; generally a girl or a young woman who is endearingly innocent and wholesome. Ingénue may also refer to a new young actress or one typecast in such roles. The term comes from the feminine form of the French adjective ingénu meaning "ingenuous" or innocent, virtuous, and candid. The term may also imply a lack of sophistication and cunning.

Typically, the ingénue is beautiful, kind, gentle, sweet, virginal, and often naïve, in mental or emotional danger, or even physical danger, usually a target of the Cad; whom she may have mistaken for the Hero. Due to lack of independence, the ingénue usually lives with her father, husband, or a father figure. The vamp (femme fatale) is often a foil for the ingénue (or the damsel in distress).

The ingénue is often accompanied with a romantic side plot. This romance is usually considered pure and harmless to both participants. In many cases, but not all, the male participant is just as innocent as the ingénue is. The ingénue is also similar to the girl next door archetype.

In opera and musical theatre, the ingénue is usually sung by a lyric soprano. The ingénue stereotypically has the fawn-eyed innocence of a child, but subtle sexual appeal as well. <!--