For a very long time we’ve kept actors’ names out of plot summaries, preferring to refer only to the characters they play. We asked around and found that many people would actually prefer that we allowed them – it makes it easier to figure out who’s who – so from now on:

• if you wish to you can include actors’ names in plot summaries (eg,” The plot then follows the life of a simple farmboy, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), as he and his newly met allies…”) but only for completed titles
• they should be linked in the usual way using the (qv) notation – eg ‘Mark Hamill (I)’ (qv) – see the guide for more information
• unfinished titles, animated titles, video games, and (uncredited)/(credit only)/cameo roles are all still excluded
• we’re limiting the name links to principal cast members
• this change applies to plot summaries only – plot outlines (the short version) should still just refer to characters
• it’s completely at your discretion – if you don’t want to include names, then please write your summaries as you always have
• this new policy applies only to summaries you have written yourself – please do not edit other contributors’ plot summaries to include this newly-allowed information

If you want to discuss this policy with us and with other contributors, please feel free to join in with this Message Board thread.