star turn

noun

1

a

: a performance, role, or appearance (as in a movie or television show) that is done by a star or well-known personality

… we might see a Best Actress nod for Jane Horrock's nuanced portrayal in Life Is Sweet instead of Bette Midler's star turn in For the Boys …

—Peter Travers

Slater … delivers a surprisingly effective performance in this otherwise muddled thriller made before his attention-grabbing star turn in Heathers.

—Ed Hulse

… she would surely dump the bother of serving as Alaska's besieged governor for a lucrative star turn on Fox News.

—Frank Rich

b

: an outstanding performance or prominent role in or contribution to something

The fresh, soft, white Italian cheese called mascarpone is most famous for its star turn in tiramisu …

—Jane Daniels Lear

The football gods would return the favor early in the fourth quarter on a strangely similar play that bounced Indy's way, with center Jeff Saturday getting the star turn.

—Michael Silver

2

chiefly British : the featured skit or number in a theatrical production

also : the most outstanding or prominent person or thing in a group

The star turn of a recent lunch in the plant-filled conservatory was a Goan curry—chunks of succulent chicken breast in a sauce the color of pesto, made with green chilies and coriander.

—R. W. Apple, Jr.

Examples of star turn in a Sentence

She was nominated for an Oscar for her star turn as a single mother raising three children alone.

She was the star turn in yesterday's game.

Recent Examples on the Web

But Will Reeve only knew that side of his dad − whose four star turns as Superman arguably ignited our big-screen love affair with superheroes − on celluloid. —Marco Della Cava, USA TODAY, 21 Sep. 2024

The rapper and Vogue cover star turns 32 today, and what better way to celebrate than by looking back on some of her best fashion moments? —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2024

Lots of Heidi Gardner in the moderator role so far this episode! Sábado Gigante Marcello Hernandez gets a star turn! —Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 6 Oct. 2024

The other Colorado chef who will take a star turn this month is Brandon Kerr, who helped open Stone Cellar Bistro, a fine-dining restaurant at 7605 Grandview Ave. —Jonathan Shikes, The Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 2