Wait,wait -- I just thought of a better example. Do you know how people sometimes attribute intelligence to cats? In your heart of hearts, you know they're just dumb animals with brains the size of walnuts, but at times they act intelligent. That's your basic actor.
Again, this isn't meant as a slam against actors, but that's simply what they are, not terribly bright people capable of simulating intelligence.
That's a good point Not to say there aren't intelligent actors but I remember watching Brando on Larry King about 10 years ago and he sounded like a complete imbecile. This is possibly the greatest actor of all time. The high point was where he corrected King's correct quote of Coleridge (a suspension of disbelief) with his own incorrect one (a suspension of belief).