acting career; career as an actor/actress
Refers to one's professional life as a performer, often used in contexts of longevity, dedication, or the end of a career.
He approached this stage performance with his entire acting career on the line.
His acting career was cut short by an accident.
Similar meaning, but 俳優 is a more general term for actor, while 役者 often carries a nuance of stage or traditional performing arts.
Compound of 役者 (actor) and 生命 (life, career). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination naturally expresses the concept of an actor's professional lifespan.