impersonate-v; 2 Senses

Sense Number 1: Act as or assume the character of in a work of fiction or comedy.

Commentary:
NOTE: In order use this sense, an actor must be acting like another person, either fictional or real.

Examples:
She impersonates Madonna for a living.
The actor impersonates an elderly, lonely man.
In this play I impersonate a teenage girl.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NP
FrameNet: Posing_as
PropBank: NP
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 2

Sense Number 2: Pretend to be someone you are not, sometimes with fraudulent intentions.

Commentary:
NOTE: Context for action must be (simulated) actual life. If context is a fictional character acting, use this sense. If context is an actor acting, use sense 1.

Examples:
She impersonated the Czar's daughter to gain access to the building.
I impersonated another student in order to get into the dorms.

Mappings:
VerbNet: NP
FrameNet: Posing_as
PropBank: NP
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 3