Answer: pretending

AnswerCrossword Clue
PRETENDING"Don't want to be an actor ... on the stage"
pretendingLay claim to (a quality or title)
pretendingGive the appearance of feeling or possessing (an emotion or quality); simulate
pretendingSpeak and act so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not
pretendingEngage in a game or fantasy that involves supposing something that is not the case to be so
pretendingPRETEND, to make believe