Actual is a synonym of real. In context|obsolete|lang=en terms the difference between actual and real is that actual is (obsolete) active, not passive while real is (obsolete) a realist. As adjectives the difference between actual and real is that actual is existing in act or reality, not just potentially; really acted or acting; occurring in fact while real is that can be characterized as a ...

The difference between Actual and Real. When used as nouns, actual means something actually received, whereas real means a commodity. When used as adjectives, actual means relating to a person's acts or deeds, whereas real means true, genuine, not merely nominal or apparent.