I clicked on a link about a missing actress who was said to be "starring" in Doctor Who. I subsequently did a google search on her name and several sites referred to her as "starring in" or "star of" Doctor Who. Who was this actress? Jodie Whitaker? Mandip Gill? Perhaps from an earlier time, maybe Sophie Aldred, Billie Piper? No, it was someone called Tanya Fear who had a small role in exactly ONE episode. Hardly a star of the show in my opinion.
"No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." Samuel Johnson.
It seems the term has generalised to the point of worthlessness. "Chef" is another example which annoys prescriptivist me. Are all who work in kitchens chiefs? It seems so nowadays, without realizing that "chef" is short for "chef de cuisine, or "kitchen boss."