The invention relates to an electrical actuator incorporating a free play mechanism to eliminate force fighting. The actuator, operable in response to an electrical or electro-mechanical input signal, includes an outer casing, an output shaft extending from the casing, the output shaft being axially movable over a stroke length, and a drive mechanism cooperable with the output shaft to drive the output shaft along a part of the stroke length, wherein the actuator is operable such that the output shaft is drivable along all or part of the remainder of the stroke length by external loading, whilst being unconstrained by the drive mechanism. The actuator enables operation in conjunction with one or more other actuators without requiring precise synchronisation of operation of the actuator with the one or more other actuators and reducing/eliminating unnecessary stresses on the actuator due to force fighting between the actuator and the one or more other actuators.