As an actor, the self actively engages in the process of knowing itself. This status of self is called _____.

The correct option is self as subject.

To understand why this is correct, we can look at the classic psychological distinction between the two aspects of the self, originally formulated by the philosopher and psychologist William James:
1. Self as Subject (The "I"): This represents the self as the active knower, the observer, and the agent of action. It is the subjective experience of awareness, thinking, and perceiving. When you are actively engaged in the process of reflecting on yourself, the entity that is doing the reflecting and knowing is the self as subject.
2. Self as Object (The "Me"): This represents the self as the object of attention, or the entity that is being known. It includes all the attributes, roles, and characteristics that you can describe about yourself (e.g., your personality, appearance, or social roles).

Since the question describes the self as an actor that actively engages in the process of knowing itself, it is referring to the active, subjective agent of awareness. Therefore, this status is called the self as subject.