The sentence is about political leaders who gain power by convincing others that they are motivated by selflessness. "Actuated" means motivated or driven by something, which fits perfectly with the idea that the leaders are portrayed as being driven by altruistic motives.
Option (B), convinced, is incorrect because it refers to the process of making others believe something, not about the leaders' motivations.
Option (C), categorized, doesn’t fit in the context. It refers to classifying something, which doesn't align with the intended meaning.
Option (D), led, is incorrect because it refers to the action of guiding others, not the motivation or driving force behind the leaders.
Thus, option (A) is the correct choice.