Actor Merle serious about refusing lead (6)
I believe the answer is:
oberon
'actor merle' is the definition.
'oberon' can be an answer for 'merle' (I've seen this in another clue). I'm not sure about the 'actor' bit.
'serious about refusing lead' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'about' could be 'on' (as in a book 'on' a certain topic) and 'on' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for oberon that I've seen before include "Fairy king (AMND)" , "Titania's husband" , "Titania's consort" , "MND fairy king" , "Shakespearean role" .)