Actor, one engaged in resort in the north (8)
I believe the answer is:
thespian
'actor' is the definition.
('thespian' can be a synonym of 'actor')
'one engaged in resort in the north' is the wordplay.
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'engaged in' indicates putting letters inside.
'resort' becomes 'spa' (spa is a kind of resort**).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'north' becomes 'n' ('N' can be a synonym of 'north').
'i' put inside 'spa' is 'spia'.
'the'+'n'='then'
'spia' put within 'then' is 'THESPIAN'.
(Other definitions for thespian that I've seen before include "person in the acting business" , "A formal actor" , "He paints (anag)" , "Tree, say" , "stage performer" .)