Crossword Genius

Actors naked in bed (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

layer

'bed' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'actors naked' is the wordplay.
'actors' becomes 'players' ('player' can be a synonym of 'actor').
'naked' indicates the central letters (outside letters removed so centre is unclothed).
The centre of 'players' is 'LAYER'.

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for layer that I've seen before include "Stratum; eg, hen" , "Hen, perhaps" , "Stratum, tier" , "Early (anag.)" , "Stratum; chicken" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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