Crossword Genius

Actress opens mammoth novel (4,8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

emma thompson

'actress' is the definition.

'opens mammoth novel' is the wordplay.
'novel' is an anagram indicator (letters in a new or novel order).
'opens'+'mammoth'='opensmammoth'
'opensmammoth' anagrammed gives 'EMMA THOMPSON'.

(Other definitions for emma thompson that I've seen before include "Best Actress Oscar winner 1992, for "Howard's End"" , "Theatrical 12/17/19/28 [CANTABRIGIAN]" .)

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