An actor's role becoming distinct (5)
I believe the answer is:
apart
'distinct' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'an actor's role' is the wordplay.
'an actor's' becomes 'a' (this might be a standard abbreviation of which I'm unaware).
'role' becomes 'part' (eg a part or role in a film).
'a'+'part'='APART'
'becoming' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for apart that I've seen before include "Separated or at a distance" , "In pieces; separate" , "(Break) into pieces" , "cut off from others" , "away" .)