An actor's role is 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 could be a standard abbreviation I've not previously seen).
'role' becomes 'part' (eg a part or role in a film).
'a'+'part'='APART'
'is' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for apart that I've seen before include "Isolated" , "set aside" , "aloof" , "Independently" , "Separated; to one side" .)