Early movie star, fellow nothing set back (7)
I believe the answer is:
chaplin
'early movie star' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'fellow nothing set back' is the wordplay.
'fellow' becomes 'chap' (both can mean a man).
'nothing' becomes 'nil' (eg nil is zero in football).
'set back' says the letters should be written backwards.
'nil' in reverse letter order is 'lin'.
'chap'+'lin'='CHAPLIN'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for chaplin that I've seen before include "bowler went over this player's head?" , "Old comedian" , "Charlie --, film comic" , "Charlie, immortal cinema clown" , "Charlie ---, film comedian" .)