Exceptional animator, ace lover (9)
I believe the answer is:
inamorata
'lover' is the definition.
(I know that inamorata is a type of lover)
'exceptional animator ace' is the wordplay.
'exceptional' indicates anagramming the letters.
'ace' becomes 'a' (abbreviation).
'animator' is an anagram of 'inamorat'.
'inamorat'+'a'='INAMORATA'
(Other definitions for inamorata that I've seen before include "Girlfriend" , "Beloved of one another" , "Female lover" , "6 across [BOSOM] friend" , "Woman beloved" .)