Famous actor figures in new role (7)

I believe the answer is:

olivier

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'famous actor' is the definition.
(Sir Laurence Olivier)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for olivier that I've seen before include "ham? Definitely not!" , "Great English actor playing rilievo" , "English actor, first artistic director of the National Theatre" , "Sir Laurence -, English actor (Hamlet, nineteen fourty eight)" , "N Messiaen, French composer" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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