Crossword Genius

Fellow performer requiring money to be paid and all royalties up front (2-4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

co-star

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'fellow performer' is the definition.
(a fellow actor)

'money to be paid and all royalties up front' is the wordplay.
'money to be paid' becomes 'cost' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'up front' indicates taking the first letters (the letter at the front of the word).
The initial letters of 'all royalties' is 'ar'.
'cost'+'ar'='CO-STAR'

'requiring' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for co-star that I've seen before include "Joint equal performer" , "Performer meriting joint billing" , "Fellow leading actor" , "One with joint top billing" , "Actor sharing top billing" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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