Figure in a new role as Cromwell (6)
I believe the answer is:
oliver
'cromwell' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'figure in a new role' is the wordplay.
'figure' becomes 'iv' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'a new' is an anagram indicator.
'role' anagrammed gives 'oler'.
'iv' placed within 'oler' is 'OLIVER'.
'as' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for oliver that I've seen before include "Dickens-based musical" , "One taking pride in food" , "Dickens boys who asked for more" , "See 19" , "Lionel Bart musical" .)