Crossword Genius

Figure in a new role as Romeo (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lover

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'romeo' is the definition.
(Romeo can mean a male lover)

'figure in a new role' is the wordplay.
'figure' becomes 'v' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'a new' indicates an anagram.
'role' with letters rearranged gives 'loer'.
'v' placed within 'loer' is 'LOVER'.

'as' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lover that I've seen before include "finished litre first" , "'Lady Chatterley's - - ' by D H Lawrence" , "Romantic partner" , "One enjoys" , "He really likes" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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