He has an exacting role in Shakespeare (7)
I believe the answer is:
shylock
'role in shakespeare' is the definition.
'shylock' can be an answer for 'role' (I have seen 'Shakespearian role' mean 'shylock' so perhaps 'role' could also mean 'shylock'). I'm not certain of the 'in shakespeare' bit.
'he has an exacting' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'he' could be 'lock' and 'lock' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'shy' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for shylock that I've seen before include "Heartless creditor" , "Famous loner reportedly" , "The Jew in 'The Merchant of Venice'" , "27's usurer" , "Shakespearean character" .)