Crossword Genius

Lead actor upset about new passionate speeches (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rants

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'passionate speeches' is the definition.
'rants' can be an answer for 'speeches' (rant is a kind of speech). I'm not sure about the 'passionate' bit.

'lead actor upset about new' is the wordplay.
'lead actor' becomes 'star' (eg the star of a show).
'upset' says the letters should be written backwards.
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'new' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation eg NT for New Testament).
'star' reversed gives 'rats'.
'rats' enclosing 'n' is 'RANTS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for rants that I've seen before include "Loud bombastic declamations" , "Loud pompous declamations" , "Raves" , "Noisily declaims" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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