State the actual figure (5)

I believe the answer is:

realm

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'state' is the definition.
(realm is a kind of state)

'the actual figure' is the wordplay.
'the actual' becomes 'real' (I've seen this before).
'figure' becomes 'm' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'real'+'m'='REALM'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for realm that I've seen before include "monarch's responsibility" , "Royal domain" , "Kingdom could be lamer" , "King's domain" , "Kingdom, domain" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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