| TONYNOM | Nod to a stage actor, for short |
| CUING | Providing prompts to a stage actor |
| PROP | Sword used by a stage actor, for example |
| DAIRY | With a firm etymological nod to a loaf-kneading girl, lady or maid who provided the staff of life, a butter HQ, milk bar or place for curds and whey, as churned by a farmer every day (5) |
| MENTION | A reference to someone's merit; or, a nod to a person/thing generally (7) |
| ROOKIE | Whether a mangled version of "recruit", a nod to a fledgeling in breeches or put on the map by Rudyard Kipling, it has always meant the new kid on the block (6) |
| ASIDE | Comment from a stage actor directly to the audience |
| OFTENON | Like a stage actor with a large part? |
| CUE | Prompt for a stage actor |
| THESPIAN | Relating to drama, a stage actor |
| TRIPLET | Excursion gave the nod to a child of three (7) |
| PLOP | Small splash sound that becomes a stage actor's item if the second letter is changed to an R |
| FOURTHWALL | Imaginary barrier that might be broken by a stage actor |
| INPLAY | Like a stage actor describing ball on the pitch? (2,4) |
| SENNET | Fanfare or flourish announcing the entrance or exit of a stage actor in an Elizabethan play (6) |
| CEDS | Belonging to 'The Entertainer' comic actor, for short |
| DRYICE | Substance to bring 'clouds' to a stage play (3,3) |
| GTA | Video-game franchise that used Samuel L. Jackson as a voice actor, for short |
| SLYSTALLONE | "The Expendables 3" actor, for short |
| NPH | Barney Stinson actor, for short |
