Crossword Genius

Actors made to look different without hesitation for historical play (7,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

costume drama

'historical play' is the definition.

'actors made to look different without hesitation' is the wordplay.
'to look different' is an anagram indicator (I've seen 'looking different' mean this (I've seen this in other clues)).
'without' is an insertion indicator ('without' can be similar in meaning to 'outside').
'hesitation' becomes 'um'.
'actors'+'made'='actorsmade'
'actorsmade' is an anagram of 'costedrama'.
'costedrama' placed around 'um' is 'COSTUME DRAMA'.

'for' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for costume drama that I've seen before include "Historical entertainment" , "Play featuring actors in dress of a bygone era" , "Period piece with stress on dress" , "Historical play emphasising dress" , "TV programme set in past times" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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