British individual keeps a role for French ruler (9)
I believe the answer is:
bonaparte
'ruler' is the definition.
(I know that Bonaparte is a emperor)
'british individual keeps a role' is the wordplay.
'british' becomes 'b' (abbreviation e.g. in BBC).
'individual' becomes 'one' (an individual is one person).
'keeps' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are kept inside).
'role' becomes 'part' (eg a part or role in a film).
'a'+'part'='apart'
'one' enclosing 'apart' is 'onaparte'.
'b'+'onaparte'='BONAPARTE'
'for french' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bonaparte that I've seen before include "Napoleon's surname" , "Exiled emperor" , "French costume drama may involve me" , "Extremely delicate and light" , "Corsican family" .)