| GIAMATTI | Paul, actor who played a struggling writer in 2005 film Sideways (8) |
| PAPERBACKS | Softcover books or novels, such as the orange classics published by Penguin or those penned by a fictional struggling writer in a Beatles song (10) |
| AESOP | Pose with a struggling author (5) |
| PINOTNOIR | Red wine that was popularized in the Academy Award-winning film Sideways: 2 wds. |
| NICHOLLS | Paul, actor who played Steve Bell in Ackley Bridge (8) |
| NICHOLAS | Paul, actor who played Gavin Sullivan in EastEnders (8) |
| EVAGREEN | Actress who played Sibylla in 2005 film Kingdom Of Heaven (3,5) |
| ROBESON | Paul, actor who played the title role in the film The Emperor Jones (7) |
| RUDD | Paul -, actor who played the title role in 2015 action-comedy film Ant-man (4) |
| HENREID | Paul, actor who played Victor Laszlo in the 1942 film Casablanca (7) |
| DANO | Paul **** , actor who played Sammy's father in 2022 film 'The Fabelmans' (4) |
| MUNI | Paul, actor who played the lead role in 1932 gangster film Scarface (4) |
| THEHAGUE | He-he, gut a struggling centre of justice (3,5) |
| USHER | Paul -. actor who played Barry Grant in Channel 4 soap Brookside (5) |
| EDDINGTON | Paul - - -, actor who played Jim Hacker in Yes Minister (9) |
| HOGAN | Paul ---, actor who played Mick “Crocodile” Dundee on film |
| SEAHORSE | SOS here - a struggling swimmer |
| CANOEIST | Notices a struggling rower |
| METHODMAN | Rapper and actor who played Deputy Turner in 2005 film thriller Venom |
| METHOD | Rapper and actor who played Deputy Turner in 2005 film thriller Venom (6,3) |
