Possible Clues:

• One held by the bridge player
• Player, one featured in bridge article at the start
• The distortion surrounding article is dramatic
• He paints badly, so becomes an actor
• He paints badly so becomes an actor
• Theatrical type, male, in past, in comic production
• He paints badly - can he act?
• Actor; relating to drama
• Actor writing article on Spain, perhaps
• The turn involving a stage performer