Well, one idea to grasp is that your mind can contain different "parts" or "aspects." You know how your emotions and thoughts can seem different in different situations? You know how sometimes the words that come out of your mouth can surprise you, or you may regret them?

Dreams represent this situation by representing your mind as containing distinct personalities, which can show up in the dream as other people, animals, or even objects.

A curious thing about women is that they often contain an inner masculine personality. And men contain an inner feminine personality. So when a guy shows up in your dreams, especially one you feel close to or are attracted strongly to, the dream can be using that guy to represent the masculine within you.

The guy can also be just the guy in real life. Sometimes you have to figure it out.

Because this guy had an actor's face, it suggests to me that he's the inner masculine rather than the real-life guy.

Margaret is another personality within you who seems to contain your leftover romantic feelings for your ex as she seems to function to bring you back to him. But at the same time she is attracted to the external guy, she can also serve to bring you closer to the inner masculine.

You seem to really be comforted by this guy in this dream. That suggests to me there is a really healthy aspect of your relationship to the inner masculine. But it's never "all good" or "all bad" with these inner parts. A part can help you out, but maybe remind you of something you're missing at the same time. For instance, waking up from this dream you might just feel MORE confused about your feelings toward him.

The thing to remember is that this dream did contain some images of comfort from this guy. At least I'm assuming so - - did it comfort you to hold his hand and sit in his lap? If so, that means there is a REAL inner masculine who can be there for you in real life.

But dreams are speaking of things that are usually unconscious. You may not be able to be 100% conscious of how the inner masculine expresses itself, not at first.