First sight: Connor McCarron

Who is he? A 17-year-old Scottish actor who stars in Peter Mullan's new film, Neds. He plays John, a teenager in Glasgow in the 70s, who shines at school but falls in with a gang. At the San Sebastian film festival a couple of weeks ago, he won the best actor award for his performance. So is he some kind of acting prodigy? Hardly. This is the first time McCarron has acted – in anything. He went along to the audition after his dad read an interview with Mullan in the local paper, in which the director said he was looking for kids for a new film. Almost all the young cast were picked up from the 300 or so who showed up. Pretty fantastic they are, too: the heart and soul of the film. Their audition photos flash up during the end credits – a lovely touch. "Neds" … isn't that the Scotch word for chavs? Not quite. It's a slang abbreviation for Non-Educated Delinquents. Everything is stacked in favour of John becoming a ned: family (dad's an alcoholic, brother's a local hard man), the works. Never mind that he is whip-smart and eager to learn. Is it autobiographical? Is he playing Peter Mullan as a teenager? Not according to Mullan, who describes Neds as "personal but not autobiographical" and says he was a "total tourist" in a gang for a year or so. What next for McCarron – more acting? Give the boy a chance. He doesn't even have an agent yet. He's up for another award though: Best British Newcomer at the London film festival. Cath Clarke