If you don’t know who Charlie Plummer is yet, you’re about to. The 18-year-old U.S. actor was named best young performer for portraying a lonely boy who befriends a tired old racehorse in Andrew Haigh’s “Lean on Pete” at the Venice Film Festival which concluded on Saturday. In the adaptation of Willy Valutin‘s novel, Plummer plays Charley Thompson, a young teen on a journey to find his long-lost aunt after his father passes away from sepsis. Along for the journey with Charley is a racehorse, Lean on Pete. “I think he just possesses something that so many other actors don’t have, some kind of innate subtlety and sensitivity,” director Haigh said of Plummer, who later appeared as wealthy kidnap victim John Paul Getty III in Ridley Scott’s “All the Money in the World.” “I think he has a way of finding some kind of truth in a scene that feels surprising.” Plummer, who spent several weeks building a bond with the horse before filming started, said acting alongside an animal was challenging but rewarding. “I think the horse did a tremendous job in the film, and I think he gives a wonderful performance,” he said. Plummer may still be an unknown to most moviegoers, but the actor is making moves to change that. He began his professional career in “Sopranos” creator David Chase’s feature film, “Not Fade Away” in 2012, and the same year was cast in a recurring role in HBO’s award-winning “Boardwalk Empire.” He was also a series regular on the Netflix cold war drama “Granite Flats,” starring with Christopher Lloyd and Parker Posey. He starred in coming-of-age tale “King Jack” in 2016. The film later won the audience award at the Tribeca Film Festival. Coming up before “Lean on Pete,” Plummer appeared in “The Dinner” opposite Richard Gere and Laura Linney as well as in “Behold My Heart” with Marisa Tomei and Timothy Olyphant. Plummer will also be leading the adaptation of the popular children’s novel “Stargirl.” Plummer was one of the finalists for the part of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the rebooted franchise but lost to Tom Holland. “My favorite part of filming was working with people I love and respect every day,” says Plummer in a 2016 interview. Considering one of his ultimate goals as an actor is “to be wholeheartedly proud of every single project I’m apart of,” we have no doubt that everything he lends his talents to will be anything short of excellent. (SD-Agencies) ? | 