Who is he?

A 17-year-old wrestling champ from New Jersey who nearly didn't try out when a film crew was in town auditioning young wrestlers for a movie.

Why not?

He thought it sounded lame and the open-casting date clashed with wrestling practice. But his dad sent over some newspaper clippings. Seven or eight auditions later, Shaffer got the part in Win Win, as a runaway wrestling prodigy, starring with Paul Giamatti.

We'd pay to see Giamatti wresting. Is he?

No, he's the coach – training a hopeless high school team. When Shaffer shows up on the team, they're all in awe of the cool, tattooed 16-year-old. "The kid has man-strength," whispers one.

Who else is involved?

Win Win is directed by Thomas McCarthy and is as warm-hearted and affirming as his 2003 film The Station Agent.

How tough did Shaffer find acting?

Tricky getting into the mindset of a troubled kid, he says, but listening to Eminem helped: "There is so much anger in his songs." He was also shocked by how hard actors work: "I had this image that they never do anything and get paid a lot of money."

What next? Acting or back in the ring?

Shaffer has since broken a vertebra, so acting most likely. He shouldn't have any problems. "Effortlessly convincing," wrote Roger Ebert of his performance.