But tragedy strikes when Eliot goes missing and Lucy undertakes a dangerous journey to find him.

[1] Sometimes it's hard to find what you're looking for Connolly developed and co-wrote the script for Eliot & Me with producer Fiona Bergin.

"It was a bit of a family affair', says Connolly "we shot at weekends and school holidays, whenever Ella was free.

Having worked on that film which was shot in winter and involved prosthetics and special effects, this was relatively straightforward, She dug deep to play this little girl and to give her a vulnerability and strength in keeping with the story.

Its warm heart and winning spirit will likely breeze through your mind for days after watching the young Connolly and this adorable Yorkshire Terrier.

[4] In June 2013 Ella Connolly won the Best Actor award at the Dream Fest International Film Festival for Children and Youth in the Romanian town of Slatina.

Famous Chinese actress Jiang Wenli chaired the international jury and singled out Ms. Connolly's performance as "compelling and authentic, with a naturalness rare in child acting.