William was given his breakthrough at 16 years old by award-winning British director Ken Loach in Sweet Sixteen where he plays Pinball. Ruane has gone on to work with Loach in 3 other films, Tickets, The Wind That Shakes The Barley (winner of the 2006 palme d'or) and The Angels' Share, (winner of the 2012 Jury Prize at the Cannes Film festival).