So within the layout of my site I've added a RenderAction that looks like this:
@{Html.RenderAction("../Controller/Action", new Site.Models.Controller());}
The control works fine if I point my browser at site.com/Controller/Action
but if I try using it within the layout the controller actions aren't executed.
I've also tried:
@{Html.RenderAction("Controller", "Action", new Site.Models.Controller());}