Sam Riley Biography

Sam Riley (born 8 January 1980) is an English actor and singer best known for the performance in the 2007 biographical film Control, about the life of Ian Curtis.

Early life

Riley was born in Menston, West Yorkshire, the son of "a textile agent and nursery school teacher". He was educated at Uppingham School. He was turned down by both the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art ("LAMDA") and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art ("RADA").

Career

Film

His breakthrough performance came when he played the role of Ian Curtis in the film Control, a biopic about the lead singer of the 1970s post-punk band Joy Division. The film received high critical acclaim due in no small part to Riley's performance, which won him a selection of awards including the British Independent Film Award for "Most Promising Newcomer" a BAFTA "Rising Star" nomination; and a Mark Kermode nod for Best Actor 2007.

Prior to his portrayal of Ian Curtis, Riley played the Fall frontman Mark E Smith in the Michael Winterbottom film 24 Hour Party People, which details the Factory Records era. His scenes, however, were omitted from the final cut.

In September 2007, Riley was cast in Gerald McMorrow's British science fiction film Franklyn. He starred as the lead role in 13, an English language remake of the French thriller 13 Tzameti that has yet to have an American and European release. He played the role of Pinkie Brown in Brighton Rock alongside Helen Mirren, released 4 February 2011. He also starred in Walter Salles' film adaptation of Jack Kerouac's autobiographical On the Road playing the narrator and protagonist Sal Paradise. He also has a small role in the German comedy "Rubbeldiekatz" (2011) in which his wife Alexandra Maria Lara plays the female lead role. His role is listed as "Wagenmeister". In "Byzantium" (2012), a film directed by Neil Jordan, he plays alongside Gemma Arterton and Saoirse Ronan as "Darvell".

Modelling

He featured in the autumn/winter 2008 publicity campaign for the British fashion house Burberry, devised and supervised by Christopher Bailey and shot by Mario Testino.

Music

For a few years he was the lead singer of the Leeds band 10,000 Things, with whom he achieved moderate success. After their first release on indie label Voltage Records in 2002, they signed to major label Polydor for one self-titled album They disbanded in 2005.

Personal life

He currently lives in Berlin with his wife and Control co-star Alexandra Maria Lara. They married in August 2009.

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Notes
2007	Control	Ian Curtis	Bratislava International Film Festival Award for Best Actor British Independent Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer Chicago International Film Festival Award for Best Actor Edinburgh International Film Festival Award for Best British Performance Empire Award for Best Newcomer Kermode Award for Best Actor International Cinephile Society Award for Best Actor London Film Critics Circle Award for British Breakthrough of the Year - Acting Nominated - BAFTA Awards - Rising Star Award Nominated - British Independent Film Award for Best Actor Nominated - Chlotrudis Award for Best Actor Nominated - Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actor Nominated - London Film Critics Circle Award for British Actor of the Year Nominated - Online Film Critics Society Award for Breakthrough Performer
2008	Franklyn	Milo
2010	13	Vincent Ferro
2010	Brighton Rock	Pinkie Brown	Nominated - Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actor
2012	On the Road	Sal Paradise
2012	Byzantium	Darvell
2014	Maleficent	Diaval