British actor Sam Riley premiered onscreen with a much-coveted lead, and a professionally demanding one at that: the biographical portrayal of controversial, ill-fated post-punk singer Ian Curtis, in photographer-turned-director Anton Corbijn's haunting biopic Control (2007). Riley's courageous and disciplined performance earned a myriad of advance praises when the film swept through the festival circuit, foreshadowing an eminently successful career for the young thespian.
Sam Riley
Active - 2003 - Present | Born - Jan 8, 1980 in Menston, West Yorkshire, England | Genres - Drama, Thriller, Science FictionShare on
Biography by Nathan Southern
Movie Highlights
Factsheet
- Sang lead for the Leeds band 10,000 Things, which recorded an album for Vintage Records in 2002; brother George played bass.
- Saw his run with the band end in 2006, which prepared him for his role in Control as Ian Curtis, tormented lead singer of Joy Division.
- Named on Variety's Ten Actors to Watch in 2007.
- Modeled for Burberry's fall-winter campaign in 2008.
- Trained for two months with a dialogue coach and learned to speak French Canadian in preparation for his role as Jack Kerouac in On the Road (2012).
