Sam Riley

Early life and education

Riley was born in Menston, Bradford, West Yorkshire, the son of Amanda, a nursery school teacher, and Andrew Riley, a textile agent. He was educated at Malsis School, an independent school in the village of Cross Hills in North Yorkshire, and at Uppingham School, an independent school in the market town of Uppingham in Rutland.

Career

Acting

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. 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 and featured Sean Harris as Ian Curtis. Riley's 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, released in the U.S. 28 October 2011. He played the role of Pinkie Brown in Brighton Rock alongside Helen Mirren, an adaption of Graham Greene's novel, 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 2011 German comedy **, in which his wife Alexandra Maria Lara plays the female lead. His role is listed as "Wagenmeister".

In Byzantium (2012), a film directed by Neil Jordan, he appears alongside Gemma Arterton and Saoirse Ronan as Darvell.

In 2012, Riley was cast as Diaval in Disney's Maleficent, alongside Angelina Jolie. The film was released May 2014.

In 2015, he played Benoit Labarie in Saul Dibb's film adaptation of Irène Némirovsky's novel Suite Française, opposite Michelle Williams, Matthias Schoenaerts, Kristin Scott Thomas and Ruth Wilson.

Riley was also cast as Fitzwilliam Darcy (Mr. Darcy) in the film, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, released in February 2016.

Riley played the 'not-so welcome' returning prodigal brother David in the 2018 film Happy New Year, Colin Burstead by Ben Wheatley.

Modelling

He featured in the autumn/winter 2008 publicity campaign for the British fashion house Burberry, supervised by Christopher Bailey and shot by Mario Testino. He modelled the fall/winter 2014 Stefano Pilati-designed couture collection of Ermenegildo Zegna. He was named one of GQs 50 best dressed British men in 2015.

Music

For a few years Riley 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

As of 2011, Riley lives in Berlin with his wife, Romanian-German actress Alexandra Maria Lara.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

References

1. (8 January 2018). "UPI Almanac for Monday, Jan. 8, 2018". [[United Press International]].
2. James Mottram: The only people for me are the mad ones. [[Independent on Sunday. ''Independent on Sunday: The New Review'']], 30 January 2011, pp 10–13
3. Hardaker, Andrea. (11 October 2007). "Chance phone call brought fame to a Menston lad".
4. (28 November 2007). "BIFA Winners 2007". British Independent Film Awards.
5. (2011-01-12). "Sam Riley shot to fame as the doomed Ian Curtis in Control. Now he's playing creepy Pinkie in Brighton Rock".
6. Panos, Maggie. (2014-09-24). "In: Sam Riley".
7. "Happy New Year, Colin Burstead (2018) - IMDb".
8. Millar, Jamie; [[GQ]]; ''Sam Riley Exclusive!'', February 2011. [http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2011-02/04/gq-film-sam-riley-interview-brighton-rock-on-the-road/mario-testino-burberry-13-ray-winstone CQ.com] {{webarchive. link. (7 February 2011 ; retrieved 9 February 2011.)
9. [http://www.zegna.com/us/ermenegildo-zegna/couture/aw14/concept-adv-stefano-pilati.html Stefano Pilati concept] zegna.com
10. (5 January 2015). "50 Best Dressed Men in Britain 2015". GQ.
11. (7 January 2014). "Nachwuchs: Berlinerin Alexandra Maria Lara freut sich über einen Sohn".
12. (1 June 2014). "Alexandra Maria Lara & Sam Riley – Baby-Geschlecht bekannt".
13. (14 June 2010). "2008 ICS AWARD WINNERS". International Cinephile Society.
14. Economou, Vassilis. (17 December 2024). "The Berlinale announces the first Berlinale Special, Panorama and Generation titles".