# Sam Riley

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British actor (born 1980)

This article is about the British actor. For the rugby player, see [Sam Riley (rugby union)](/source/Sam_Riley_(rugby_union)). For the Australian swimmer, see [Samantha Riley](/source/Samantha_Riley).

Sam Riley Riley in 2024 Born (1980-01-08) 8 January 1980 (age 46) Menston, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England Occupations Actor singer Years active 2002–present Spouse Alexandra Maria Lara ​ ​ (m. 2009)​ Children 1

**Samuel Peter W. Riley** (born 8 January 1980)[1] is an English actor and singer.[2] He is best known for his performance in the 2007 [biographical film](/source/Biographical_film) *[Control](/source/Control_(2007_film))* about the life of [Ian Curtis](/source/Ian_Curtis), as protagonist Sal Paradise in the [2012 adaptation](/source/On_the_Road_(2012_film)) of the [Jack Kerouac](/source/Jack_Kerouac) novel *[On the Road](/source/On_the_Road)*, and as [Diaval](/source/List_of_Disney's_Sleeping_Beauty_characters#Diablo) in the 2014 film *[Maleficent](/source/Maleficent_(film))*. Riley received renown for his portrayal of [Fitzwilliam Darcy](/source/Mr._Darcy) in the 2016 film *[Pride and Prejudice and Zombies](/source/Pride_and_Prejudice_and_Zombies_(film))*.

## Early life and education

Riley was born in [Menston, Bradford, West Yorkshire](/source/Menston), the son of Amanda, a nursery school teacher, and Andrew Riley, a textile agent.[2][3] He was educated at [Malsis School](/source/Malsis_School), an independent school in the village of [Cross Hills](/source/Cross_Hills) in [North Yorkshire](/source/North_Yorkshire), and at [Uppingham School](/source/Uppingham_School), an independent school in the [market town](/source/Market_town) of [Uppingham](/source/Uppingham) in [Rutland](/source/Rutland).[2]

## Career

### Acting

His breakthrough performance came when he played the role of [Ian Curtis](/source/Ian_Curtis) in the film *[Control](/source/Control_(2007_film))*, a biopic about the lead singer of the 1970s [post-punk](/source/Post-punk) band [Joy Division](/source/Joy_Division).[2] The film received high critical acclaim due in good part to Riley's performance,[4] which won him a selection of awards including the [British Independent Film Award](/source/British_Independent_Film_Awards) for "Most Promising Newcomer"[5] a [BAFTA](/source/BAFTA) "Rising Star" nomination;[2] and a Mark Kermode nod for Best Actor 2007.

Prior to his portrayal of Ian Curtis, Riley played [The Fall](/source/The_Fall_(band)) frontman [Mark E. Smith](/source/Mark_E._Smith) in the [Michael Winterbottom](/source/Michael_Winterbottom) film *[24 Hour Party People](/source/24_Hour_Party_People)*, which details the [Factory Records](/source/Factory_Records) era and featured [Sean Harris](/source/Sean_Harris) as Ian Curtis.[2] Riley's scenes, however, were omitted from the final cut.[2]

In September 2007, Riley was cast in [Gerald McMorrow](/source/Gerald_McMorrow)'s British science fiction film *[Franklyn](/source/Franklyn)*. He starred as the lead role in *[13](/source/13_(2010_film))*, an English language remake of the French thriller *[13 Tzameti](/source/13_Tzameti)*, released in the U.S. 28 October 2011. He played the role of [Pinkie Brown](/source/Pinkie_Brown) in *[Brighton Rock](/source/Brighton_Rock_(2011_film))* alongside [Helen Mirren](/source/Helen_Mirren), an adaption of [Graham Greene](/source/Graham_Greene)'s novel,[6] released 4 February 2011.[2] He also starred in [Walter Salles](/source/Walter_Salles)' film adaptation of [Jack Kerouac](/source/Jack_Kerouac)'s autobiographical *[On the Road](/source/On_the_Road_(2012_film))* playing the narrator and protagonist Sal Paradise.[2] He also has a small role in the 2011 German comedy *[Woman in Love](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Woman_in_Love_(film)&action=edit&redlink=1) [[de](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubbeldiekatz)]*, in which his wife [Alexandra Maria Lara](/source/Alexandra_Maria_Lara) plays the female lead. His role is listed as "Wagenmeister".

In *[Byzantium](/source/Byzantium_(film))* (2012), a film directed by [Neil Jordan](/source/Neil_Jordan), he appears alongside [Gemma Arterton](/source/Gemma_Arterton) and [Saoirse Ronan](/source/Saoirse_Ronan) as Darvell.

In 2012, Riley was cast as Diaval in [Disney](/source/Disney)'s *[Maleficent](/source/Maleficent_(film))*, alongside [Angelina Jolie](/source/Angelina_Jolie).[4] The film was released May 2014.

In 2015, he played Benoit Labarie in [Saul Dibb](/source/Saul_Dibb)'s film adaptation of [Irène Némirovsky](/source/Ir%C3%A8ne_N%C3%A9mirovsky)'s novel *[Suite Française](/source/Suite_Fran%C3%A7aise_(film))*, opposite [Michelle Williams](/source/Michelle_Williams_(actress)), [Matthias Schoenaerts](/source/Matthias_Schoenaerts), [Kristin Scott Thomas](/source/Kristin_Scott_Thomas) and [Ruth Wilson](/source/Ruth_Wilson).

Riley was also cast as Fitzwilliam Darcy ([Mr. Darcy](/source/Mr._Darcy)) in the film, [*Pride and Prejudice and Zombies*](/source/Pride_and_Prejudice_and_Zombies_(film)),[7] released in February 2016.

Riley played the 'not-so welcome' returning prodigal brother David in the 2018 film *[Happy New Year, Colin Burstead](/source/Happy_New_Year%2C_Colin_Burstead)*[8] by [Ben Wheatley](/source/Ben_Wheatley).

### Modelling

He featured in the autumn/winter 2008 publicity campaign for the British fashion house [Burberry](/source/Burberry), supervised by [Christopher Bailey](/source/Christopher_Bailey_(fashion_designer)) and shot by [Mario Testino](/source/Mario_Testino).[9] He modelled the fall/winter 2014 [Stefano Pilati](/source/Stefano_Pilati)-designed couture collection of [Ermenegildo Zegna](/source/Ermenegildo_Zegna_Group).[10] He was named one of *[GQ](/source/GQ)*'s 50 best dressed British men in 2015.[11]

### Music

For a few years Riley was the lead singer of the [Leeds](/source/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](/source/Polydor) for one self-titled album.[2] They disbanded in 2005.

## Personal life

As of 2011, Riley lives in [Berlin](/source/Berlin) with his wife, [Romanian-German](/source/Romanians_in_Germany) actress [Alexandra Maria Lara](/source/Alexandra_Maria_Lara).[2] They met while filming *Control,* married in August 2009 and have a son born in January 2014.[12][13][14]

## Filmography

### Film

Year Title 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[15] International Cinephile Society Award for Best Actor[16] 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 – 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 Brighton Rock Pinkie Brown Nominated – Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actor 2012 On the Road Sal Paradise Byzantium Darvell 2014 The Dark Valley Greider Maleficent Diaval 2015 Suite Française Benoit Labarie 2016 Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Fitzwilliam Darcy Free Fire Stevo 2018 Happy New Year, Colin Burstead David Sometimes Always Never Peter 2019 Radioactive Pierre Curie Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Diaval 2020 Rebecca Jack Favell 2021 The Vault James 2022 She Is Love Idris 2023 Firebrand Thomas Seymour Widow Clicquot Louis Bohne 2025 Islands Premiered at 75th Berlin International Film Festival in Berlinale Special in February 2025.[17] Bulk Corey

### Television

Year Title Role Notes 2017 SS-GB Douglas Archer BBC One mini-series TBA Berlin Noir Robert Lanz Upcoming series

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["UPI Almanac for Monday, Jan. 8, 2018"](https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2018/01/08/UPI-Almanac-for-Monday-Jan-8-2018/2171515208436/). *[United Press International](/source/United_Press_International)*. 8 January 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180108222931/https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2018/01/08/UPI-Almanac-for-Monday-Jan-8-2018/2171515208436/) from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2019. …actor Sam Riley in 1980 (age 38)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-IOS3010111_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-IOS3010111_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-IOS3010111_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-IOS3010111_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-IOS3010111_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-IOS3010111_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-IOS3010111_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-IOS3010111_2-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-IOS3010111_2-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-IOS3010111_2-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-IOS3010111_2-10) James Mottram: The only people for me are the mad ones. [*Independent on Sunday: The New Review*](/source/Independent_on_Sunday), 30 January 2011, pp 10–13

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Hardaker, Andrea (11 October 2007). ["Chance phone call brought fame to a Menston lad"](http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/1752699.chance_phone_call_brought_fame_to_a_menston_lad/). *Ilkley Gazette*. Retrieved 22 May 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_4-1) Wollaston, Sam (18 June 2020). ["Sam Riley: 'The closer I got to fame, the more frightened I was of it'"](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jun/18/sam-riley-control-moment-my-life-good-ian-curtis-berlin-marie-curie). *The Guardian*. Retrieved 9 February 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BIFA_5-0)** ["BIFA Winners 2007"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071126021324/http://www.bifa.org.uk/awards/winners/2007.html). British Independent Film Awards. 28 November 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.bifa.org.uk/awards/winners/2007.html) on 26 November 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Sam Riley shot to fame as the doomed Ian Curtis in Control. Now he's playing creepy Pinkie in Brighton Rock"](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/jan/12/sam-riley-star-brighton-rock). *The Guardian*. 12 January 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Panos, Maggie (24 September 2014). ["In: Sam Riley"](http://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/photo-gallery/35750189/image/35750206/Sam-Riley). *POPSUGAR Entertainment*. Retrieved 9 February 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Happy New Year, Colin Burstead (2018) - IMDb"](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8122018/fullcredits). *IMDb.com*. Retrieved 31 July 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Millar, Jamie; [GQ](/source/GQ); *Sam Riley Exclusive!*, February 2011. [CQ.com](https://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) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110207081343/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) 7 February 2011 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine); retrieved 9 February 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Stefano Pilati concept](http://www.zegna.com/us/ermenegildo-zegna/couture/aw14/concept-adv-stefano-pilati.html) zegna.com

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["50 Best Dressed Men in Britain 2015"](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/style/articles/2015-01/05/best-dressed-men-2015/). *GQ*. 5 January 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Alexandra Maria Lara: Endlich ist der Name ihres Babys raus!"](http://www.bunte.de/meldungen/alexandra-maria-lara-endlich-ist-der-name-ihres-babys-raus-72338.html) [Alexandra Maria Lara- Her baby's name is finally out!]. *BUNTE.de* (in German). 13 February 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Nachwuchs: Berlinerin Alexandra Maria Lara freut sich über einen Sohn"](http://www.morgenpost.de/vermischtes/article123627670/Berlinerin-Alexandra-Maria-Lara-freut-sich-ueber-einen-Sohn.html) [Alexandra Maria Lara from Berlin is happy to have a son]. *Morgenpost*. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Alexandra Maria Lara & Sam Riley – Baby-Geschlecht bekannt"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140220133301/http://www.ok-magazin.de/people/news/23428/alexandra-maria-lara-und-sam-riley-baby-geschlecht-bekannt) [Alexandra Maria Lara & Sam Riley - It's a boy!]. *Ok magazin*. 1 June 2014. Archived from [the original](http://www.ok-magazin.de/people/news/23428/alexandra-maria-lara-und-sam-riley-baby-geschlecht-bekannt) on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Radiohead's_Jonny_Greenwood_Scoops_Movie_Award_15-0)** ["Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood Scoops Movie Award"](https://www.gigwise.com/news/41023/radioheads-jonny-greenwood-scoops-movie-award). Gigwise.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2008_ICS_AWARD_WINNERS_16-0)** ["2008 ICS AWARD WINNERS"](http://icsfilm.org/awards/2008). International Cinephile Society. 14 June 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Economou, Vassilis (17 December 2024). ["The Berlinale announces the first Berlinale Special, Panorama and Generation titles"](https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/471529). *[Cineuropa](/source/Cineuropa)*. Retrieved 18 December 2024.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Sam Riley](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Sam_Riley).

- [Sam Riley](https://web.archive.org/web/20170616121519/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bdaba0980) at the [British Film Institute](/source/British_Film_Institute)

- [Sam Riley](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0727165/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

v t e Empire Award for Best Newcomer Bryan Singer (1996) Ewen Bremner (1997) Gary Oldman (1998) Vinnie Jones (1999) Carrie-Anne Moss/Damien O'Donnell (2000) Jamie Bell (2001) Orlando Bloom (2002) Rosamund Pike (2003) Martine McCutcheon (2004) Freddie Highmore (2005) Kelly Reilly (2006) Brandon Routh/Eva Green (2007) Sam Riley (2008) Gemma Arterton (2009) Aaron Johnson (2010) Chloë Grace Moretz (2011)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States France BnF data Czech Republic Spain Netherlands Norway Poland Artists MusicBrainz People Deutsche Biographie DDB Other IdRef Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sam Riley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Riley) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Riley?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.