Sam Riley

A critically acclaimed presence in British film after his award-winning turn as Joy Division singer Ian Curtis in "Control" (2007), Sam Riley parlayed his brooding persona in that film into a series of equally dark character turns that led up to his Hollywood debut as Jack Kerouac in "On the Road" (2012). A former rock musician himself with the short-lived band 10,000 Things, Riley burst onto the scene with his performance in "Control," which was soon followed by similar roles in the 2011 remake of "Brighton Rock" (2011), among other films. Riley's profile rose to international proportions when he was cast in the Francis Ford Coppola-produced adaptation of "Road" for director Walter Salles. The film, which attracted considerable attention for a post "Twilight Saga" (2008-2012) appearance by Kristen Stewart, led to Riley being cast in such high-profile projects as Walt Disney Pictures' "Maleficient" (2014) opposite Angelina Jolie. Riley's magnetic appeal with young viewers, as well as the quality of his performances, minted him as a star in the making on both sides of the Atlantic.