In Byzantium (2012), a film directed by Neil Jordan, he appears alongside Gemma Arterton and Saoirse Ronan as "Darvell". He also has a small role in the 2011 German comedy Rubbeldiekatz, in which his wife Alexandra Maria Lara plays the female lead. He also starred in Walter Salles' film adaptation of Jack Kerouac's autobiographical On the Road playing the narrator and protagonist Sal Paradise. He played the role of Pinkie Brown in Brighton Rock alongside Helen Mirren, released 4 February 2011. 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.
In September 2007, Riley was cast in Gerald McMorrow's British science fiction film Franklyn. Riley's scenes, however, were omitted from the final cut. 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. 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. 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. He was turned down by both the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He was educated at Malsis School, Cross Hills, and at Uppingham. Riley was born in Menston, West Yorkshire, the son of "a textile agent and nursery school teacher". Sam Riley (born 8 January 1980) is an English actor and singer best known for his performance in the 2007 biographical film Control, about the life of Ian Curtis.