Craig Haydn Roberts (born 21 January 1991) is a Welsh actor and director.[1] He is best known for lead roles as Oliver Tate in thecoming-of-agecomedy-drama filmSubmarine (2010) and David Meyers in the seriesRed Oaks (2014–2017), and for playingRio Wellard in the television seriesThe Story of Tracy Beaker (2004–2006).[2][3]
Craig Roberts | |
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![]() Roberts in 2013 | |
Born | Craig Haydn Roberts (1991-01-21)21 January 1991 (age 34) Wales |
Occupation(s) | Actor, director |
Years active | 2000–present |
Early life
editRoberts was born on 21 January 1991,[4] the son of Alison (Bishop) and Haydn Roberts. He was raised inMaesycwmmer,Caerphilly and attendedLewis School, Pengam.[5][6] Roberts has a sister, Chelsea, and two half-sisters, Natalee and Angharad.
Career
editRoberts began his television career in the dramasCare (2000) andLittle Pudding (2003). After these he was given roles in the seriesThe Story of Tracy Beaker (2004–2006) andCasualty (2005–2008), and played vampire fanatic Robin Branagh inYoung Dracula (2006–2008). He also appeared in the dramasKiddo (2005) andScratching (2006).
On stage, Roberts toured Britain in 2008 withY Touring Theatre Company, playing young Ryan inFull Time, a play that explores racism, sexism and homophobia in football; in January 2009 he played the evil queen's sidekick Drax in the pantomimeSnow White at Worthing.
In 2010, Roberts had worldwide success with the teenage lead role in the filmSubmarine,[7] based on the 2008 novel byJoe Dunthorne. It was directed byRichard Ayoade and also starredPaddy Considine andYasmin Paige.[8][9]
Since then Roberts has appeared in theBBC Three television showBeing Human (2011, 2012) and in the online spin-off seriesBecoming Human (2011) asAdam.[10]
In 2012, he starred inThe Killers' music video for "Here with Me" withWinona Ryder, directed byTim Burton.[11] He also starred inKassidy's music video for "One Man Army" in 2012.[12]
In late 2012, Roberts started working on a short television comedy he wrote and directed, entitledThe Sheepish Approach.[13] In 2014, he starred in the filmJolene: The Indie Folk Star alongsideCharlotte Ritchie andRosamund Hanson. He played the role of Dom in the seventh series of the TV showSkins, and "Assjuice" in the 2014 filmNeighbors. He also appeared in theManic Street Preachers video for "Show Me the Wonder" and directed the music video for theLos Campesinos! single "Avocado, Baby" from their albumNo Blues.
In 2015, Roberts made his feature-director debut withJust Jim, which he also wrote and starred in.[14]
On 9 October 2015, Amazon Studios released season 1 ofRed Oaks, an original comedy series where Roberts stars alongsidePaul Reiser. Season 2 was released in late 2016, after which the show was renewed for a third and final season.[15]
Roberts starred in the 2016 filmThe Fundamentals of Caring alongsidePaul Rudd. He played Trevor, a quick-witted 18-year-old boy withDuchenne muscular dystrophy. The film premièred at theSundance Film Festival in January and was released onNetflix in June.
In 2019, Roberts appeared in the filmHorrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans asEmperor Nero.[16]
Filmography
editFilm
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Scratching | Mike | Short film |
2010 | Submarine | Oliver Tate | |
2011 | Jane Eyre | John Reed | |
2012 | Red Lights | Ben | |
The First Time | Simon Daldry | ||
Comes a Bright Day | Sam Smith | ||
2013 | Benny & Jolene | Benny | |
The Power Inside | Neil | ||
The Double | Detective | ||
2014 | Neighbors | Gary "Assjuice" | |
22 Jump Street | Spencer | ||
TEOTFW | James | Short film | |
Premature | Stanley | ||
Sunday Roast | Arthur Bird | Short film | |
2015 | Kill Your Friends | Darren | |
Just Jim | Jim | Also writer and director | |
2016 | The Fundamentals of Caring | Trevor | |
2017[17] | The Current War | Robert Lane | |
2019 | Tolkien | Sam Hodges | |
Bittersweet Symphony | Bobby | ||
Horrible Histories: The Movie – Rotten Romans | Emperor Nero | ||
Eternal Beauty | — | Writer and director | |
2021 | The Phantom of the Open | — | Director |
Television
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | Care | Craig, Pauline's Child | Television film |
2003 | Little Pudding | Television film | |
2005–2006 | The Story of Tracy Beaker | Rio Wellard | 36 episodes |
2005 | Kiddo | Jay | Television film |
2005, 2008 | Casualty | Darren Smith / Jordan Philpot | 2 episodes |
2006–2008 | Young Dracula | Robin Branagh | 27 episodes |
2011 | Being Human | Adam | 2 episodes |
2013 | Skins | Dominic | 2 episodes |
2013 | Playhouse Presents | Carl | Episode: "Cargese" |
2014 | Under Milk Wood | Nogood Boyo | Television film |
2014–2017 | Red Oaks | David Myers | 26 episodes |
2015 | Hoff the Record | Josh Brooke-Webb | Episode: "The Movie" |
2023 | Still Up | Danny | Main role[18] |
TBA | Can You Keep a Secret? | Harry | Main role[19] |
Music videos
editYear | Title | Role | Artist | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | "Here with Me" | Wax Boy | The Killers | |
2012 | "One Man Army" | Kassidy | ||
2013 | "Avocado, Baby" | N/A | Los Campesinos! | Director |
2013 | "Show Me the Wonder" | N/A | Manic Street Preachers | |
2019 | "Rom-Com Gone Wrong" | N/A | Matt Maltese | Director |
Awards and nominations
editYear | Award | Category | Film | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | British Independent Film Award | Most Promising Newcomer | Submarine | Nominated | [20] |
2012 | London Film Critics' Circle | Young British Performer of the Year | Won | [21] | |
Empire Award | Best Male Newcomer | Nominated | [22] | ||
BAFTA Cymru Award | Best Actor | Won | [23] | ||
2016 | Best Writer | Just Jim | Nominated | [24] | |
Fantasporto Film Festival | Director's Week Special Jury Award Best actor | Won | [25] | ||
Director's Week Award Best film | Nominated |
References
edit- ^Tom Seymour."Craig Roberts: the Richard Ayoade protege turned debonair director".The Guardian. Retrieved22 September 2015.
- ^Jacob Stoleworthy."Red Oaks actor Craig Roberts: 'I'll always look like I'm coming of age'".The Independent. Retrieved11 November 2016.
- ^Jess Hardiman."Rio Wellard From 'The Story Of Tracy Beaker' Is Now A Hollywood Star".LADbible. Retrieved12 March 2018.
- ^Rose, Lacey; O'Connell, Michael; Sandberg, Bryn Elise; Stanhope, Kate; Goldberg, Lesley (28 August 2015)."Next Gen Fall TV: 10 Stars Poised for Breakouts".The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved2 December 2015.
- ^"Maesycwmmer teen lands role in Ben Stiller film".Campaign Series. Archived fromthe original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved15 December 2014.
- ^Williams, Kathryn (16 August 2014)."What Craig Roberts did when he came home from Hollywood".Wales Online.
- ^Henry Barnes (15 March 2011)."'I love deadpan': Richard Ayoade and Craig Roberts on Submarine".The Guardian. Retrieved15 March 2012.
- ^White, James (6 November 2009)."Paddy Considine starring in Submarine". TotalFilm.com. Retrieved15 March 2012.
- ^"Submarine stars Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige: Q&A". Film4. Archived fromthe original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved15 March 2012.
- ^"BBC Three – Being Human, Series 3, Adam's Family".BBC.
- ^Lewis, Randy (18 December 2012)."Tim Burton directs the Killers' new 'Here With Me' video".Los Angeles Times. Retrieved28 August 2017.
- ^Balla, Reemul (17 June 2021)."The Tracy Beaker actor you never knew went on to appear in Hollywood blockbuster comedies".mylondon.news. MyLondon. Retrieved30 December 2023.
- ^The Sheepish Approach Teaser.Vimeo.
- ^Nick Levine."'Submarine' Actor Craig Roberts On How Eminem Inspired His Directorial Debut, 'Just Jim".NME. Retrieved24 September 2015.
- ^Adam Starkey."season of Amazon's Red Oaks, Halloween reboot and being 'pigeonholed' as an actor". Metro UK. Retrieved20 October 2017.
- ^Harrison, Ellie (3 October 2018)."Horrible Histories: The Movie is officially happening".Radio Times.
- ^The film was initially intended for release in October 2017 and it was premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017, but it was not released publicly in theatres until 2019.
- ^"Apple TV+ announces new 'Still Up' comedy for September".appleinsider.com. 9 August 2023. Retrieved12 August 2023.
- ^"Filming commences on BBC One sitcom Can You Keep a Secret?".bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. 11 March 2025.
- ^(2011)Most Promising Newcomer 2011British Independent Film Awards
- ^Chamberlain, Laura (January 2012)."Craig Roberts scoops award for Submarine role".BBC. Retrieved20 January 2012.
- ^"Best Male Newcomer".Empireonline.com.Bauer Consumer Media. 2012. Archived fromthe original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved18 August 2014.
- ^"BAFTA in Wales Announces The Winners of the 2012 British Academy Cymru Awards".BAFTA. Retrieved30 September 2012.
- ^"British Academy Cymru Awards Winners in 2016". Retrieved30 November 2016.
- ^"Fantasporto 2016, 36th Oporto International Film Festival". Archived fromthe original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved28 July 2018.