British actor Sam Riley premiered onscreen with a much-coveted lead, and a professionally demanding one at that: the biographical portrayal of controversial, ill-fated post-punk singer Ian Curtis, in photographer-turned-director Anton Corbijn's haunting biopic Control (2007). Riley's courageous and disciplined performance earned a myriad of advance praises when the film swept through the festival circuit, foreshadowing an eminently successful career for the young thespian.