Craig Roberts


Craig Haydn Roberts is a Welsh actor, writer and director. He is best known for his lead roles as Oliver Tate in the coming-of-age comedy-drama film Submarine, David Meyers in the series Red Oaks, and for playing Rio Wellard in the television series The Story of Tracy Beaker.

Early life

Roberts was born on 21 January 1991 in Newport, Wales, the son of Alison and Haydn Roberts. He was raised in Maesycwmmer, Caerphilly and attended Lewis School, Pengam. Roberts has one sister, Chelsea, and two half-sisters, Natalee and Angharad.

Career

Roberts began his television career with roles in the dramas Care and Little Pudding. Following these he was given roles in the television series The Story of Tracy Beaker and Casualty and played vampire fanatic Robin Branagh in Young Dracula. He also appeared in the dramas Kiddo and Scratching.
On stage, Roberts toured Britain in 2008 with Y Touring Theatre Company playing young Ryan in Full Time, a play that explores racism, sexism and homophobia in football; in January 2009 he played the evil queen's sidekick Drax in the pantomime Snow White at Worthing.
In 2010, Roberts had worldwide success playing the teenage lead role in the film Submarine, based on the 2008 novel by Joe Dunthorne. The film was directed by Richard Ayoade and also starred Paddy Considine and Yasmin Paige.
Since then Roberts has appeared in the BBC Three television show Being Human and in the online spin-off series Becoming Human as Adam.
In 2012, he starred in The Killers' music video for "Here with Me" with Winona Ryder, directed by Tim Burton.
In late 2012, Roberts started working on a short television comedy he wrote and directed, titled The Sheepish Approach.
In 2014, he starred in the film Jolene: The Indie Folk Star alongside Charlotte Ritchie and Rosamund Hanson. He played the role of Dom in the seventh series of the TV show Skins, and also played "Assjuice" in the 2014 film Neighbors. He also appeared in the Manic Street Preachers video for Show Me the Wonder and directed the music video for the Los Campesinos! single "Avocado, Baby" from their album No Blues.
In 2015, Roberts made his feature directorial debut with Just Jim, which he also wrote and starred in.
On 9 October 2015, Amazon Studios released season one of Red Oaks, an original comedy series, in which Roberts stars alongside Paul Reiser. Season 2 was released in late 2016, after which the show was renewed for a third and final season.
Roberts starred in the 2016 film The Fundamentals of Caring alongside Paul Rudd. He played Trevor, a quick-witted 18-year-old boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January and released on Netflix in June.
In 2019, Roberts appeared in the film as Emperor Nero.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Awards and nominations

British Independent Film Awards

YearAwardCategoryFilmResultRef
2011British Independent Film AwardMost Promising NewcomerSubmarine

London Critics Circle Film Awards

YearAwardCategoryFilmResultRef
2012ALFS AwardYoung British Performer of the YearSubmarine

Empire Awards

YearAwardCategoryFilmResultRef
2012Empire AwardBest Male NewcomerSubmarine

BAFTA Awards, Wales

YearAwardCategoryFilmResultRef
2012BAFTA Cymru AwardBest ActorSubmarine
2016BAFTA Cymru AwardBest WriterJust Jim

Fantasporto film festival Awards

YearAwardCategoryFilmResultRef
2016Director's Week Special Jury AwardBest actorJust Jim
2016Director's Week AwardBest filmJust Jim