Craig Roberts

Craig Roberts' raw talent helped land him roles on a number of family-friendly comedies and dramas on British television such as "Young Dracula" (BBC, 2006-08) and "The Story of Tracey Beaker" (BBC, 2002-08). Yet it was his ability to dig deep that elevated him from a child star to a serious actor. In 2011, Roberts starred in the critically acclaimed independent film "Submarine," a rare coming-of-age drama about a smart yet awkward teen dealing with an erratic first love and parents on the brink of separation. Roberts took advantage of the film's self-reflexive themes and unassuming dialogue to display his acting skills and gain recognition as one of the most promising actors of his generation.

Craig Roberts was born on Jan. 21, 1991 in Wales, England. As a young child, Roberts was more interested in playing football rather than becoming an actor. But after realizing that he lacked the skills needed to excel in his chosen sport, Roberts had a change of heart and signed with a talent agency. He had minor parts in made-for-TV dramas like "Care" (BBC, 2000) and "Little Pudding" (BBC Wales, 2003), before he became a regular on the family comedy series "Young Dracula," as a British teenager obsessed with vampires who befriends Vlad Dracula (Gerran Howell), a real vampire who moved into the neighborhood.

Roberts also had a recurring role on the medical drama "Casualty" (BBC, 1986- ) as a young child who was involved in a bus accident. In 2008, Roberts appeared on the comedy series "The Story of Tracey Beaker," about the adventures of a mischievous 10-year-old girl who lives in a children's foster home.

Roberts next starred in the coming-of-age drama "Submarine" (2011), directed by British comedian and filmmaker Richard Ayoade, and produced by actor Ben Stiller. Based on the 2008 novel by Joel Dunthorne, the film centered on Oliver Tate (Roberts), an intelligent yet shy 15-year-old Welsh schoolboy dealing with a tumultuous first love and his parents' impending separation. After the film's premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Roberts was suddenly on everyone's radar. Critics heaped praises on his engaging yet deadpan portrayal of a confused teen struggling to communicate with his parents and his girlfriend.

Roberts followed up his career-making "Submarine" role by co-starring in the historical drama "Jane Eyre" (2011) opposite Mia Wasikowska. Supporting roles in the thriller "Red Lights" (2012), Jon Kasdan's romantic comedy "The First Time" (2012), and the crime drama "Comes A Bright Day" (2012) were followed by a move to America, where he co-starred in Jesse Eisenberg's quirky comedy-drama "The Double" (2013), high school sex comedy "Premature" (2014) and the box office hits "Neighbors" (2014) and "22 Jump Street" (2014).

He co-starred opposite Charlotte Ritchie in the folk-music satire "Benny and Jolene" (2014) before starring in "Red Oaks" (2014), a pilot for Amazon's streaming service about a young man's romantic travails in the 1980s. By Candy Cuenco