“I started acting because I didn’t have the physique to be a footballer or rugby player,” says Craig Roberts, whose role as Oliver in Submarine sees him perform in almost every single scene of the film. “I never really wanted to be an actor. I didn’t really decide that I wanted to carry on doing it until three years ago.”
Remarkably, Submarine represents Craig’s debut feature film. “Oliver is very self-obsessed,” says Craig, admitting to there being a smidgeon of the character in his own personality. “Because he lives in his own little bubble, he thinks that everything he says is right.”
In person, Craig is quietly self-assured and possesses a nice line in self-deprecating humour. Even so, a mention of a review that compared his performance to that of Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate shakes his steady composure. His smile stretches from ear to ear. He doesn’t know where to look. But it’s clear that he’s hugely flattered, especially as he repeatedly watched The Graduate as he prepared for the role.
Talk of the use of Alex Turner’s songs in the film sees Craig back on track. An obsessive Eminem fan, Craig says, “I hadn’t heard Arctic Monkeys much before this. He’s a genius. Lyrically he’s amazing. The music he did for Submarine was out of this world.”
As for a final word on Oliver? “He’s the best character I’ve ever played, and probably will be one of the best characters I’ll ever play. I’m sure of that.”
Read our interview with ‘Submarine”s other star Yasmin Paige HERE.
Words by Samuel Ballard
Photo by Phil Sharp
Styling by Camilla Felici
Craig Roberts stars in the Richard Ayoade directed ‘Submarine’ which hits cinemas on March 18th.
