A Menston actor is tipped to be the next big thing after being plucked from obscurity to star in a role once considered by British heart-throb Jude Law.

Sam Riley plays Ian Curtis the iconic lead singer of the post punk band Joy Division in the new film Control.

The film, due to be released next week was a major hit at the famous Cannes film festival and follows the tragic last years of singer Curtis, who killed himself at the age of 23.

Its success has put 27-year-old Sam, a former pupil of Menston Infants School, firmly on the path to stardom.

Sam said: "It's all quite surreal. Just over a year ago I was folding cloth at a textile factory and now I'm working with some pretty famous actors. It all happened really fast. It's incredible."

Control tells the story of Curtis' last five years. The singer, who suffered from epilepsy, became embroiled in a love triangle between his wife Deborah - played by Oscar nominee Samantha Morton - and his Belgian lover Annik Honore - played by Sam's girlfriend Alexandra Maria Lara.

As part of the audition, with famous photographer-turned director Anton Corbijn, Sam was asked to perform Curtis' trademark dance a stage move echoing the singer's epileptic fits.

Sam said: "It's was a bit daunting. I couldn't quite get it right and found myself dancing round the room with Anton this mega famous photographer until I got the hang of it.

"When I heard I had got the role of Curtis I was really chuffed. I was never much of a Joy Division fan but I did have one of their albums.

"He was a bit of a cult figure though and I wanted to make sure I got all the moves right for the film so that his die-hard fans wouldn't feel disappointed."

The independent film has already raised eyebrows in the movie industry and has won Sam a major role in another British film due to be released next year called Franklyn.

In it, Sam plays a Londoner who has lost his way and stars alongside American actor Ryan Phillipe (of Cruel Intentions) French actress Eva Green (of bond movie Casino Royale) and British actor Bernard Hill (Titanic).

Sam, who flew over from his Berlin home to visit his parents' home in Menston this week, said: "It's early days for me and I'm still really an unknown' in the acting world but I am really enjoying the work and am keen to go on and do more. Independent film is great to be involved in but I wouldn't exactly say no to Hollywood. Who knows what the future might hold?"

But despite his movie success, Sam, who is also the lead singer of Leeds band 10,000 Things, still has his feet firmly on the ground.

He said: "It doesn't matter what happens in the future, I will always be a Yorkshire lad I miss my Yorkshire puddings and Seabrook crisps too much to be anything other than a Yorkshireman."

Sam's family, dad Andrew, 54, mum Amanda, 51, brothers George, 26 and Jack, 24 and sister Annabel, 21 still live in Menston.

His dad, a textile agent, known locally as the captain of Ilkley Golf Club, said the family was very proud of what he had achieved.

He said: "Sam has done very well indeed and we are all very proud of him."