Coming from the valleys to conquer LA, Craig Roberts is the self-deprecating Welsh BAFTA Award winning actor who relates to everything Eminem has ever written.
“Hi, sorry I’m late. I’m sat at the front of Breakfast Club. Craig.” Arriving fifteen minutes late for his interview at the Breakfast Club in Islington one windy September afternoon, Craig Roberts drops i-D a text and sits down. Relocating to the front of the cosy café, we find the 21-year-old Welsh actor sat alone, wearing a blue sweatshirt, jeans and Vans, peering up from under his trademark side parting, drinking a freshly squeezed OJ. You could walk by Craig in the street and not notice him, sit next to him on a bus and not recognise him, but if you have watched cult coming-of-age flick Submarine, then the chances are you are already fully in love with the cute, Caerphilly born heartbreaker.
i-D escaped from the cold outdoors and huddled with Craig to sip juice and chat hip hop heavyweights.
What’s the best live show you’ve ever been to? I went to see Watch the Throne recently, I was flabbergasted. I’ve always wanted to see Eminem in a more intimate setting, but we’re never going to see him at his best now. I would have loved to see him in 2001, around the Marshall Mathers LP. I think he would be such an interesting guy to meet.
What film have you watched more than any other? 8 Mile. I’ve seen that movie so much.
I have an 8 Mile T-shirt. So are you a big fan too then?
Massive. What’s your favourite Eminem song? Rock Bottom is probably one of my favourites, from the Slim Shady LP. That’s pretty good. Role Model from the Slim Shady LP, Criminal from the Marshall Matthews LP. Yeah, just like the early stages and I guess his diss tracks are amazing.
Who introduced you to hip hop? Nobody actually. Nobody! I remember breaking up with a girlfriend and some guy played an Eminem song in his car. The guy was playing an Eminem song, and the song was about a girlfriend that had broken up with him. It’s one of the songs from Encore, and it’s called Love Me. I just heard the verse and just thought, ‘Yeah! That’s how I feel in a way.’ So I sort of connected with it, which is cool.
Are you still a country boy? Yeah, definitely. I really do miss the valley. I go back once a week just to see my family and stuff. I do miss it.
Interview continued in The Wise Up Issue.
Text: Milly McMahon
Film: Tim Gomersall
Images: Stephanie Sian Smith
