The actor who plays the part of Edward Cullen in the popular TV series, The Twilight Saga, has stirred up quite a bit of discussion in recent months. Robert Pattinson‘s uncanny resemblance to the classic literary character, Leyton, has led to numerous comparisons and critical analyses of the two men. The topic of whether or not Pattinson is a good actor or a lucky impersonator has been hotly debated, and it seems that no one really knows how to answer the question. While we await the outcome of this interesting debate, it’s still fun to look back at this fascinating phenomenon and remember all of the great times that we had because of it.
1. Robert Pattinson
It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a year since we first met Robert Pattinson. Back in August of 2012, he made his glorious return to the big screen with BelAmi, and since then he hasn’t looked back. The British actor has appeared in several other high profile movies, most of which have been critical and box-office successes. He also shot to tabloid stardom when he made a surprise appearance at Kate Winslets and Oscar Issacs wedding in October of 2012. Sadly, none of this celebrity has helped Pattinson to avoid the endless stream of paparazzi that plague his every move, but the actor clearly isn’t one to shy away from a good photo shoot.
2. Charlie Hunnam
If you were looking for an actor to play the part of the classic literary character, Leyton, in a new adaptation of The Great Gatsby, then your search ends here. Charlie Hunnam was born in Australia and grew up there as well. He’s the son of a Vietnamese mother and English father, and he had to leave school at 15 to work in a factory. After a bit of a falling out with his dad, he joined the army and was sent to Afghanistan for a few months. Before heading to America to pursue acting, he spent some time living in London, which is where his extensive acting career began. He’s mostly played gangsters and mobsters in a string of mostly small, independent movies, but he’s also played some lead roles in big budget action films. Most recently, he can be seen in the upcoming movie, Seventh Son, which is set to come out in theaters in the spring of 2016.
3. Tom Hardy
You didn’t think that we’d forget about Tom Hardy, did you? The English actor burst onto the scene in 2006 with a string of critically acclaimed independent films, including Beowulf and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Since then, he’s appeared in a string of big-budget blockbusters, from The Dark Knight Rises to Spectre and Venom. Most recently, he starred in the hit TV show, Taboo, as well as the big-budget action film, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. His popularity isn’t limited to the big screen, as he’s also gained a large amount of Twitter followers after appearing in several of the recent hit TV shows. He’ll next be seen in the 2017 James Bond film, Bond 24, which is set to be released in theaters later this year.
4. Idris Elba
Elba is a famous English actor and singer, whose acting skill and deep voice have garnered him a long and successful career. He’s best known for his starring roles in Shakespeare in Love and The Dark Knight. Since then, he’s appeared in several other high profile films, including The Aviator, Beasts of No Nation, and Chappie. His most recent project is Star Wars: The Last Jedi, in which he plays an elite assassin named Sabo. Most recently, he’s lent his voice to the video game Fallout 4 as the game’s protagonist, Marcus Hamilton.
5. Tom Holland
It’s no secret that Tom Holland is a huge fan of The Great Gatsby, so it should come as no surprise that he wanted to play the part of young Nick Carraway in the recently released movie adaptation. Holland is a self-professed bookworm, who also studied literature at Oxford University. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, and he has since starred in several high profile movies, including the upcoming thriller, Point Blank, which is set to come out in theaters in the spring of 2016. Most recently, he can be seen in the superhero blockbuster, Justice League, as Bruce Wayne’s (Ben Affleck’s) bodyguard, Dick Grayson.
6. Jeremy Irons
Another A-lister whose career was revived by a part in The Great Gatsby? Jeremy Irons was born in England and began his acting career in the mid-1970s. Since then, he’s appeared in several big budget action films, Django Unchained, Thor, and Captain America. His other big-budget franchises include Batman, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings. Most recently, he starred in the ITV television series, Victoria, which is based on the novels of Agatha Christie. He’ll next be seen in the big-budget film, Bright, which is set for release in the spring of 2016.
7. Oscar Issac
The final A-lister on our list is one that you might not have expected to see here. How could we forget about Oscar Issac? The English actor burst onto the scene as the young Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2008 film, The Runaway Jury. Since then, he’s starred in several other high profile movies, including The Great Gatsby, Django Unchained, and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. Most recently, he can be seen in the upcoming films, Wonder and Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been seven years since we first met these extraordinary men who look like Robert Pattinson. The debate surrounding their acting skill will no doubt continue, but for now, let’s take a look back at some unforgettable moments from these seven memorable years and remember all of the great times that we had because of it.