It was reported this week that Bella, the daughter of Hollywood stars Kirsten Dunst and Chris Pine, was laid to rest in a rose-covered coffin. According to TMZ, the 19-month-old’s funeral was attended by more than 200 people, including her godparents, Robert Pattinson and Emily Blunt. The report also stated that the former Twilight actor “looked on proudly as his best friend and fellow actor William Wallace gave a eulogy.”
An Exciting Occasion
The occasion was certainly special, as it was the first time that Pattinson had seen his friend give a eulogy since Wallace’s wife, Susan, died in 2014. Moreover, the event was marked by a touching tribute from Wallace, who spoke about the time that he and Pattinson spent working on the set of the 1997 film Maverick. He said:
“I remember sitting in this office, and we were working through a scene, and I was struggling with a line, and Robert came in, and he said: ‘You know what would be great? If Rosie was here. She’d have the perfect line for you!'”
According to Wallace, the next day he went to the prop department and asked for a baby’s basket. He then spent three hours a day for a week crafting a scene with Rosie, who was played by Emma Thompson, singing to the infant Bella. He added that he had to teach himself how to sing for the role, as he had no training in musical theater. He also said that he had to get his wife’s permission to ask his parents for help with childcare, as it was not uncommon for actors to be absent from work in order to be with their children.
Bella’s Lullaby
It’s been 20 years since Pattinson and Thompson collaborated on a beautiful song for Wallace’s baby, and it’s still remembered by fans today. The lyrics to “Bella’s Lullaby” were written by Pattinson and were inspired by the little girl herself. The song was produced by Stephen Shiu and David Kahne, who also helped to arrange the music. Fans were initially confused as to how much of the song was actually written by Wallace, considering that he wasn’t the only person to share credit. However, after going through Wallace’s old interviews, it’s now apparent that he did, in fact, write the majority of the song. Here are the lyrics:
Bella,
Oh, what an amazing girl!
So clever and bright,
A real beauty and a talented child.
You’ll be an amazing big sister.
And Rosie, that is your mother,
How proud she must be.
To have such a clever daughter.
Bella,
Oh, what an amazing girl!
So clever and bright,
A real beauty and a talented child.
You’ll be an amazing big sister.
And Rosie, that is your mother,
How proud she must be.
To have such a clever daughter.
Did you know that William Wallace grew up in Jamaica and spent a lot of time there as a child? It was in fact, Wallace’s mother who named him after the Scottish hero, William Wallace. She passed away when he was 16 years old, and it was then that he began acting. He attended St. Mary’s College of California, but dropped out after two years, and then went on to become a stage performer. He later attended the American Shakespeare Theatre Laboratory and graduated with a masters in theatre.
Although he didn’t write the lyrics to “Bella’s Lullaby,” Robert Pattinson helped Wallace to craft the song. He also reportedly helped choose the perfect tune, which Shiu and Kahne subsequently produced. The songwriter said in an interview that he chose this particular tune because it was so melodic and he felt it was the perfect fit for the lyrics. Moreover, because it’s an instrumental, it allows listeners to focus more on the lyrics, as they don’t get distracted by any noises that may be accompanying the music.
The song was first released in 1997 and was included on an EP of the same name. It was later included on Wallace’s first studio album, The Deep End, which was released in October of that year. “Bella’s Lullaby” was also covered by Japanese pop star HONEYSHOT on her 2000 album, Love Letter, a homage to Wallace’s vocal style and the sentiment of the song. The song became a minor hit in Japan, reaching number 47 on the country’s music charts.
A Beautiful Song About Love And Loss
It’s a shame that William Wallace never really found acclaim or success as a songwriter. He did find, however, that his music career lasted longer than his acting career. He worked with Shiu and Kahne again on his 2002 album, Beautiful Soul, which includes one of his finest early songs, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” Here are the lyrics:
I don’t want to miss a thing,
Don’t want to fade away,
I don’t want to miss a thing,
Don’t want to fade away.
The song is a masterful display of Wallace’s talents, not only as a vocalist and lyricist, but also as a pianist. It’s been covered by numerous artists, including Josh Groban and Sheryl Crow, who both paid homage to Wallace’s vocal style on their respective albums. Wallace went on to write and record one more album with Shiu and Kahne before passing away from pancreatic cancer in 2008 at the age of 49.
William Wallace’s music career spanned nearly 30 years, but he spent most of that time performing and touring as a solo artist. He rarely, if ever, performed with other musicians, apart from his occasional collaborations with Shiu and Kahne. This, however, was largely because he felt that other musicians did not have the same raw talent that he did. He stated in an interview that he was never really good at playing with others, as he always felt that they didn’t have the same passion for music that he did. This, of course, is a common issue for many successful solo artists, as finding the right partner can be quite difficult. William Wallace never had the chance to find a lasting relationship, as he died alone in 2010, at the age of 49.
Even though he didn’t write “Bella’s Lullaby,” Robert Pattinson did help to create one of William Wallace’s most beautiful songs. Moreover, he was present at the funeral and had the chance to see his friend give a eulogy for the first and only time. Despite his relative failure as a songwriter, William Wallace’s music will always be cherished by his fans and those who knew him well.