We can thank the Twilight saga for Robert Pattinson’s sudden celebrity. The actor, who had previously enjoyed modest fame, was immortalized as Edward Cullen’s hunchback friend in the blockbuster movies. Now that he’s a global phenomenon, the stylish star opens up about his style choices and habits. Plus, find out where he gets his badass haircut.
Style Is Key
While his fame may have come as a surprise, it hasn’t gone to his head. In fact, the opposite is true. “I’ve always been a bit of a loner, so I kind of like being under the radar,” he admits. “But now that my life is completely changed it’s nice to get a break and not have to worry about anything.”
Pattinson, who’s humble and down-to-earth, says he doesn’t like to think of himself as a ‘style icon’, but rather as someone who chooses his own style and doesn’t care much for trends. This isn’t a bad thing, as he has enough style to last him a lifetime. He credits his rise in stardom to a desire to experiment with different looks and a feeling of safety since the start of his acting career. Now that he’s found a way to express himself creatively, he’s committed to continuing to grow and evolve as an artist.
He Needs A Haircut
The 37-year-old Englishman isn’t the only member of the Twilight family who’s benefited from the megahaul of vampire movies. Though he plays the role of a gentle soul, Louis, the actor’s character in Twilight, is a vampire. With his fangs, pale skin, and red velvet costume, it’s not hard to see where his character got his style inspiration.
Pattinson’s been sporting a shaggy quiff for years, and though he usually keeps it hidden under his hat, the actor sports two perfect ponytails, one on each side of his head. But it wasn’t always like this. Back in 2009, he had so much hair he used to wear his hair in a top knot. It wasn’t until the release of Twilight that fans saw his full potential with a shaggy haircut. Since then, he’s been able to play with different textures and styles, something he says has helped him grow as an actor.
Varying Up His Actressing Roles
Though he can best be known for his Edward Cullen role, Pattinson has spent most of his career playing varying roles in varying styles. For instance, he’s played a rock star in a modern-day take on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and starred in a Gothic romance, Dark Shadows, where he had to wear a suit and play the part of a lawyer.
In the same way that Edward’s friendship with Bella helped make him a star, Pattinson’s performance as a hunchback in the 2014 Oscar-winning, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, helped him gain recognition for his talent. Though he mostly keeps his real-life quirks hidden, the actor has a passion for acting, and a variety of roles, and different styles that he feels can showcase his versatility. In preparation for his role in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Pattinson trained to walk with a swagger and toss his head back to expose his neck, something he feels helped him embody the character of Fabia.
Experimenting With Hairstyles
As a child, Pattinson was always interested in fashion, dressing up, and playing with hairstyles. His mother, known for her elaborate hairstyles and elegant outfits, would often take him to the hairdresser’s to experiment with different looks. He even named one of his characters in Twilight, Jacob, after the famous hairstylist, who also happens to be a werewolf.
Though he wears his hair in different ways, making it look like he’s experimenting with different styles, Pattinson has always gone for the most iconic hairstyle for each character. This is something he credits to his mother. “She’s always been very supportive of whatever I’ve done,” he says. “Not just in terms of her encouragement, but in terms of the way I see fashion, and how I experiment with different looks.”
Pattinson isn’t just experimenting with hairstyles, he’s also been known to dye his hair different colors, adding an extra layer of creativity to his look.
Rocking A High And Low Fashion Mix
The English actor, who’s been fashion-forward ever since he arrived in Hollywood, credits the success of his latest film, The King, with making him look and feel more confident. The movie, which focuses on the early life of Charles I and the “Parliamentarian” revolt that led to the Civil War, stars Pattinson as the titular character and is set in the early 1600s. In preparation for the role, the actor trained to walk with a swagger and toss his head back to expose his neck, something he feels helped him embody the character of Charles.
For the movie’s costumes, the actor was given a style guideline from the period, which he felt challenged him to be creative and wear different items, such as double-breasted suits with matching waistcoats, that he normally doesn’t get to wear. He also felt comfortable challenging himself to create various looks that showcased his versatility.
Pattinson, who had previously worked with costume designer, Jacqueline Leonard, says she was able to bring his ideas to life and give him a sense of confidence that he normally doesn’t feel. “We didn’t want to give the audience a caricature of what he would look like,” Leonard explains. “We wanted to give them a sense of what this person would actually wear and how he would behave. It wasn’t easy because there wasn’t that much research available on this period, but it was worth it.”
As an actor, whether you’re playing a vampire or a lawyer or a king, you’re always going to go for something distinctive and memorable. That’s what makes each character rich and memorable, not just because of who they are, but because of how you play them.