Many Twilight fans were surprised when they found out that Robert Pattinson was only 20 when the movie was released. This gave rise to many theories as to why Robert didn’t age much throughout the course of the Twilight series. Was he really only 20 when the first movie debuted in 2008? Was he using vampire powers to stay young? Or was he simply blessed with great genes and flawless skin?
Well, we may never know the truth considering how secretive the actor has been throughout the years about his private life. In fact, other than a couple of brief interviews in which he spoke about the future of his character in Twilight, Robert Pattinson hasn’t provided many insights into his personal life. One of the few times he opened up about his personal life was during a chat with Elle magazine in 2012.
“I’m not sure exactly how old I was when I first got with a woman. I think I was about 16 or 17,” he told the magazine. “I don’t think about that much anymore because I haven’t done much with my life. I was just studying and playing music. I got offered a record deal at 17, but I turned it down because I didn’t want to be tied down to anything. I was just on the lookout for cool stuff to do.”
Well, it seems Robert Pattinson has finally found “cool stuff to do.” Since 2008, he has appeared in a number of films and consistently provided memorable performances. His breakout film role was in the 2013 indie comedy, Bad Words. Since then, he has appeared in The Shape of Water, Independence Day: Resurgence, and the sci-fi thriller, Annabelle.:
Breaking Into Film
You know how some people say that life is imitating art? For Robert Pattinson, it seems to be true. The actor has spent the past seven years fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a film star.
“I grew up around film, obviously. My dad is a film producer and worked for decades, so it was always about finding new ways to entertain people,” he told Elle. “I started acting at a very early age and always knew I wanted to do this. Film school didn’t scare me at all. I thought it would be a great experience.”
After graduating from Oxford University in 2013, Robert Pattinson made the bold decision to forego acting and instead pursue a music career. He formed a band with childhood friend and film composer, Ben King, and eventually signed with RCA Records as their first solo artist. In 2017, he released his self-titled debut album, which debuted at number three on the Billboard Top 200. Since then, he has released two more albums, both of which debuted within the top 10 on the Billboard 200.
The Twilight Saga
If there is one thing that unites all of Robert Pattinson’s work, it’s the Twilight series. The British actor appeared in Breaking Dawn – Part 1 in 2011 and 2012’s Twilight, and then reprised his role for the last two films in the franchise. In fact, throughout his career, Robert has mostly played anti-heroes or villains in films where he didn’t speak. Perhaps it’s his quiet intensity or his brooding looks that make him such an intriguing character.
“I read the first Twilight book when it came out and really liked it. I thought it was funny and kind of quirky,” Robert said in a 2016 interview. “Then I saw the first movie. After that I was like, ‘Oh, this is a series!’ I read the books more slowly, I think, after that.”
The Twilight series follows the adventures of Bella, a young woman who becomes enamored with a mysterious, vampire-like creature named Edward. Fans of the series eagerly awaited the premiere of the final installment, Twilight Breaking Dawn – Part 2, in December of 2017. A number of trailers and clips from the film leaked online earlier than the official premiere date.
And then…nothing.
The premiere of Twilight Breaking Dawn – Part 2 was met with a lukewarm response from critics and fans. Many were surprised that director, David Slade, opted to forgo a traditional, cliffhanger ending and instead delivered a lackluster, somewhat unfulfilling conclusion to the saga. Following the premiere of Twilight Breaking Dawn – Part 2, many fans began to wonder if the series really was over. Was Edward really the last word on the subject? Or was there more to the story?
In 2018, three months after the premiere of Twilight Breaking Dawn – Part 2, Robert Pattinson decided to put an end to fan speculation once and for all. In a pair of cryptic tweets, he announced that he was returning to acting and would be reprising his role as Edward in a new series of Twilight films.
“Hi everyone. Back in business. First tweet for the new season:) Can’t wait to get started,” he wrote. “The question is, will anybody watch?”
And then… BAM!
The first trailer for Twilight, a new take on the classic Edward-Bella relationship, dropped on October 2, 2018. Within a day, it had reached 500 million views on YouTube. The trailer featured a number of tantalizing looks at the film’s beautiful, yet enigmatic, lead, Kristen Stewart. The two central characters are once again played by Robert Pattinson and Stewart, however, this time around Edward is a human rather than a vampire. Perhaps he’s finally found a way to settle down with his perfect, yet untraditional, match. Or maybe he’s just learned to live with his inner monster.
Robert Pattinson’s Solo Ambitions
In addition to teaming up with Stewart for the Twilight movies, Robert Pattinson has also collaborated with her on an indie project, Still Alice. The project focuses on a woman named Alice who is on the cusp of a disease that will eventually cause her to forget people and things. She begins to exhibit signs of Alzheimer’s when she is 60 years old. The performances of both Stewart and Pattinson are exceptionally powerful, and the subject matter is certainly challenging; however, the film ultimately ends on a hopeful note.
Since 2010, Robert Pattinson has mostly stayed out of the limelight and kept fairly quiet about his work. However, ever since he reprised his role as Edward in Twilight, he has consistently provided memorable performances in both big and small screens. Since then, he has appeared in big-budget films like Steven Spielberg’s upcoming adaptation of Ready Player One and the action thriller, Redemption, as well as the indies You Were Never Really Alone and Maps to the Stars. He has also consistently worked with acclaimed directors, including Mike Mills and Marc Forster, on personal projects. This year, he decided to try something new by collaborating with an emerging filmmaker named Anna Biller on the short film, Love in the Time of Chaos. The short explores a young woman’s journey to self-acceptance and will premiere at the upcoming Tribeca Film Festival. And then…nothing. The project slipped through the cracks and never received any press.
Vampire Or Human?
One of the most intriguing aspects of Robert Pattinson is his penchant for portraying vampires in a variety of capacities. In addition to the Twilight saga, he also portrayed a vampiric businessman in Danny Boyle’s 2012 film, The Impossible, and then returned for its sequel, The Impossible II. He also starred in the 2013 Australian film, The Night Watch; however, in that film, he worked with prosthetics to portray a vampire. Robert is currently playing the titular character in the upcoming Netflix series, The Witcher, which revolves around a mortal man named Geralt, who discovers that he has superhuman strength. The series is set in modern-day Poland and tells the story of a monster hunter who becomes embroiled in political intrigue. It stars Henry Cavill.
Throughout his acting career, Robert Pattinson has rarely provided interviews or opened up about his personal life. But his guarded nature occasionally slips and provides fans with tantalizing glimpses into his private world. In 2012, he spoke briefly about filming The Twilight Saga and how he juggled the series’ demanding schedule. He also opened up at length about his admiration for Johnny Depp, who plays the role of Edward in the Twilight movies.
“I love working with him,” Robert said. “He is such an actor’s actor. He is the anti-Christ of actors, really. He is just so passionate and committed to his work and never stops learning. It’s fascinating to watch him work.”