Even before he was officially cast as the vampire Edward Cullen, Robert Pattinson was often touted as the next big thing in Hollywood. But how old was he really? We took a quick look at his acting résumé before the Twilight movie and compared it to his age in the films. Turns out, Pattinson was already a veteran of the scene when he played a high school student in Clueless, and he was only 17 years old at the time.
Early Success
Pattinson actually broke into Hollywood with a small role in the 1998 film, Four Kids and Elderly Grandparent. But it was his supporting role in the 1999 comedy, Clueless, in which he played Cher’s love interest, that launched him into Hollywood stardom. The role won him critical acclaim and made him a celebrity teen idol. Since then, Pattinson has gone on to star in a slew of teen-oriented films, including the 2000s franchise, The Twilight Saga, earning him over $20 million.
‘Twilight”s’ Robert Pattinson
Even before the premiere of the fourth installment of The Twilight Saga, Eclipse, fans had already discovered a side of their favorite actor they hadn’t seen before. Sure, Pattinson is always gorgeous, but something about his performance in Eclipse made everyone realize just how talented he was. For one, he displayed an acting range beyond his usual teen idol image, showing he could handle both comedy and drama with ease. Also, many of the scenes in Eclipse, featured Pattinson standing next to Taylor Lautner, who plays his vampire rival, Edward Cullen. Though Lautner is a decade older than Pattinson, the two still seemed to fit perfectly into the roles they were playing. Finally, many of the fans have pointed out how well Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner look together, reminiscent of a young, Jack and Rose from the movie, “Casino Royale.” So, it seems that at age 25, Robert Pattinson is finally coming into his own as an adult actor, ready to take on the big Hollywood roles.
The Biggest Break
While many stars have found fame and fortune in Hollywood, it hasn’t been easy for everyone. Sometimes, all it takes is a bit of luck. Such is the case for Pattinson, who had to wait until he was 25 before he got the call to play Edward Cullen. This was almost certainly a deliberate move on the part of Summit Entertainment, since young, untested performers typically don’t get the part of a lead character in a major motion picture. But even still, it took Pattinson a long time to finally make it to the big league. It started with a tiny role in the 1998 Kevin Costner movie, “Waterworld,” and it wasn’t until he was 25 that he got his big break as Edward Cullen in “Twilight.”
Same Hair And Makeup
Though Taylor Lautner has the perfect ‘twilight hair’, it hasn’t been easy for the actor to find the right wig for the part. It was originally thought that Lautner would have to resort to using a hairpiece, but thankfully, the hair and makeup team were able to come up with a perfect match for the character. Lautner’s hair is a little lighter in color than it was in the books, but it has the same distinctive curls as the character. Similarly, the makeup team were able to create a flawless look for Lautner, using tinted moisturizers and lip glosses in the same color as the characters’ eyes, to complete the illusion.
Same Attitude
When it comes to playing the part of a vampire, Edward Cullen, Robert Pattinson takes the attitude seriously. He has stated that he modeled his performance on that of Benicio Del Toro, who plays the part in the film, “Dracula,” and while the two actors are not actually related, they both have the same bloodthirsty spirit. Pattinson has often said that he wants to play the villainous roles when he gets older, and he has made this clear by quoting a line from the movie, “Guardian,” “I’d much rather play a monster than a sweetheart. The monsters get to be bad guys; the good guys have to be all sweetness and light. It’s much more interesting to play a villain. They get to be mean and nasty. It makes it more fun.”
Growing Prowess
Though the role of Eddie in “Twilight” is fairly small, it is definitely significant for the actor. After playing the part for two years, Pattinson has taken on more prominent roles, starting with the 2014 movie, “Dontnod’s”, “Life: Love: Chocolate,” in which he plays a struggling artist who falls in love with a wealthy woman (played by Kristen Stewart), and has continued with a role in the upcoming “A Dog’s Purpose,” in which he plays a mutt who helps a depressed person (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) escape from his demons. So, it seems that while the role of Eddie Cullen may not be the lead role in “Twilight,” it has certainly become an important one, paving the way for bigger and better things for Pattinson.