When the news broke that Robert Pattinson had married his black actress girlfriend, it divided Hollywood. But as more details emerged about the ceremony and their wedding dress, the news took on a life of its own and became something more. The actor has been dubbed the “King of Clueless,” and his personal life has become the stuff of Hollywood legend, with stories of heartbreak and betrayal swirling around him. But rather than succumbing to the temptations of the spotlight, Pattinson has chosen a different path and embraced his newfound fame and fortune, launching a solo career and starring in a series of critically-acclaimed films.
As it turns out, Pattinson’s wife, Belicco, is a Hufflepuff — the same status as the Potters and the Londons of the world! Belicco is the daughter of Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli and late Swiss businessman Georges Schiaparelli. As the granddaughter of a founder of the Schiaparelli fashion house, it’s no surprise that she carried on the family tradition and that her dress was a resounding success. The designer Elsa Schiaparelli once said of her creations: “There is no vulgarity, no baseness, no ugliness in the forms that I make. Beauty and goodness are the words that I would use to describe my work.” We couldn’t agree more.
Speaking of goodness, Schiaparelli was a passionate advocate for female education and self-determination, founding the Women’s League for the Advancement of Fashion in 1922. In 1927, Schiaparelli established the Schiaparelli Institute of Fashion in Paris, which provided training and education for young women in the fields of dressmaking and fashion design. In 1948, she established the Schiaparelli Academy of Fashion in London, which offers a Bachelor of Fashion degree to women.
A Life of Transition
Pattinson, who turned 28 this year, grew up in Scotland and attended St. Edmund’s College in Canterbury. After finishing school, he traveled the world for a few years, working as an au pair and spending some time in Barcelona, where he lived with his family for a year. In 2011, he relocated to Los Angeles with his partner, photographer Terry Richardson.
In 2013, at age 27, Pattinson got engaged to his longtime love, Italian Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintours. They were married in a small private ceremony in Venice in June 2015, with only a select group of friends and family members in attendance. That October, Vogue featured the couple in an issue devoted to “Bride & Groom,” chronicling their wedding preparations and the bachelorette party that took place the night before the ceremony.
But the publication didn’t end there. In addition to sharing detailed accounts of his big day, Vogue printed exclusive interviews with some of the world’s top designers, including Christian Dior, Diane von Furstenberg, and Marchesa. And last but not least, the magazine bestowed upon Pattinson the honorific “King of Clueless,” a nickname that referred to his status as a member of the notorious “Clueless” club — the group of Hollywood celebrities who were once part of the “in” group but are now outcasts because they had no idea what was going on in the world around them. According to a source close to the situation, “Clueless” is a combination of the last name of the magazine’s editor at the time, Cluette, and the first name of the fashion director of Vogue in Paris, Louis.
The Solo Career
After the publication of the Vogue article, things really started to move for the actor. He was immediately pursued by numerous suitors, with movie offers pouring in. Most notably, he starred alongside Timothee Chalamet in the Dior-produced drama, “The Dinner,” which marked his French film debut and earned him a César Award for best actor. In addition to starring in films, Pattinson made several television appearances, including a memorable guest spot on “Girls,” in which he played an awkward, besotted young man who was obsessed with the show. Later that year, he appeared in the critically-acclaimed Netflix original documentary, “Wildlife,” about endangered species.
In early 2018, it was announced that Pattinson would be playing the lead in an adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Persuasion” for the big screen. The romantic comedy will mark his fifth collaboration with director Stephen Chbosky, who also helmed the hugely popular “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” and “The Art of Dining.”
When it comes to his personal life, Pattinson has been open about his struggle with addiction. Most recently, he talked about his 12-step recovery in an emotional speech at the SAG Awards, explaining that he had “fallen off the wagon” a few times but had always gotten back on track. “I have found that humility and gratitude can help you stay clean,” he said. “And I’ve tried to keep those qualities in spite of pursuing fame and fortune. I believe that with humility and gratitude, you can overcome anything.”
A New Family
Pattinson’s parents are still very much involved in his life, although he has distanced himself from some of his other family members. He’s the godfather of his ex-wife’s daughter, Matilda, from her previous relationship with Sven Gronqvist. And in April 2019, he became an uncle for the first time when his sister, Elizabeth, gave birth to a baby girl.
The King Lives!
As for the nickname, “King of Clueless,” it seems it wasn’t just a playful gesture. When asked about the moniker in an interview with GQ, Pattinson said that he views himself “not just as a Hollywood actor, but as the king of clueless” and that he intends to prove it. “I’m still pretty much clueless as to what’s going on,” he said. “But I accept the nickname and I’m going to embrace it.”
A Renaissance Man
Forbes has ranked the top 50 celebrity baby names for 2020, and one name in particular made the cut: Robert Pattinson. The magazine notes that the rare namesake is currently one of the most sought-after baby names on the planet, along with its variations, Robert Patrick and Robert Paulo. The name immediately became a trending topic on Twitter, with users praising Pattinson for choosing such a unique name and sharing their excitement about the upcoming baby boom.
Whether or not he ends up being a Renaissance Man, we can’t predict the future for sure, but one thing is for certain: This year has been a monumental one for the actor, and it’s only the beginning.