If you had to choose just one person to represent your perfect Valentine, you’d probably pick Hollywood heartthrob Robert Pattinson. The 27-year-old British actor has been romantically linked to our generation’s most beautiful women. He’s starred in iconic films such as Water for Elephants and The Twilight Saga, and has even featured on the cover of Vogue. So it’s no wonder women are fantasising about him. But have his ladies really got what he’s got in abundance? Let’s take a closer look.
The Perfection Complex
It’s no secret that men in Hollywood are under a lot of pressure to look perfect. From the way they walk to the way they talk, men in the industry are expected to fit the mould of the perfect boyfriend, husband or brother. And while there’s certainly some pressure to look perfect in the right way, it doesn’t come without consequence. Take Twilight’s Taylor Lautner for example. The 22-year-old actor’s career took a nose dive after appearing in the cult film in 2010. Since then, he’s mainly starred inB-movies and low-budget horror films, with no sign of a comeback. What’s more, he’s had trouble finding work, due to his small stature (he’s only 5’7″). There’s no denying that being in the spotlight can have a strange effect on a person. It’s well known that Taylor Lautner became an obsessed fan of Twilight and its leading man, Robert Pattinson. But did Robert get too absorbed in his role as Edward Cullen that he forgot to develop his actual self?
There are numerous examples of celebrities who’ve had their share of controversies. But none compare to the fashionista known as Grace Kelly. Princess Grace was one of the most famous women to ever live. Born in 1910, she rose to the position of Princess of Monaco during WWII. She met and later married legendary Prince Rainier, and became Queen of Monaco. After their divorce in 1954, she became Queen consort of the UK, and later Queen of the United Kingdom. She was a well-known fashion icon, and is remembered for wearing custom-made dresses that displayed a unique sense of style and grace. In 1950, she founded the Institute of Contemporary Art in Monaco, and served as its first president. She was also a patron of the arts and a feminist.
We can see how being a celebrity can affect your life. Being in the public eye means you have to live your life in the public square. No longer can you keep your private life as private as you want. You have to be accessible to the media. You have to give interviews. You have to look perfect in picture galleries and on social media. All of this can’t but affect your actual self. Did something change about Robert when he became a celebrity? Did he start dressing differently? Did he start using different phrases? Did he change the way he smells?
We saw how Taylor Lautner’s life was changed by his time in the spotlight. But what about the opposite, how does being in the background affect someone’s life? How would you act if you never had to worry about your image? What if you could just be yourself and let the camera tell the story? How would you change your behaviour?
The Iconic Look
One of the things that drew me to Robert’s work was the fact that he always seems to be wearing something unique and iconic. A custom-made suit from Georges Chado, for example, would be a dream to own. Or an all-white Marimekko suite. And let’s not forget about his signature skull cap, or the sunglasses he wears as Edward Cullen.
Hollywood is filled with famous faces who wear bold and bright colours, but Robert constantly manages to pull off wearing classic bold colours without ever appearing to put on a fashion show. Looking cool and casual is something you’ll rarely see him do. He seems to prefer looking elegant, and when he does, he goes all-out. Take his first major film, Water for Elephants, for example. He wore a beautiful maroon suit with a white shirt and tie, and white pocket square. As we’ve established, he’s not really known for his cool and careless style. He also pulled off looking elegant with an all-white suit and tie for the premiere of The Twilight Saga in December 2012 wearing a gorgeous embroidered waistcoat.
The Influencer
While we’re looking at stylish celebrities, let’s not forget about the influence they have on fashion and lifestyle. As well as being a Hollywood heartthrob, Robert is a well-known social media influencer. Following in the footsteps of social media stars like Carli Lloyd and Gigi Hadid, he’s gained over 17 million Instagram followers, and boasts an almost 8 million follower Instagram account for his persona, Rob. He’s also been credited with bringing streetwear and influencer culture together. While he may not always feature in designer suits, he does seem to have an affinity for luxury brands.
To follow in Carli Lloyd’s footsteps, you’d need to be stunning, approachable and influential. It’s no secret that Carli has been making waves as a result of her work with influencers like K-Swiss and Calvin Klein. The tennis star now boasts over 12 million Instagram followers, and her lifestyle and fashion influences are spreading across the globe. You may think that you need to be born with a certain look or celebrity to be able to influence people. But social media has shown us that the more you put in, the more you get. All you need is a good camera, a few outfits and some helpful suggestions.
The Visionary
But let’s face the reality. Despite all of this, or maybe because of it, there’s no denying that Robert’s career in Hollywood isn’t going according to plan. The British actor’s biggest success to date has been his role as Edward Cullen in The Twilight Saga. Since the first film in 2010, he’s become a worldwide sensation. But while he may have made a lot of money, it seems that it’s not all been good. There were rumours that he wasn’t paid his full salary for the first two Twilight films. And while he’s become an icon in Hollywood, he hasn’t managed to break out of the box office shadow of his two Twilight co-stars, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner. In fact, he’s mostly been overshadowed by Stewart. But is this a fair thing to say about a man who’s arguably one of the most stylish men in Hollywood?
And then there’s Twitter. Did you know that the platform was originally created for celebrities to have a place to respond to, and engage with, fans? It was originally marketed as a place for stars to tell their fans they were still thinking about them, or to just keep fans updated on their activities. It’s not unusual to see Robert respond to fans, or even celebs, on Twitter. But the difference is that these are one-to-one interactions. While it may be entertaining to watch, it doesn’t mean that the user is necessarily engaging with the person they’re talking to. This could be a missed opportunity to connect with fans in a more intimate way.
The Family Man
We’ve established that being in the spotlight can have unexpected effects on people. But being part of a famous and wealthy family might just be the inspiration Robert needs to settle down and start a family. After all, he has plenty of money and fame, and it seems like he could benefit from some stability. Not to mention that he’s been linked to some incredibly beautiful women. If it wasn’t for his commitment to acting, who knows what his real interests might be.
It’s not only about having children. It’s about providing a stable environment for your children to thrive in. While we want to see our favourite celebrities achieve happiness and success, we also want them to be role models. And what better role model for your children than the man who’s paid to entertain them?
As you’ve seen, being a celebrity in Hollywood isn’t all glam and glamour. There’re a lot of responsibilities that come with the role. We want our stars to be happy and to feel comfortable in their own skin, but we also want them to be responsible enough to serve as a role model for our children and the children of future generations. It seems like Robert is starting to realise this, and is choosing to embrace a more mature and responsible attitude. It will be interesting to see how he evolves as an actor and person, not to mention the impact this has on his personal life.