Robert Pattinson is one of the most popular and beloved British film stars. Known for his charming and dashing looks, the British actor and singer has become a celebrity all over the world. Aside from being a movie star, he is also a musician, known for fronting the band, The Royal Wedding. He became a father for the first time at the age of 41 and is currently married to his longtime girlfriend, Amber Heard with whom he has a daughter, Cosima. Despite the success of his film career, he has spent his life balancing his work and private life which hasn’t always been easy. Here’s a look at Robert Pattinson’s life and career:
Early Life & Family
Actor and musician Robert Pattinson was born on December 25, 1981 in London, England. He is the son of David Pattinson, a chef, and Wendy Ross, a makeup artist. He has an older sister, Emma, and a younger brother, Thomas. As a child, he lived in Cornwall with his family and attended St. Mawes School. He received a formal music education at the Royal Academy of Music in London. After completing his studies, he moved to Los Angeles where he formed a band with his high school friend, Benji Madden. After several years of struggling with alcohol and drug addiction, he decided to pursue a career in acting and got his big break in 2010 when he was cast in the film, Twilight. The following year, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film, Breaking Dawn – Part 2. In 2012, he released his debut album, Burlesque, which featured his song, “Anyone Else.”
Career
In 2010, Robert Pattinson made his film debut in The Twilight Saga: New Moon. From there, he went on to become one of the most popular and beloved British actors of our time. The 31-year-old is best known for playing Edward Cullen in the Twilight films. He also starred in the Divergence films as Tristan Thorne, the illegitimate son of a Scottish lord and future king of Thorne. He recently reprised his role as Edward Cullen in the upcoming Twilight Saga: Eclipse, due for release in July 2017.
Aside from acting, he is also a musician and songwriter. He released his debut album, Burlesque, in 2012 and he followed it up with Good Music in 2014. He wrote most of the songs on these albums. He also starred in, produced, and sang on the soundtrack for the 2015 independent comedy, The Wedding Party. Most recently, he starred in the romantic comedy, Babyfaced Assassin alongside Elle MacLeman and Peter Serafinowicz. He also serves as an ambassador for Wateraid, a nonprofit organization that brings clean water to people in developing countries.
In 2017, he will star in the upcoming film, The Lost City of Z which is based on the true story of British explorer, Cecil Rhodes. The production company, Searching, Inc. has secured the rights to make this film about the legendary ‘City of Z’ which was allegedly unearthed by Cecil Rhodes in the mid-1800s. The film will mark the screen debut of Benedict Cumberbatch, who will play the part of Cecil Rhodes. Also starring in the film are Oscar winners, Tom Hiddleston and Angela Lansbury. The movie is set to be released in Spring 2018.
Personal Life
In 2014, it was reported that Robert Pattinson had married his longtime girlfriend, Amber Heard. The couple made headlines around the world when they announced their engagement in 2013. Their wedding ceremony took place in Paris in January 2015 and they were joined by their daughter, Cosima, who was born in August 2014. A few months later, they became parents for the second time when they welcomed a baby girl, Iris. Since then, they have been regularly seen attending family events and outings with their kids. The former couple announced in August 2017 that they are seeking legal advice after a judge in California granted their divorce request citing irreconcilable differences. Despite their personal differences, they remain friends and Amber remains by Robert’s side. In June 2017, while on tour in Australia, Robert Pattinson announced that he and Amber had patched things up and requested a private moment with fans. They invited everyone to join them on stage for a group hug which made headlines worldwide. This is the first time they have publicly displayed affection for each other in front of their fans in Australia. Robert has always been open about his love for acting and his celebrity. According to him, his celebrity status has its perks but there are also downsides. “You can’t go to the corner shop to get milk,” he said. “You get recognized, sometimes you get followed home, it’s like having paparazzi around all the time.”
As for his personal life, he is a very private and family-oriented individual. Despite his thriving career, he spends a lot of time with his family and occasionally goes on vacation with them. He often posts pictures and videos from his family vacations on social media. In one of these videos, he is seen playing with his kids in the sand like a father would with his children. In another, he and his wife are seen celebrating his 30th birthday with their family. Robert is also an animal lover and has spent a lot of time with dogs and other animals in the past. He owns numerous rescue dogs and has participated in several animal welfare campaigns. He often posts pictures of himself with the animals on social media and even named one of his famous dogs, Booger, after himself.
Famous Quotes
“I want to do whatever makes my children happy. If that means acting or singing, then so be it. I want them to be themselves and not worry about what other people think.”
“There are pros and cons to being a celebrity, you can’t deny that. But the main thing is that you’re a celebrity because you deserve to be. It doesn’t change who you are at your core – you’re still the same person you were before your career took off.”
“To me, acting is a calling. I can’t not be in it. It’s not a hobby; it’s not a fashion thing; it’s not something I do just to have fun. When someone asks me to play a character, I say ‘no thank you, I’m happy being myself.’”
“I get recognized way too much, it’s scary. Sometimes I’ll be in the gym and all of a sudden everyone will start shouting, ‘Hey, it’s Robert Pattinson!’ or ‘That’s Booger!’ The worst is when people say, ‘Hey, you’re the guy from Twilight!’”
“I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of success, but it’s not something I take for granted. I always want to be grateful and thankful for what I have. I don’t sit around and feel sorry for myself because I’m famous; I do the opposite, I try and use it as a platform to help other people.”