The news that Robert Pattinson is set to wed Emily Brémont has only served to further cement his image as the ultimate renaissance man; the charming English actor is known for his many accomplishments both on and off the big screen. From his starring role in the acclaimed film adaptation of Les Misérables to his unforgettable portrayal of drug kingpin Viktor Baskoya in the upcoming HBO series The Russian; from his super-stealthy outings as Batman to his starring role as Cedric Diggory in the Harry Potter franchise, the 28-year-old has proven that he can master any role thrown his way. However, just because he’s a genius at acting doesn’t mean he’s had an easy life.
The Early Years
Rivalry between the British and French raged throughout the 19th century, and it was fueled by imperial politics and money, prestige, and natural resources (especially diamonds). The antagonism between the two countries was made worse when the French government jailed the great English inventor Charles Babbage for his revolutionary ideas. This incensed the people, and the English, inspired by Babbage’s work, built and patented many of the mechanical innovations that we take for granted today.
It was in this climate of cultural superiority and enmity toward France that Babbage’s work on a computing device, the Analytical Engine, was banned. Although it wasn’t constructed with the express purpose of beating the French at their own game, the analytical engine was ahead of its time, and Babbage spent the last three years of his life working on it. The engine was only just becoming available for public use in the 20th century, and it laid the groundwork for the modern computer.
Babbage was not the only significant technological innovator to be persecuted by the French government. There was a heavy crackdown on the development of the telephone, radio, and motion pictures. The First World War in particular saw many talented individuals driven out of their professions as a result of the upheaval. Those who remained had to modify their practices to fit the new environment, including a complete reorganization of French law to accommodate technological advancement.
The Making Of A Screen Legend
It was in this environment that the cinema evolved, starting with the short black-and-white films of the 1900s and evolving into the full-color movies of today. The French Connection, released in 1971, put Babbage’s analytical engine to good use, identifying the locations of criminals using still photographs taken from security cameras. The advent of electronic computers and video image capture solved the problem of Babbage’s invention not being available for use, and the last film to use it was released in 1987. Still, Babbage’s engine and its ability to crunch numbers and sort information has not gone out of style.
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2
Pattinson first gained international attention for his portrayal of Edward Cullen in the Twilight Saga, which has become one of the bestselling series of all time. His performance drew both critical and commercial praise, and with each iteration of the Twilight series, he has become more renowned, with his work frequently being compared to that of legendary British actors Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud.
The International Artist
Pattinson’s talents are not limited to acting, and he has spoken about how he would like to explore different genres of film and television. In 2012, he starred opposite Reese Witherspoon in Hello, My Name Is Mia, a dramedy about the intersecting personal and professional lives of a group of friends. His performance in the film earned him a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical.
He also starred in the BBC Television series Taboo, a psychological thriller that explored the inner workings of a terrorist cell. The series won him a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series, an American Comedy Award, and a GLAAD Media Award, and it launched his production company, High Street Films, which is behind the development and production of other TV shows such as Shetland and Broadchurch.
Pattinson On Stage And TV
Even those who may not have known much about Pattinson before saw a lot in his 2012 performance in the title role of Shakespeare’s Richard III. The English National Theatre named it one of the greatest performances of all time, and it won him the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor. The reviewer, Luke Jennings, described the actor as “mesmerizing” in his performance, adding that he was “a joy to behold.”
Pattinson is also known for breaking new ground on the small screen. In 2014, he starred in the first installment of the highly anticipated miniseries The Fall of Night, based on the novel of the same name by Evelyn Waugh. He played the role of Anthony Blick, a charming English aristocrat whose life is turned upside down when he is sent to a Nazi concentration camp in World War II. The cast also included Caroline Goodall, John Bradley, and Rupert Graves. The series was directed by Tom Hooper and premiered in the UK on Sky Atlantic and in the US on FX.
The following year, he starred in the historical drama Vanity Fair, based on the story of American writer William Thackeray and his 1865 visit to England. The series is set in the 19th century and centers on the character of Johnnie Spenser, a young man from Ohio who travels to London to make his fortune. He befriends William Thackeray, a wealthy and well-connected English writer, and his daughter, Georgiana. During the making of the series, Pattinson took a leap of faith and moved to London without a safety net, trusting that the show would come together and that he would be able to find work once it was finished. Ultimately, the role won him the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor.
He continued to star in both feature films and TV shows in 2015, portraying a serial killer in Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario and the Marquis de Casamassola in George Anton’s El Cabrones. In 2016, he played a British secret agent in the spy thriller Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. In the film, he is spotted by a talent scout from a prestigious fashion magazine who encourages the actor to pursue a career in fashion. In addition to his film work, the year 2016 saw Pattinson guest-starring on numerous series, including Fleabag, Doctor Foster, and Elementary.}
The Future Of Film And TV
With a proven track record of success, it’s not hard to see where Pattinson’s career will go from here. Still, there’s a sense of unease when it comes to fame and the entertainment industry. With each passing year, the spotlight seems to get more intense, and it can be overwhelming for those who aren’t used to the limelight. In 2018, he will star in the film Late Summer, which is set to premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. The film is described as an “exhilarating story of ambition, fate, and love,” which sounds like a recipe for success.
There are still many challenges ahead for Pattinson. In an era where digital technology has revolutionized almost every aspect of life, it’s important to remember that film is still a largely visual medium and that humans have a seemingly unlimited capacity to take in information through sight alone. It won’t be long before screens are being used for everything from displaying recipes to monitoring sleep patterns and analyzing brain activity. As these technologies evolve, so does the way we will tell stories in the future.