The last couple of years have seen the transformation of Robert Pattinson from a Hollywood obscurity to one of the most eligible bachelors in the world. The British actor, musician and photographer is known for his role in the highly acclaimed indie film, ‘The Lost Boys’, and was also credited with helping to make up for the lower-than-expected openings of the recent ‘Twilight’ movie by scoring a number of hit songs. He’s since gone on to star in ‘Bel Ami’, ‘Don’t Be Fooled’, and has been cast in supporting roles in upcoming films including ‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘Darling.’
In celebration of this prolific career, we take a stroll through Pattinson’s impressive collection of photography, showing the transformation from awkward teenager to Hollywood hotshot.
The Beginnings
Pattinson was born in Marlow, Buckinghamshire on April 8, 1984, the youngest of three brothers. He grew up in the idyllic setting of rural England, spending his time between school and work on his father’s farm. It was there that he discovered his love for photography, using his trusty SLR to shoot landscapes and animals.
The young Robert had always been artistic, showing an aptitude for drawing and painting from a young age. While at boarding school, he continued to hone his skills, eventually going on to study graphic design at the Manchester Institute of Innovation Technology, from which he graduated in 2008 with a 2:1 degree. Upon graduation he moved to London, where he began working as a graphic designer for several companies until 2012, when he finally made the decision to pursue a career in acting.
An Education
It was while studying graphic design in London that Robert Pattinson first became interested in acting, reading scripts and watching movies, particularly those that starred the English speaking actors, Jack and Jameson Quayenne. His admiration for the sophisticated storytelling methods of film noir lead him to pursue a course in film acting at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in 2013.
Pattinson’s classmates at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts included the likes of Harry Potter actor, James McAvoy, and ‘Downton Abbey’ star, Margaret Rutherford. During his studies, he appeared in several stage plays, while also making a foray into stand up comedy, performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In 2014 he was awarded a prestigious place on the prestigious John Cassavetes Acting Workshop in America, acting in several of Cassavetes’ films, both in front of and behind the camera. The following year he spent a month in America, studying acting and working on his tan.
After completing his studies, Pattinson decided to take a sabbatical from acting in order to focus on his music. He subsequently formed a pop-rock band called, ‘The Black Hooves’, named after the pet snake of his friend, Emma Watson, the daughter of ‘Harry Potter’ author, JK Rowling. The band began playing regularly in London’s the Village Underground and the Garage venues in the autumn of 2016, in support of their debut album, ‘Pale Waves’, which was released that October, preceded by the single, ‘Grow Up’. In the spring of 2018 they will play a number of headline shows in support of the album.
Breakthrough Role
Pattinson’s acting career took a significant turning point in 2017, when he was cast in the lead role of Roger Thornhill in the British gangster-action thriller, ‘The Lost Boys’. The film also stars Ed Skrein (‘A Mighty Viking’, ‘Saving Mr. Banks’) and Domino Rice, and is directed by Joe Johnston (‘Captain America: Civil War’, ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’).
Pattinson’s performance as Thornhill was hailed as “believably cool and collected” by Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly, who went on to say, “[he] brings a welcome maturity to the screen.” He also earned a spot on the cover of the June 2017 issue of Time magazine, and is the subject of a September 2017 biography, ‘Robert Pattinson: The Illustrated Life’.
The following spring, Pattinson starred in the gothic romance, ‘Bel Ami’, alongside Emma Watson and Natacha Lindes. The film is based on the 1882 novella, ‘Bel Ami’, by Émile Zola and is directed by François Pinault, with whom Pattinson had previously worked on ‘L’Aimant’. Pinault had originally wanted to cast Watson in the lead role of Amélie, but later changed his mind after seeing Pattinson in action.
Hollywood Stature
In 2018, Pattinson starred in the indie horror romance, ‘Darling’, alongside Jessica Chastain and Kate Winslet. The film is based on the 1957 novella, ‘Darling’, by Pierre Barbès and François Rivière and is directed by Vincent Lindon. In 2020, he will star in the upcoming fantasy adventure, ‘The Great Gatsby’ opposite Jay-Z, alongside Tom Hardy and Rebecca Hall. He will also play the role of The Duke in Woody Allen’s upcoming film, ‘Operation Grandpa’, due for release in 2022.
Pattinson is also an accomplished musician, having released two EPs, with his band, The Black Hooves. The first one, ‘Carry Me Home’, was released in April 2018, followed by ‘What I Was Doing Before I Fell Asleep’ in September of that year. He has also scored numerous films including the upcoming ‘Darling’, ‘The Lost Boys’ and ‘Bel Ami’, and provided the theme tune for the BBC TV show, ‘Being Human’.
In 2020, Pattinson was named one of the “Top 50 Most Influential People in the World of Music” by Forbes, for his work in both film and music, and was also included in the magazine’s “2020 Celebrity Net Worth ranking” at number 42, with an estimated net worth of $60 million.
The star’s penchant for collecting shoes has seen him form a line of bespoke footwear with the Italian shoemaker, Ferrini, called, “The Robert Pattinson Collection”. The pair have also collaborated on a capsule collection of shoes and handbags designed in the shape of butterflies.
A Gaggle of Celebrities
Aside from his impressive acting and music-related work, Pattinson has also carved out a niche for himself as a photographer. While he began snapping landscapes and animals on his parent’s farm in England, he eventually decided to set up his own darkroom, which he used to develop his own film and print his photos. He subsequently started a blog, in which he shares his photos and the occasional short story.
The blog was a way for the actor to stay in touch with his audience, while simultaneously allowing curious fans an insight into his life as an actor and a photographer. In 2013, he launched a photography agency, named, “Pattinson Images,” which he owns and runs with his brother, Andrew. He is also a vice president of British photography agency, Purple Bistro, and the artistic director of the company’s New York branch.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Robert Pattinson’s life is his ability to straddle the worlds of art and commerce. As well as being an accomplished actor and musician, he is also a talented photographer and blogger, having established himself as one of the most in-demand bachelor celebrities of our time. The varied roles he takes on as an actor and a musician continue to prove that he is a man of many talents. Perhaps his most impressive skill is his versatility. We here at MVP believe that this is a trait that sets him apart from other Hollywood celebrities, and is a quality that will continue to serve him well in the years to come.