If you’re unfamiliar, Robert Pattinson is better known as the “hot topic” of the moment. The British actor has been in the press a lot this year, and for good reason! Between the steamy love scenes in the coming of age film, On the Road, and the steamy, romantic comedies he’s filming now, his career seems to be taking off like a rocket. But just how famous is Rob Pattinson these days? Let’s take a look…

He’s Currently One Of The Most Popular Actor In The Arts

In 2017, Pattinson’s popularity was even more pronounced. He made headlines not only for his filmic exploits, but also for the daring nature of his acting roles and his controversial remarks as well. Here’s a short list of some of the popular culture moments that helped shape the 2017 conversation about Rob (and, by proxy, his acting talent and charm):

  • His turn as Johnny Dawkins in The Librarian was daring – playing a famous gay author in a mainstream film – and received widespread acclaim.
  • His performance as the adult Scott Fitzgerald in Robert Zemeckis’ upcoming adaptation of Fitzgerald earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
  • And, of course, there’s On the Road, the movie that made him famous. The gritty story of four travellers on the road from California to New York saw Pattinson portray the “wild” Dean Moriarty with an intensity that won over fans and critics alike.

But Not All Of 2017 Was About Rob

While most of 2017 was indeed about Rob, it wasn’t all good news. The media had a field day with his personal life as well. From the moment he and FKA (aka Francisca Kelly Ann) got together and had their firstborn child (a son they named Robin) in October 2017, all of Hollywood (and the world) knew about their romance. There was plenty of coverage of their whirlwind courtship and eventual wedding in Scotland in November 2018. While they were private people who rarely gave interviews before their wedding day, the media were relentless in their pursuit of the couple’s every move. When they did grant interviews, it was often about their adorable family – or, rather, one particular question about their children’s namesakes!

But the reason why this year was different from previous years isn’t because of all of the above. Instead, it’s because in 2017, the media learned a valuable lesson about what works and what doesn’t work when covering the entertainment industry. While the media love to focus on celebrity scandals and the glamorous side of Hollywood, it’s important to remember that there is so much more to the entertainment industry than celebrity sightings and lavish parties!

For example, when you google Robert Pattinson, the first couple of articles that come up are about his acting career and the media coverage that surrounds it. But if you click on the third or fourth article down, you’ll see an interview with Pattinson about supporting LGBT rights, his love for his wife and family, and what it’s like to grow up in the public eye.