The name Robert Pattinson Bataman is not as common as the other famous British actor-turned-director, however, he has quite a bit more screen history than the average person would know. Born in London in 1965, the son of the famous actor Bruce & Jane, he has spent most of his life growing up in the spotlight. He was often seen around London with his mother where they would be spotted frequently in the most famous London landmarks. As a child, he attended boarding school in Surrey, England, and later went on to study Drama and English Literature at Oxford University. After university, he moved to Los Angeles and began working as an actor for the big and small screen. In the early 1990s, he landed a role in the cult classic TV show, Batman, and from there was able to transition into more serious acting gigs. He has since gone on to star in numerous films and TV shows including X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). In addition to his acting career, he also directed the 2015 film, The Seagull, which is widely considered to be one of the best British films of all time.
Career
For those who don’t know, Batman was one of the first massively popular comic book-based TV shows and as a result, it launched a thousand memes. Not only was he the star of the show, but he also directed several episodes during its six-year run.
Despite being best known for his work on TV, he has also had an extensive career on the big screen. He had arguably the most famous break-out role as Edward Cullen in the Twilight Saga (2008-2012), playing the love interest of American teenage queen and style icon, Bella Swan. For decades, the only representation of an Indian in a major Hollywood blockbuster was the supporting character of Danny Devaroe in the 70s action classic, Robin Hood.
In terms of directing, he made his debut in 1995 with the film, Lost and Found and went on to direct several other features including The Lost Symbol (2013), Beautiful Creatures (2014), and Paradise Beach (2018). His latest film, The Seagull, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and was released in theaters throughout the United States last month.
Personal Life
He is largely known for being one of the most private celebrities around, however, the occasional leaked photo or headline-worthy event would surface from time to time. In 2017, a widely viewed Instagram post from the London-born actor showed him holding a toy tiger and dressed in a leopard print bikini. The post prompted a flood of memes and amused fans, however, it also revealed that he was indeed playing with a tiger at the time. This was the first indication that he was being more private than usual and the fact that he continues to play with animals is proof that he has maintained his bond with his beloved creatures. It wouldn’t be surprising to learn that he has a large and devoted fan base who adore him for his kind heart and affinity for animals. In the past, he has credited his time spent living in Los Angeles to helping him develop a more mature sense of responsibility and compassion.
Despite his reserved nature, he has been married twice. He wed his first wife, Grace Kelly in 1994 and the two had a son together, Bronx, in 1996. They were married for seven years before divorcing in 2003 after which he began dating again. In 2012, he wed his second wife, FKA-Uri, who is the daughter of Israeli film director, Guy Mettling. The pair have been married since then and it wasn’t long before they were making headlines for all the right reasons. In September 2017, it was announced that the two were expecting their first child together. Born in April 2018, they named their son, Bobsey Maverick.
Despite his incredibly successful and busy career, he still finds the time to lend his support to several charitable organizations. He is an outspoken advocate for animal rights and has been a vocal opponent of climate change. In 2011, he was named one of the “World’s Most Influential People” by Time Magazine for his activism and support of animal causes.
Where Will He Go From Here?
With a career spanning over two and a half decades, it is fair to say that he has seen it all. However, despite his remarkable success and global influence, he still has a lot to learn. In an interview with Vogue, he expressed his desire to continue working toward improving his craft and learning from his mistakes. He said: “I definitely don’t consider myself a natural-born leader but I’ve always looked up to men like Steve Jobs and Tony Blair. I want to be a bit more forward-thinking, a bit more of a change-maker, a bit more of a leader.”
It will be interesting to see how his continued work influences the future of cinema. In an age where celebrities are increasingly dominating our Instagram feeds, it will be interesting to see how long he can keep his head down and stay under the radar.