It’s been a tough year for anyone that liked Twilight, but it’s especially tough for Robert Pattinson. The star of the 2008 movie series has battled rumors that he’s broken up with his longtime love affair with Twilight co-star and fashion icon Cara Delevingne. Now that the year is drawing to a close, Pattinson has returned to his home in England and taken up residence in a giant black-and-white ball. It’s been a long wait for Pattinson and company, but the year-end lull has afforded the A-lister the perfect opportunity to catch up on some much needed rest.
New Year, New Look
Pattinson’s first official photo shoot since the start of the year was for Dazed magazine, where he sported a monochromatic look. Although the British star has been spotted wearing all-white outfits in the past, this time he went au naturelle black—minus the white accessories, of course. Perhaps realizing that 2008 was a bit of a downer, the 30-year-old actor channeled his inner child and sported a grin from ear to ear.
Snooze-worthy Story
Although Pattinson has yet to make an appearance in public, he did take time out of his well-deserved retirement to promote his new film, Black and White. The romantic comedy stars Pattinson as Adam, an actor who is cast in a television adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace. It’s a story that might be worth telling, if only for its uneventful resolution. After much anticipation, Black and White was finally released in theaters on December 24, and it made just $500,000 more than its cost of production.
Wandering Eye
With a name like Pattinson, it’s no surprise that the actor’s eye wanders. For decades, the Great Britain native has been drawn to some of the world’s most covetable women, but he’s never actually committed. After playing a Harvard student in Love Happens, Pattinson stepped out on-screen with his co-star Rebecca De Mornay, and since then he’s been linked to other high-profile hotties like Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Moss, and most famously, Victoria’s Secret angel Victoria Beckham. The latter two were even rumored to have carried on an on-screen relationship similar to the one they have in real life. It’s no wonder that rumors about Pattinson’s private life tend to follow him around. On the contrary, his off-screen relationship with De Mornay has been an open and honest one, and they frequently post photos of themselves together on their respective social media accounts.
Cara, Kate, and Victoria
While Pattinson was away promoting Black and White, his co-stars Cara Delevingne and Kate Moss were in LA promoting their upcoming movies. Cara’s upcoming flick, Off-Broadway, has been met with largely positive reviews, and it’s currently seeking distribution. A week before Black and White’s official premiere, Moss attended a screening of the film and was seen cosying up with the charming director Michael Winterbottom. If Black and White is any indication, it’s clear that Cara and Kate have a lot to look forward to in the coming year.
No Regrets
Pattinson has no regrets about taking a break from acting. In a recent interview with The Independent, Pattinson said that he is “absolutely” content with his decision to walk away from Hollywood. “I never had any regrets,” he said. “I loved working, and I miss it. But you know what, it’s just not fun working nowadays. Everyone’s so politically correct, they’re so afraid of offending people that it’s just not funny. And it’s so fake! I hated just doing a bunch of press interviews, where everyone was trying to be so nice, and saying the right thing. It’s bullshit. I’ve done interviews with killers, and with psychos, and they were all really sweet, and they had great questions.”
It’s great to have a strong opinion, but it’s even stronger to back it up with facts. After taking a break from acting, Pattinson decided to use his time to pursue a professional career as a travel agent. The job offer proved to be too good to refuse, and he is now the proud owner of a boutique agency in London, where he lives with his dog Bailey. According to the actor, it’s been a rewarding experience, and now that he has a steady source of income, he has no plans to return to acting anytime soon.
While we’re on the subject of careers, it’s important to remember that not all actors become famous overnight. Some star in their own right and have spent decades honing their craft. The most famous example is Marlon Brando, who was famously quoted as saying, “Acting is pretending to be someone else—pretending to be truthful.” Perhaps realizing that 2008 was a bit of a downer, Brando channeled his inner child and sported a grin from ear to ear. Like Brando, it’s clear that Pattinson is enjoying his well-deserved retirement, and it’s great to see actors continue to have a productive career after their movie days are over.