Everyone knows what the Twilight saga was about. But did you know that Robert Pattinson was actually a very precocious child? Let’s dive into his past to see what kind of a kid he was!

He Was A Skilled Basketball Player

It’s been 10 years since the release of Twilight and 22 since Robert Pattinson was first spotted on the big screen. During this time he’s established himself as a leading man and is well on his way to becoming a household name. But before we get into his acting career, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane and remember what kind of child he was!

Basketball was Robert’s favorite sport as a child. He played on teams with his brothers in London, England and, in 2013, was even invited to play in the NBA All-Star Game. During his childhood, Robert also participated in the Special Olympics and even won a Bronze medal with Britain’s under-18 team. He also had a knack for drawing and sold his artwork to pay for his expensive hobby—he earned £32,000 ($50,000) for his drawings alone in 2013!

He Was An Entertaining Child

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Robert Pattinson entertained his friends by playing pranks on them. He often made up jokes and engaged in banter with the people around him. Even as an adult, he continues to be the wittiest person you’ll ever meet. It was even said that he made up a word, “pattensonning,” to describe his unique brand of humor.

He Was A Fashion Icon

One of the most endearing qualities of Robert Pattinson is his fashion sense. During an interview with Harper’s Bazaar India, the director of the 2014 film Confidential Prostitution said that “Robert Pattinson is a walking fashion icon,” and that he wished the actor would come to India and open up a fashion house. Indeed, many consider Robert to be a style chameleon whose looks are as unique as his acting talent.

He Was A Lively Dancer

Speaking of fashion houses, did you know that Robert Pattinson has a dance card full of famous partners? Whether it was tango, salsa, or waltz, he was never shy about showing off his moves. In 2013, he even released a dance DVD called, simply, Dance.

He Was A Social Butterfly

While we’re on the subject of dancing, did you know that Robert Pattinson was named Europe’s sexiest man by Vogue in 2012? The publication’s editors said that they chose the handsome actor because of his “charming charm.” In addition to gracing the cover of Vogue, Robert has also been a frequent subject of gossip columns and is well-known for his beautiful girlfriends. He’s been linked to some of Hollywood’s most famous names, including Kate Winslet and Keira Knightley. And he’s not yet done dating; as of this writing, he has 2.5 million followers on TikTok!

He Was A Fashion Plate

One of the reasons why Robert Pattinson is so admired is his unfussy and individualistic style. The Victoria Beckham-approved designer said that he designs for “cool kids” and is committed to “keeping it simple but making it sophisticated” which is probably why his style has been copied by A-list celebs.

He Had A Talented Friends

While we’re on the subject of designers, did you know that Robert Pattinson has a pretty eclectic circle of friends? He keeps busy with his music, art, and acting, but also has a keen interest in literature, history, and politics. He’s been known to spend time with some of Hollywood’s most popular celebrities, including Lenny Kravitz and Kate Winslet. It was even reported that he helped to convince JK Rowling to write the screenplay for the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. He’s known to keep a close eye on what’s going on in the world and is frequently accused of being “political”—whether or not he actually votes. Did you know that he has a keen interest in fashion and style? It seems that all of these talents might come in handy if he decided to launch a fashion house!

He Was An Adventurous Traveler

We’ve established that Robert Pattinson has an eye for style, so it should come as no great surprise that he’d be tempted into the travel industry. In fact, he had a role in the 2013 film The Great Gatsby and is probably best known for creating an entire world inside his head while acting (his acting coach even said that he has “a photographic memory” which helped him to create entire worlds while filming Divergent). While in Australia he fell in love with the country and bought a farmhouse there, which he renovated. He’s been to Brazil, Chile, and Argentina multiple times to work on his Argentinian accent. He’s also been in love with Venice since he first visited the city as a teenager and now owns an apartment there. It seems that wherever he goes, he leaves his mark—he even bought a piece of land in Morocco so that he can design and build his own dream villa.

He Is A Mature Actor

Let’s not forget that Robert Pattinson is a skilled actor. During a press junket for the 2014 film The Rover, he talked about his craft and how he approaches his roles. “I have a tendency to gravitate towards the darker side of things,” he said. “I suppose one could say that I have a bit of a nihilistic approach to life.” He continued, “Sometimes you just have to throw caution to the wind and say what you think. I think the interesting thing about being an actor is that you get to have a completely different existence from whatever regular day-to-day life you might lead. You’re essentially an outsider looking in. You get to see things as they might be, not as they are. You get to play with language and with reality.”

It seems that Robert is right about being an outsider. Maybe, sometimes, all we need is some fresh air. And, as he proved with Divergent, he’s not afraid to challenge our notions of what it means to be human. The question is: Will he continue to be an outsider in the limelight or will he become a full member of the celebrity society?