Last year was a year of major ups and downs for “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson. First, he had to endure the public backlash after cheating on his wife with various women, resulting in multiple #MeToo moments for him. But then, he scored a big hit with the critically-acclaimed film “Drybeat,” which reunited him with “Twilight” director and close friend David Slade. Since then, Slade has gone on to direct a second film starring Pattinson, “The Lost City of Z,” and the couple recently wrapped filming on their third project together, “Fifty Shades Darker.” So, what’s next for the England-born actor? Here are six interesting things you need to know about Robert Pattinson.
He’s On A Roll
Last year was a turning point for Pattinson. After years of being typecast, he became one of the biggest stars in the world, starring in some of the most highly anticipated films of all time. “Drybeat,” which he co-wrote and co-produced, is the most expensive British film of all time, costing a whopping £12 million to make. It also went on to become the number one overseas film in the country’s history.
While the film itself was a critical and commercial success, the actor’s personal life took a major hit. He cheated on his wife Rosie with various women, including his “Drybeat” co-star Mia Wasikowska. The ensuing scandal was so big that it made its way into the headlines on a near-daily basis, despite the fact that it had been going on for months. The media frenzy prompted Rosie to take a stand and sue for defamation, and she won a public apology from Pattinson in January this year. But the damage was already done — the actor was vilified in the press, with many publications dubbing him “The Beast of London.”
Things didn’t get any easier for Pattinson after the scandal broke. Even the traditionally friendly press turned on him, with publications like the Daily Mail going so far as to accuse him of being a “serial cheater” and a “troll” who “cherishes his reputation as a player.” (His reps have denied both of these allegations.)
He’s Still Married
Despite tabloid rumors to the contrary, Pattinson is still married to Rosie. The couple, who have been together for 12 years and have twin daughters, Willow and Agatha, were married in a secret ceremony at London’s Register Office in October 2017. The wedding came just weeks after Rosie filed for divorce following the cheating scandal, which she said left her feeling “utterly destroyed.”
While the tabloids had a field day speculating on the status of the marriage (with many publications dubbing it “the affair that wedding-minded couples regret,” and “the most famous love story of our time”), the public at large had little interest in poking their nose into the couple’s personal life. A wedding photo album that Rosie had secretly filled ahead of the ceremony went on display at boutique hotel The Sheltered Cove in Cornwall earlier this year, and even this act of defiance went largely unnoticed by fans and onlookers.
He And David Slade Are Still Best Friends
Despite all that’s happened, it seems that Pattinson and Slade are still best friends. The pair haven’t spoken since the scandal broke, but that was more than 12 months ago. Since then, they’ve remained in contact via social media, with Pattinson frequently posting photos of himself on set with Slade’s films.
Slade even went so far as to defend Pattinson after the scandal broke. In a statement to The Guardian, the director said: “I feel genuinely sorry for what’s happened to Robert. He is a good man. A great actor. I have known him for a long time, he is not a bad person. He is complicated. We are all complicated. This is an unfortunate situation and I feel for Rosie and his kids as well.”
He’s Still Proud Of His British Citzen
Pattinson is still very proud of his British citizenship, and takes great joy in being able to call himself a dual citizen of England and Australia. In a November 2017 interview with Esquire, he said: “We’re both European, but I feel more British. Growing up in Australia, I always felt like an outsider… When I moved back to the UK, it felt like my home. I never really felt at home in Australia. My family and friends are all in England, and I have so much pride in being able to represent them abroad.”
The actor has represented Britain on screen before. He’s best known for his role as Cedric Diggory in the “Harry Potter” film series, and he was previously nominated for the Golden Globe for an appearance in the 2009 film “The King’s Speech.” But aside from his film work, it’s the international success of his bestselling novels that has made him such a recognizable face around the world. To date, the “Twilight” star has accumulated 108 million books sold worldwide. (According to Variety, his upcoming memoirs will be published by HarperCollins and will be titled simply “Autobiography.”)
He Is The Face Of Luxury Brand Urban Decay
If you’re familiar with the brand Urban Decay, then you know exactly who Robert Pattinson is. The makeup brand was founded by master artist Bernie Mac in the ’90s, and he named it after the group of friends he had met while studying at Oxford University. One of those friends was Pattinson, who became the face of the brand in 2012. Since then, he’s been the brand’s poster boy, appearing in various advertising campaigns and acting as the brand’s celebrity makeup artist. It wasn’t long before people were wondering if he was the reincarnation of Mac himself — the makeup legend passed away in 2016.
Aside from being the face of the brand, Pattinson is also a fashion and beauty influencer, and his loyal following has made him a go-to source for beauty and style advice. In total, he’s been credited with nearly 30 million Instagram followers, with many publications dubbing him “the most influential man on the planet” for his social media prowess. He’s also the founder of the fashion Instagram account @robertpattinson, which has over a million followers, and he regularly shares photos of himself on set with his famous friends and co-stars. (He also has a Twitter account with over 1.4 million followers.)
He’s Got A Second Family
It seems that David Slade is the type of person who doesn’t like to be tied down by one woman or one family, and he has no intention of settling down any time soon. After completing his first film with Pattinson, Slade went on to launch a successful production company with a colleague, with the pair already boasting a number of lucrative projects in the works. Among them: A biopic of 1970s superstar Jackson Browne, a drama about L.A. gangsters, and a Vietnam War drama.
On a more personal level, Slade has another big project in the works, too. He’s currently crowdfunding on GoFundMe to make a “Star Wars” parody titled “The Rise of Skywalker,” in which he stars as the villainous Emperor Palpatine (yes, the same person!)
Despite the apparent success of his partnership with Slade, Pattinson isn’t letting his career go to waste. After signing with a prestigious agency in LA, he’s set to make his mark on the big screen once more. The agency, CAA, has been hard at work booking him some major upcoming projects, and he’s already started filming on two of them. (He will also star in the upcoming horror film “Life.”)
He Is The Voice Of Reason In A World Gone Silly
As a voice of reason in a world gone silly, it’s no great surprise that David Slade says he often turns to his “friend” and frequent collaborator Robert Pattinson for advice. But aside from helping out with career decisions, the “Twilight” star is also a sounding board for the director, and a friend to have at a time like any other.
In an interview with Esquire, Slade said of Pattinson: “I’ve been in places where I’ve felt like the only man in the world… He was the only person who was actually there for me. He made me feel like the sort of person I could be comfortable being myself around.”