Robert Pattinson, the English actor who rose to fame after being cast as the dark prince in the blockbuster film
Darling, has announced that he is retiring from the acting world. In what seems to be a shock announcement, Pattinson stated, “I’ve decided to hang up my acting gloves. After ten years of doing this, it’s taken its toll on my body, and I want to focus on my career as a writer.”
The announcement comes after Darling turned ten, with the actor sharing a collage of photos from leading lady Nicole Kidman and himself on social media to commemorate the milestone birth anniversary. In the posts, which have since been deleted, Pattinson is seen in a white t-shirt and jeans, and Kidman is shown wearing a black dress with white polka dots. Some fans have taken to Twitter to express their dismay at the news, with one user writing, “Oh my god! It’s over! You did it! You finally did it! You’re actually leaving us!”
While there is no denying that acting has helped catapulted Pattinson’s profile, the decision to call it a day is perhaps a surprise. In 2018, the actor was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Goodbye Christopher Robin, a drama about the last days of author A.A. Milne’s life. The following year, Pattinson made his Broadway debut in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, for which he won a Tony Award.
Pattinson’s filmography includes the Darling films, in which he plays a vampire who has to choose between living in luxury or remaining a human being, and Twilight Saga, in which he plays Edward Cullen, a teenage vampire who falls in love with a mortal. He also appeared in the science fiction blockbuster Ex Machina, as well as Mike Nichols’ The Postman Always Rings Twice and Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. On TV, he’s appeared in The Nightstalker, Downton Abbey, and, most recently, he voiced Feuerbach in the hit Sonic the Hedgehog animated series.
Pattinson’s Final Post
Prior to announcing his retirement, Pattinson posted a short video on his official Instagram account, saying, “Well, it’s been a good ride. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. And I want to thank you, the fans, for following me on this journey. It’s been an honour.”
He then added, “To conclude, I want to leave you with something that I’ve never said before. For as long as I can remember, I’ve never felt like this about an acting role: I never felt like this about any role. I’ve never wanted to quit. Until now. I’ve decided to retire from acting, and I couldn’t be more excited about what’s next.”
Pattinson then quickly deleted the post, but not before fans had snatched a screenshot.
The news comes after a turbulent year for the actor. In April 2019, he was spotted canoodling with Kidman on a beach in Sydney, Australia. The following month, he was rumoured to have filed for divorce from Kidman after a decade of marriage. According to court documents reportedly filed in Los Angeles in April, the couple have been arguing over unpaid bills and the division of property.
Pattinson and Kidman were married in Venice, California on New Year’s Eve in 2005. The couple’s representative has yet to confirm or deny the existence of the divorce proceedings.
For his part, Pattinson had previously said that he was committed to being married until death do them part. “I’m a romantic at heart. I still believe in love at first sight, and I think that’s how most people should feel,” he said in 2013. “I really don’t plan on changing. So for now, this is how I see my future.”
Why Now?
Pattinson made his debut in Darling in 2010 and has since appeared in a flurry of blockbusters and award-winning films. The actor has frequently been touted as Hollywood’s next great villain, with many expecting to see him play a role in the next Harry Potter film. While he’s had a number of high-profile projects on his schedule, the past couple of years have seen him tackle more challenging material, which perhaps explains why he’s decided to call it a day.
- 2018: After a decade of playing largely supportive roles, Pattinson decided to take on the lead role in Goodbye Christopher Robin, based on the last days of author A.A. Milne’s life.
- 2017: Pattinson starred in his first major English-language role in Guy Maddin’s psychological thriller The Death Of Stalin, based on the real-life events surrounding the demise of the Soviet Union’s leader.
- 2016: Pattinson starred in Michael Winner’s dark comedy Gareth, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. He played a paraplegic hit man who falls in love with his target (Emily Mortimer).
- 2015: The actor took on the role of Sherlock Holmes in The Man From London, a modern-day adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic stories.
- 2014: Following a stint on Broadway, Pattinson returned to the big screen in George McCuich’s crime caper Midnight In Paris, playing the dual roles of both composer and performer in the film.
- 2013: After spending seven years in Los Angeles, returning to his native England to shoot The Lost City. The thriller, which co-stars Naomi Watts and Tom Holland, focuses on a group of strangers who stumble upon a sinister plot in the woods near their village.
Will He Return?
While he’s announced his retirement from acting, the 43-year-old still hasn’t ruled out a comeback. “I’m actually open to doing more work. But whether that will be in film or television, I don’t quite know yet,” he said at the Bafta Britain Awards earlier this year. “I’m also going to take some time out to travel and do some family stuff. I’ve always wanted to go to Italy and see Venice, so that’s what I’m going to do this year.”
The next role to arrive is Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2, which hits cinemas on Wednesday (December 26). In the film, Pattinson will reprise his role as Edward Cullen and return to Los Angeles for the birth of his daughter, Liv Tyler. The actor’s involvement in the Twilight franchise is credited with boosting his popularity in Europe and the Middle East, where he often features on the region’s most popular celebrity lists.
Robert Pattinson’s career has spanned two decades, beginning with a small part in the 1997 cult flick Clown. Since then, he has gone on to appear in a string of critically-acclaimed films, winning a host of accolades, including a Golden Globe for Best Actor for his role in the 2018 film Goodbye Christopher Robin.
Pattinson has been open about his passion for photography, often posting behind-the-scenes snaps on his instagram account. The popular account, which boasts over 1.9 million followers, regularly posts glimpses of the actor’s glamorous lifestyle, including pictures of him with leading ladies, elaborate dinner parties, and even some pets and wildlife.
The English hunk recently posed for a steamy shoot with celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz, with the pair shooting a spread for Vanity Fair’s 2020 Vanity Awards edition. The resulting photographs, which feature Leibovitz’s famous subjects, including Greta Gerwig, Thora Birch, and others, will be released on January 20, 2020.