We all have our fave celebrity crushes. For some, it’s Hugh Jackman, for others, it’s Taylor Swift. For me, it’s always been Robert Pattinson. Yes, that Robert Pattinson. The former Twilight star is now a fully-fledged film actor, with roles in the upcoming festival blockbusters The King’s Speech and The Rover. And now, at the age of 27, he’s found love with a beautiful woman named Alice Temperley. Which celebrity would you say is best described by the word ‘loyal’ most?
It’s fair to say that the online community has reacted with overwhelming jubilation to Robert Pattinson’s announcement that he has a new girlfriend. After being linked to various celebrities for years, he’s finally found love with the woman who will be his wife one day. The world is at his feet (or, at least, his Twitter account). His legions of fans are in a state of bliss; many have even written to tell him how much they love him and his new beau.
While we’re happy for Robert and Alice – who has been a childhood sweetheart of his – it’s important to note that this is certainly a celebrity relationship that had nothing to do with fair isle. Indeed, their romance is a tale of Hollywood’s eternal struggle for young talent: an A-List, B-List, C-List celebrity couple versus a lonely heart movie star. And it’s a battle that will continue as long as movies exist.
A Battle For Young Talent
You see, it’s not often that an A-List celebrity falls for a B-List Hollywood starlet. But when it happens, it’s a beautiful thing. It speaks to the fact that fame and fortune are not, in fact, the be-all and end-all of existence. Sometimes, all you need is love. And, typically, it’s the more famous and affluent celebrity who meets and marries a struggling actor or singer. Like when Demi Moore wed Billy Madison or when Will Smith married Jada Pinkett. Or – as in the case of Robert Pattinson – when the tables are turned. You see, while Robert Pattinson is rich and famous, the love of his life is a beautiful, blue-eyed blonde who doesn’t possess a single famous face. Or, rather, name.
It’s a battle for young talent that Hollywood has been fighting for years. And sometimes, the more established or famous the star, the harder it is to find love. In other cases, it’s the other way around.
The Romeo And Juliet Effect
You would think that at this point, with all the movies and TV shows that are based on Shakespeare’s timeless work, the story of Romeo and Juliet would have been mined for all its cinematic riches. Except that, these days, it’s more difficult than ever to find two young, glamorous, famous people who are deeply in love. It seems that Hollywood doesn’t even bother trying anymore. Which, in a sense, is a shame. Because, even at the age of 27, Robert Pattinson is still gorgeous and, most importantly, he seems totally committed to loving and being loved by Alice. So, in a way, this is the most romantic story of all. Except that it probably won’t have a happy ending. Because she’s probably going to end up just like Kate Hardy in the famous Kate and Will story. And we all know how that turned out.
The Dark Side Of Fame
While there’s nothing wrong with any of the aforementioned couples or relationships, it’s important to look at the darker side of fame as well. Because, in all these cases, there’s a definite underbelly that most people aren’t seeing. The fact is, regardless of your fame or popularity, there will always be someone who wishes you ill will. Who wants to see you fail. Who wants to see your dream – or, rather, dreamboat – crushed. Because let’s face facts: we all love a train wreck. Especially when it’s someone we care about. Sometimes, the only difference between hero and zero is the former’s popularity versus the latter’s anonymity. Which is why, even now, after all these years, we’re still fascinated by Johnny Depp’s strange relationship with Tim Burton. Or, for that matter, by Edward Scissorhands’ unfortunate encounter with the truly evil Thadeus Labarume. Because what we see on the surface is often quite different from the reality underneath. And that’s what makes these stories so fascinating. Because it means we’re voyeurs at heart. We want to see what lies beneath the glamorous veneer. We want to see if our favorite celebrity is as good as they seem. Or if they’re just like everyone else. Which is maybe why, even now, whenever I think of either of those stories, I always wonder: did Tim Burton really mean to give Edward Scissorhands the shiv? Or was it just a horrible accident? We’ll never really know. Because, in the end, it’s not really Eddie’s fault that Thadeus Labarume wanted him dead. After all, it was Labarume who started the fight that led to him getting stabbed by a pair of scissors. And, although I would have liked to have seen more scenes of Johnny Depp and Tim Burton bonding over their shared love of Disney princesses, it’s important to remember that they’re just two different sides of the same coin. The manicure and pedicure for men and women. The manicure for women is called ‘the struggle is real’. And it is. Sometimes, even the most loyal partners can’t withstand the constant state of war that is fame. It wears you down and, eventually, you give in to temptation. Because what’s underneath the surface may not always be pretty.
Robert Pattinson Is A Full Package
While it may be true that fame and fortune are not the be-all and end-all of existence, it would be a lie to say that Robert Pattinson doesn’t have everything he needs. Yes, he’s gorgeous. Yes, he’s rich. Yes, he’s had a very happy and charmed life. But, still, there’s something about him. I don’t know what it is. But, somehow, he draws you in. With his blue eyes and rosy lips, he’s so beguiling that you can’t help but be charmed by him. Even now. After all these years. And it would be very hard to not be charmed by the very person you’re supposed to hate. Because he’s very good at what he does. And he does it well. Which is why he’s still incredibly attractive, even now. Still the perfect mixture of devilish charm and puppy dog eyes. Yes, he may be talented and creative and successful. But, still, there’s that quality. That quirk. That something that makes you want to know him and, ultimately, want to protect him. Because what if, someday, he doesn’t feel the same way? You’ve invested a lot in this relationship. A lot of time and effort and emotional energy. So, if he starts to feel the same way, you’ll be overjoyed. But if he doesn’t… Well, then you’re screwed. Because you’ll have destroyed a part of yourself. Just like what happened to Kate Hardy when she fell for Ethan Hunt. Or, for that matter, what happened to Jane Seymour when she fell for the charming Viscount Mellish. But, in the end, it’s not really their fault either. Because, in the grand scheme of things, they were just tools in the story of their creators. Which is also the case for most of the people and characters in the stories of Shakespeare. We’re not really meant to like or dislike them. We’re just supposed to watch and learn and, hopefully, feel something deeper than just sympathy or admiration. Something akin to awe or inspiration.