Even though he’s one of the most popular movie stars today, Robert Pattinson has always been a very private person. This quirky charm has even managed to land him a spot on our list of the sexiest men alive. The actor has been in the spotlight for years, but now that he’s finally opened up about his life, we’re learning more about the man behind the fame.

Pattinson’s been relatively quiet on the social media front, mainly keeping his Instagram account private (until recently when he finally activated his account again). He does have a Twitter account, but he rarely posts there. Although he has over a million followers on Instagram, the few tweets he’s posted have mostly been about his upcoming projects. While he hasn’t always been an open book about his personal life, he’s gradually been sharing more details about his journey – from growing up in Wales to meeting his wife and tying the knot with her in Italy.

Here, we explore how Pattinson has changed as a person over the years as a result of his increased popularity and how he’s managed to stay so upbeat – particularly in the face of adversity.

From Shy And Self-conscious To Confident And Social

Pattinson was born in London to American parents in May 1986. He has an older brother named Charlie, who is three years his senior. When he was 11 years old, his family moved to southern Wales where he grew up. He later moved back to the UK with his mother and brother, and began attending Kingston School in Surrey. It was there that he began to display his comedic talents, performing in plays and reciting poetry in class.

When it came time to choose a career, he was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to attend the prestigious Rose Bruford College in East London. There, he studied English literature and drama, and later went on to complete a Masters in the subject. Although he’d always wanted to be a comedian, working with the college inspired him to embrace acting as a career option.

Pattinson made his professional acting debut in the 2009 British romantic comedy film The Switch, which was followed by a 2010 lead role in Oliver Stone’s Savages. Over the next few years, he appeared in hit films such as American Hustle, The Great Gatsby, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. He also lent his distinctive voice to numerous animated features, most notably, Peter Rabbit, in which he voiced the title character. In 2018, Pattinson will be seen in the Marvel Studios film Black Widow, and in the upcoming James McAvoy comedy Hello, My Name Is Joe.

Pattinson has long been admired for his distinctive looks. Since his acting debut in 2009, the actor has become one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood. He’s graced the covers of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, and has been referred to as “the sexiest man alive” by Elle. Most significantly, he was chosen to front the “Forever young” campaign for Lancôme, and was subsequently featured in their 2018 advertising campaign.

The handsome Englishman has never been afraid of a challenge. Back in 2011, he took on the persona of a zombie (for the movie Take Me Away) and, in 2018, he became the face of Dior Homme. Although he’s never really been a fan of fashion, the opportunity to work with French fashion house Dior was simply too tempting to resist.

From Being A Private Individual To A Semi-Private Person

Pattinson’s shyness as a child meant that he rarely went anywhere without his mother. The family lived in a series of very small homes, which they rented out, as his father worked remotely as a photographer. This gave the actor, who has described himself as “very awkward” as a kid, plenty of time to himself – which he spent developing his craft. He got his first taste of life on the road when he joined a theatre company in London, which performed classic plays and invited audiences out for post-performance drinks.

In the past, this has put Pattinson in a bit of a quandary. His devout Christian parents wouldn’t have allowed him to drink alcohol or go to a pub, which meant that he’d spend his nights in a hotel – far away from home. This semi-private lifestyle didn’t seem to bother him, though, as he got his first taste of success.

After attending three separate ceremonies in three days to celebrate the Hollywood grand slams of 2010, he took a step out of his comfort zone and rented a spacious mansion in the Hollywood Hills. The following year, he bought a mansion of his own.

These luxurious nights were made possible by the Hollywood actor’s growing celebrity. Since his early movie roles had attracted a cult following, he began to receive fan letters and visit cards from all over the world. The sweet and sincere letters encouraged him to share his story with the world. He was beginning to put his shyness aside and was embracing his status as a movie star.

From Humble Beginnings To A Life Of Luxury

Although Pattinson’s rise to fame was relatively swift, he’s always been aware of his good looks and he’s never been a snob. His earliest roles were in British comedies, and he even admitted that he’d never watched a dramatic film before he got his big break in American Hustle. He also spoke about how he’d much rather act in something “smaller and quirky” than a “big, historical epic,” because he doesn’t feel like he can give the performance he thinks it deserves.

This down-to-earth streak has undoubtedly helped him to rise to fame and popularity. His natural charm and charisma immediately made him a hit with audiences, which enabled him to pull off his quirky stunts (such as the zombie performance in Take Me Away or the dior homme campaign).

Pattinson has always been a dedicated family man. He married his wife, Kristen, in 2014, and the couple had their first son, Lorenzo, in August of that year. Their second child, Chloë, was born in January 2018. This family life is something that he’s regularly taken time out of his schedule to promote. Even more impressively, he’s still willing to travel to far-flung places like Nepal to shoot location pictures for a particular role.

From Bad Luck To Good Fortune

Pattinson has certainly enjoyed the fruits of his labor over the years. He’s worked with the best directors and been given the opportunity to wear some incredible outfits. He’s also managed to stay healthy, and has even been mentioned as an example in some of Bradley Cooper’s lectures on wellness in Hollywood.

He began his journey to Hollywood fame in the most unlikely of places: the Royal Albert Hall in London. It was there that he first performed in front of a live audience, and the experience changed his life forever. He went on to star in three television series (including The L Word and The Knick) and four films (The Rover, The Drop, Lola Versus, and What If), earning him a reputation as one of the most versatile and interesting actors currently working in Hollywood.

Pattinson’s charm and screen presence immediately made him popular among the fashion set. In 2012, he became the face of Burberry’s #iwillwearwhat Iwear campaign, and in 2014 he appeared in a highly regarded series of commercials for luxury goods brand, Lancôme. In the commercial, he stars as a young man who breaks down the differences between men and women, and encourages viewers to find the inner beauty within themselves.

Pattinson has truly enjoyed flying under the radar, but it appears that this golden period is coming to an end. His semi-private life as a celebrity has finally caught up with him, and it seems that the paparazzi will stop at nothing to get their hands on the latest gossip.

In April 2018, news broke that the actor had allegedly been spotted on a luxury goods buying spree, splashing out on a pricey wardrobe and accessories. Unsurprisingly, given his semi-private life, the incidents typically featured Pattinson wandering the streets of London in disguise. While this might be amusing to the general public, for someone who’s worked so hard to achieve privacy, it’s obviously not something he wants to be involved in.