It’s the rare bird indeed who can successfully juggle a successful acting career with a flourishing film production company and a high-profile dating life, but that’s exactly what Robert Pattinson has managed to achieve. The singer/songwriter made headlines worldwide in 2012 when he began a dating app court case against his longtime partner, film producer Amos Liu. The two had been in a relationship since meeting on the set of The F Word in 2009, and were engaged in May of the following year. But on December 20, 2012, the actor filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences.”
Pattinson made his acting debut in 1991, at the age of seven, and has since gone on to star in several TV series and films. In 2012, he made his directorial debut with the short film The Matador, and in 2014 he began starring in the highly anticipated fantasy series, The Dark Crystal. The actor has also established himself as an accomplished musician, performing with his band, The Wild Swans and writing/producing songs for films and TV shows.
Robert Pattinson And Jimmy Kimmel Get Into a Feud Over Skype Interview
The feud between Robert Pattinson and Jimmy Kimmel dates back almost a decade. In 2007, the two first met on the set of the now-defunct ABC sitcom, The Knights, and soon after they began seeing each other socially. The media circus that is Robert Pattinson and Jimmy Kimmel began when the British actor was featured on the latter’s late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” in 2011. In 2013, the two were embroiled in a serious Twitter war after the host questioned Pattinson about reports of his drug use and subsequent rehab stint.
Pattinson shot back on Twitter, calling Kimmel a “fat pig” and a “prick,” which led to an impromptu debate during a live taping of “The Jimmy Kimmel Show” in January 2013. The comedian responded by saying “it’s not often you get a chance to fight a fat pig.” The feud continued until the pair finally called a truce in 2015. But it wasn’t until late 2017 that they began interacting on social media once again.
On February 23rd, Robert Pattinson shared a video on his Instagram announcing that he and Kimmel had agreed to do a Skype interview in which they would “talk about anything.” The video opens with the two actors embracing before settling down to discuss television, film, and music. “I want to do this interview because I’ve always had a lot of respect for you,” begins Kimmel. “I’ve never met anyone who’s had as much success as you, and I really want to understand how you did it.”
“Well, thank you for having me here,” replies Pattinson. “It’s been a long time, certainly, since we’ve spoke.”
“No problem,” continues Kimmel. “Let’s do it.”
The interview goes smoothly, with the two discussing their fondness for classic television and film. The discussion turns to music, with each actor mentioning their love for Duran Duran and the Smiths, as well as revealing that they both used to suffer from anxiety. “I get panic attacks if I don’t do a lot of social media, especially if I don’t post for a while,” admits Kimmel.
Pattinson then brings up the topic of his directorial debut, The Matador. “I had a dream about making my own film one day, and I actually made it,” he says. He proceeds to discuss his process, the influence of English poet John Keats on his work, and his use of symbolism in The Matador. “I wanted to talk about how it all came together, and what the experience of making a film was like,” he adds.
Kimmel questions whether or not The Matador is a dark comedy, to which Pattinson replies, “I suppose it is. It’s certainly not a tragedy.”
Pattinson On Directing, The Dark Crystal, And Future Projects
Directing may be a new career for Pattinson, but he’s already made a name for himself in front of the camera. He continues to discuss directing, explaining that he feels more comfortable taking charge of a scene than an entire film. “It’s not that I don’t enjoy working with other directors, it’s that I feel like I can’t give as much as I can give if I’m not used to being the one in charge,” he says. He also reveals that he is hard at work on two other films, one a thriller titled Darkest Hour, and the other a psychological horror titled High Rise.
“It seems like you’re always playing against type,” begins Kimmel, referring to Pattinson’s earlier comments that he gets panic attacks if he doesn’t maintain a certain level of social media engagement. “You’re either a bad boy or a nice guy, or somewhere in between,” continues the comedian. “So is there a character you’re most comfortable playing?”
Pattinson’s answer is surprising: “No, I don’t really find that I fit into characters, as much as I find that characters often find me,” he says. “It’s never really been a conscious effort on my part to avoid playing certain roles. When I was a teenager, I never really wanted to play the ‘guy next door’ type, and throughout my 20s I didn’t see myself as quite the ‘dumb blond’ that so many characters embody. But here I am.”
The interview turns to politics, as Trump is mentioned. “I think a lot of his [Trump’s] success is a backlash to social media, and the fact that it’s made people crave human connection, even if it’s through a computer,” says Pattinson. “I’ve always been more of an idealist, and as social media becomes more prominent, I think people will become more disillusioned with the system.”
Kimmel Asks About Girlfriends, Drugs, And Alcohol
Kimmel then brings up a variety of subjects, including girlfriends, drugs, and alcohol. “Are you seeing anyone in particular?” he asks. “I’ve heard you dated FKA Twigs, for example.”
Pattinson’s reply is equally interesting. “I’ve never really found relationships to be that important,” he begins. “For a time, I was very involved with FKA Twigs, and while it was fun, it was also very consuming. I was dating her for a year and a half, and it was a mutual decision that we should stop seeing each other. It was good while it lasted, but I think for the best overall.”
“What about alcohol?” asks Kimmel. “You’ve been known to enjoy a drink or two. Do you think it’s better to avoid or allow yourself to have a drink?”
“I’m not a big drinker,” replies Pattinson. “I enjoy a drink now and then, but it doesn’t have a massive impact on my life. It’s interesting that you bring up alcohol, because a few months back I did an interview where I was asked if I ever struggled with my sobriety, and I said no. Then, out of nowhere, this guy from Alcoholics Anonymous contacted me and said he’s been sober for two years and would love to help. So I decided to give it a go, and I’ve been sober ever since. It’s not something I feel embarrassed about, and I don’t think of it as a failure. I just think of it as a learning experience.”
Kimmel Asks About The Future Of Film
The conversation turns to the future of film, with Kimmel expressing his belief that the medium will continue to grow in popularity as more people turn to television for their entertainment. “It’s funny you say that, because I had a dream that we were sitting here and you were saying the exact same thing,” says Pattinson. “I think that a lot of the reason why people turned to film is because of TV, and now that they’re on the road to recovery, people are turning back to films because they want to feel something. They want to feel something new.”