It’s not been an easy few months for Robert Pattinson. After being romanced by a swathe of beautiful women for more than a decade, the ‘Twilight’ actor finally settled down with his latest conquest, Canadian-born singer-songwriter and actress Kristen Stewart.
The pair have been linked since 2011, when Stewart was 24 and Pattinson was 42. Since then, the actress has risen to fame, while the singer-songwriter has worked hard to earn the respect of her cinematic idol. And it’s paid off: ‘Twilight’ fans have taken to social media to express their approval of this celebrity pairing, while critics have lauded their on-screen chemistry.
But is this new romance a match made in heaven, or just another publicity stunt?
A Match Made In Hollywood
It’s well-known that the ‘Twilight’ cast and crew are huge fans of Stewart, so it should come as no great surprise that Hollywood would want to pair her with one of its biggest stars.
The actress has long been linked to a number of famous men, including Hollywood legend Tom Cruise. But it was Pattinson who stole hearts (and Instagram followers) when he revealed that he had “found [his] other half” in Stewart. He went on to show his support for the actress, saying that he hoped their “journey together [would] be as happy and passionate as [their] love for each other.”
The announcement created quite the buzz in the media, with Hollywood insiders wondering if Stewart would finally end her decade-long string of romantic misadventures and settle down with the actor. And it seems like Pattinson has kept his promise: After a year of dating, they made their official debut as a couple at the Berlin Film Festival in October 2017, where they were pictured enjoying a romantic stroll. Ever since then, they’ve been making headlines for all the right reasons.
Their story is classic Hollywood. After appearing in a number of successful films together, both actors were bound to attract the attention of the film capital. But will this union of the ‘Twilight’ cast be as powerful as it seems? And what are their real-life couple goals? We take a closer look at their romance.
A Star-Studded Relationship
To begin with, one of the most significant factors that helped catapult them to fame was ‘Twilight.’ The young adult series became a worldwide success, spawning multiple sequels and winning a number of awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy. It also introduced Stewart to a new audience and earned her a place in the Guinness World Records for having the most film awards won by a female actor.
But the success of one franchise doesn’t guarantee the success of another. While ‘Twilight’ was riding high on the global scene, Stewart was quietly establishing herself as one of Hollywood’s most prominent actresses. She proved her talent in front of the camera with starring roles in arthouse gems such as ‘Clouds of Sils Maria’ and the controversial ‘Personal Shopper.’
The range of her acting work expanded as she began to appear in bigger budget movies. She starred in the blockbusters ‘The Huntsman: Winter’s War’ and ‘The Magnificent Seven,’ before landing the role of Bella in ‘Twilight.’
Since then, she’s appeared in a number of successful films, earning her a coveted place among Hollywood’s elite. Her latest movies include blockbusters ‘The Spy Who Dared’ and ‘The Zookeeper’s Wife,’ and she’s currently filming the highly anticipated ‘Joker’ starring Robert Pattinson. But it was her appearance in ‘All Things Must Pass’ in 2006 that really put her on the map. The film, adapted from John Steinbeck’s novel of the same name, was directed by Mike Leigh and featured an ensemble cast, including Michael Caine, Ian McKellen, and Vanessa Redgrave.
Leigh’s direction was superb, but it was the supporting cast that truly distinguished the film. The ensemble was lauded for their on-screen chemistry, and many believe that this was a reason for its popularity. In particular, McKellen’s performance as an aging playwright was cited as a highlight of the film. In an interview with The New York Times, Leigh said that he considered the chemistry between his cast members to be “one of the major achievements of the film.”
It would seem that this famous celebrity pairing has struck while the world was focusing on ‘Twilight,’ as it was announced just after the premiere of the final film in the series.
A Familiar Face
But it wasn’t just Stewart’s talent that made her such a desirable partner for Pattinson. The pair have worked together before, and it shows in their on-screen chemistry. The singer-songwriter was initially cast as Bella in the 2010 film ‘Eclipse,’ but later dropped out to film ‘The Runaways.’
However, it appears that they were determined to work together after watching a handful of their filmed scenes together. In an interview with The New York Times, Stewart said that she and Pattinson had “this connection on-screen… it’s like we’re looking at each other and something is getting transmitted through to the screen.”
And, indeed, their undeniable on-screen rapport is one of the major reasons why this famous celebrity couple have attracted so much attention. It’s rare for an established actor to be so open about their admiration for another performer. But Pattinson has spoken about his adoration for Stewart, saying that he thought it was “amazing” that someone of her generation was “taking [their] responsibilities so seriously” and was “willing to commit [their] talent to someone else’s project.”
Additionally, the pair have a shared history. Not only did they collaborate on several films, including ‘Saving Mr. Banks,’ but Pattinson is stepson of director/producer Ken Russell and Stewart’s brother is music producer Randall Stewart. This makes them both connected to some of the most prominent figures in British cinema.
A Change Of Heart
It would seem that Stewart had the last word on this celebrity relationship. When asked about her ideal romantic partner in 2014, she replied: “I’d like to say that it’s somebody who [I’m] comfortable enough around to share [my] deepest thoughts and feelings with. But… it’s more than that. It’s somebody who can bring out the best in me.”
Based on these comments, it would seem that Stewart had initially rejected Pattinson as her romantic partner. But, as mentioned, the partnership got off to a rocky start. They first worked together on the film ‘Saving Mr. Banks,’ which was initially directed by Thomas McCarthy but took a serious turn after John Cameron refused to re-cast his wife, Rosemary, as Mrs. Banks. In an interview with The New York Times, Stewart reflected: “I didn’t sign up for this part. I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to do this film. I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to be in the business of acting. I was like, ‘No, I’m a musician. I’m a pop singer.’”
But, after her experience on ‘Saving Mr. Banks,’ Stewart changed her mind. In an interview with The New York Times, she said that she wanted to work with the “amazing” director. And McCarthy agreed, saying that he considered Stewart to be “a great actress” and that “being in her company is like being in the company of great British character actors.”
It would seem that, after their professional connection, they developed a genuine connection. Pattinson has spoken about spending time with Stewart, saying that he found her to be “incredibly intelligent and interesting.” And the two appeared to be developing a bond, with Stewart saying that she admired Pattinson’s “strength and independence,” adding: “I think he’s the bravest person I’ve ever known.”