It’s no secret that Robert Pattinson has a large, loyal following, with fans even showing up in the oddest places just to catch a glimpse of the British actor. As well as becoming a worldwide celebrity, Rob has also gone through a number of nicknames over the years, stemming from his acting roles and his unusual lifestyle, which has seen him spend periods living in Hollywood and London.
The Vampire King
The most recent nickname comes as a result of Rob’s recent transition to full-time fatherhood, following the birth of his and Snow White’s baby girl, Mia. While the actor was always known for his dark, brooding looks, he now takes on a new, more mature appearance as a father, with lots of time for his little family.
Prior to 2016, Rob was best known by his role as the dashing and brooding vampire Ethan from the Twilight franchise. It was thanks to this series, along with his earlier work in indie horror flick Kill List, that he became the king of the vampires. Indeed, Rob’s portrayal of the bloodthirsty creature inspired a doggy imitation craze, with hundreds of videos featuring dogs performing eerie, bestial wails while imitating his famous accent.
With his Hollywood career now firmly established, it’s unlikely that we’ll be seeing much of the vampire king in future. However, Rob’s unique brand of dark glamour will continue to captivate moviegoers around the world, as he proved when Twilight became the highest grossing movie of all time. His iconic status in the industry was certainly cemented with this achievement.
Mr. Burberry
While in Hollywood, Rob has also become something of a fashion icon, donning designer duds and strutting his stuff on the red carpets. One of the biggest fashion trends of the 21st century has been inspired by Rob, with his unique style having transcended movies and transitioned into mainstream popular culture, most notably through his work for luxury fashion house Burberry.
The actor’s design sensibilities have been showcased on-screen in the form of his character Mr. Burberry, who dresses in quintessential British style while gallivanting around the world, which was inspired by a trip Rob and his then-wife, Rosie, took to Italy during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Burberry, which originally made its name as a textile company, is now best known for its luxury clothing and accessories. While in Italy, Rob wore a Burberry tuxedo jacket and trousers, which became an instant hit, with the designers even releasing them in his honor.
The Boss
Another fashion-related nickname that has stuck is The Boss, which was given to Rob in 2014. At the time, he was starring in Australian crime drama The Great Detective, in which he plays the role of a self-made millionaire who helps out the police with their cases. The nickname was inspired by the detective profession and the character’s successful business acumen, which is showcased in a scene where he briefs a group of detectives on an investigation, telling them to treat it like a crime scene.
While in Australia, it was announced that Rob has bought two properties: an 18th-century manor house in Perth and a brand new apartment in the Sydney suburb of Mosman. Rob’s love for his homeland and his strong connection to Australian culture is clear. He even had a barbecue at his house in Sydney in April as a celebration of Australia Day.
The London Bob
Another unique moniker that Rob has had the pleasure of donning is The London Bob. The nickname was inspired by the actor’s time living in London, where he adopted a distinct London accent, which is a mix of Received Pronunciation and American influences, such as his native Scottish accents. While he has never been particularly private about his time in the British capital, Rob has spoken openly about how much he enjoys living there and exploring the city’s various museums and galleries.
It’s not just accents that Rob has picked up from his time in London. The actor has also taken on the fashion styles of the capital, dressing in a distinctively Englishman fashion, which sees him sport a full head of hair, known as a “Homburger,” and wear a large flower in his button-hole.
This distinctive style has served as the basis for the creation of an entire clothing collection, called The London Bob, which will be presented to the public for the first time during London Fashion Week next month. The British fashion house is calling the range “a celebration of everything that is wonderful about English men,” according to a press release.
The Hollywood Robert
Although Rob has been based in Australia for much of the past year, he hasn’t entirely cut his ties with Tinseltown, as he has frequently visited the U.S. to visit his family. On one of these trips, Rob was bestowed with a new nickname, which he has carried with him ever since: The Hollywood Robert. The nickname was inspired by the fact that Rob’s big break came as a result of starring in the 2011 adaptation of David Nicholls’ bestselling novel, The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society. The book is set in the south of England, but the movie was filmed in Ireland, where Rob spent a lot of his time during production. It was the combination of the accent and the outfits that the costume department decked out Rob with that gave the nickname its edge.
The movie adaptation was a huge critical and commercial success, with Variety hailing it as one of the Best American Made Adaptations from British Books, while the Telegraph called it “a joy from beginning to end.” Even the costume designer admitted that she fell in love with the rugged beauty while designing his wardrobe. “I fell in love with Robert Pattinson’s extraordinary look,” said Patti Healy in an interview with Vanity Fair. “He’s one of the most amazing men I’ve ever worked with; such a talented actor and poet.”
No Nickname
Another interesting facet of Rob’s fascinating life is that, as a rule, he doesn’t like to be referred to by name in the media. Despite his enduring popularity and the fact that he’s one of the most recognizable faces in contemporary cinema, the actor and singer shuns the spotlight, with only a few select journalists and bloggers being given the opportunity to write about him. The few times that he does grant interviews to the press, he refuses to answer questions about himself or share personal details about his life, instead preferring to interact with the media through a third party.
As well as his desire for privacy, Rob has also been known to be selective about which jobs he takes on, only agreeing to roles that he deems significant. In an interview with The Guardian, the actor revealed that he doesn’t generally look for work and instead waits for roles to come to him. “I’ve never really applied for jobs, I’ve always just kind of taken them,” he said. “I’ve always been lucky in that way.”
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
A major turning point in Rob’s life was the release of his two Twilight Saga movies, New Moon and Eclipse, which were both critical and popular triumphs. The first of these films saw the actor team up with frequent collaborator and friend, Taylor Lautner, for the first time since their hit comedy, Get Him to the Greek. In New Moon, Rob plays the role of a young vampire named Edward Cullen, who is trying to live a normal life in a suburb of Seattle, but finds that his extraordinary powers attract the attention of a secretive government agency.
The Twilight Saga is now one of the most successful and influential franchises of all time, having made its director, David Cronenberg, one of the most bankable names in Hollywood. The first film in the series was adapted from Stephenie Meyer’s bestselling novel, Twilight, which was followed by New Moon in 2009 and Eclipse in 2010. While the first two movies are set in suburban America, Eclipse takes place in the rainforests of Brazil, with its exotic locations and vivid tropical settings providing the perfect backdrop for a rare encounter between the human and vampire races.
The Hunger Games
Another big turning point in Rob’s life was the premiere of The Hunger Games, the first of which was directed by Gary Ross and based on the bestselling YA novel by Suzanne Collins. The dystopian future of Collins’ story sees an all-star cast, including some of Hollywood’s biggest names, taking on each other in a fight to the death, with entertainment as a way of life and cannibalism commonplace.