No one would have guessed that the year 2019 would be the year of Robert Pattinson. After more than 20 years of mostly fruitless toil in the British capital, the English actor finally got the break of a lifetime when he was cast as the villain in the latest blockbuster adaptation of the classic Jack London novel, White Fang. The role earned Pattinson an Academy Award nomination and propelled him to fame, resulting in sellout worldwide tours and record-breaking box office returns. But beyond the Hollywood trappings that made White Fang so popular, the character of Jack London himself also saw a cultural resurgence this year as London fans were inspired to visit the city’s tourist spots in greater numbers and spent more time there. This was especially evident at night when the fog took over and allowed visitors to explore the former author’s London like never before.
Now that the world’s most famous film actor has firmly planted himself back in the public consciousness, it’s time to take a step back and examine his career in earnest. In between filming White Fang in 2019 and the beginning of 2020, Pattinson released two critically acclaimed films, The Lighthouse and Dance Dance Revolution, and began exploring his world music interests by collaborating with Indian percussionist Nikhil Khandke for the album, Indian Summer. He also began work on an album of traditional English folk songs for which he will sing, play, and record with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2020, Pattinson is set to premiere his first feature film as a writer and director titled King George, adapting the true story of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s friendship with King George VI. To celebrate this historic moment, the British Library is organizing an exhibition celebrating the life and work of one of England’s greatest postwar leaders. Entitled Winston Churchill: Collected Works, the show will feature many of the original manuscripts, diaries, and speeches that the world leader penned over a lifetime of service. Alongside the collection of historic artifacts, the Library will host an immersive experience, featuring video and audio narratives paired with rare images and documents to bring Churchill’s story to life for visitors of all ages. The exhibition will be on display from 23 March to 8 November 2020.
The Making Of A Star
Pattinson was born in London in 1984 to an English mother and a Scottish father. He began acting as a child and trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. While in Bristol, he developed an interest in performing contemporary plays, which is where his love for Jack London and the Brontës is rooted. He eventually made his London debut at the Young Vic in 2007 in A Streetcar Named Desire where he played Vladimir, the tormented husband. In 2009, he starred as Heathcliff in a major revival of William Crimmins’ famous adaptation of the Brontë’s classic, Wuthering Heights. The following year, he returned to the Young Vic with the role of Don Armando in a multi-award-winning production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. He then played the lead role in the 2010 film adaptation of The Crippled King, about the legendary 14th century Welsh warrior, Llewelyn the Great, whose legendary battles made him the greatest knight of his time. After another brief appearance at the Young Vic in 2012, he filmed The Rover in the same city, appearing alongside Dame Judi Dench and Michael Caine. The 2012 film, co-starring Rosie Benton, marks his screen debut in a lead role. In 2016, he played Orlando in the Royal Parks’ production of As You Like It, which is set to run for the next three years. Most recently, the actor reunited with his Don Armando from 2009, portraying the role of Don Armando in Tennessee Williams’ The Noose at the Young Vic in 2019.
Style And Substance
Apart from his acting career, Pattinson has become a fashion icon; he has frequently been named among the most stylish men in the world. In keeping with his fashion preferences, the actor has also been widely praised for the substance of his performances. Indeed, many of Pattinson’s co-star sightings in recent years have been at award-winning events and award-winning films. He has previously been named Britain’s most stylish man, he has been described as Britain’s answer to James Dean, and he has been hailed as one of England’s greatest modern day actors. In 2020, Pattinson will play the title role in the BBC mini-series, The Adventuress, based on the life of Georgina Cavendish, the Duchess of Argyll, who became one of England’s most notorious courtesans and known for her many affairs with famous men. Set during the reign of Queen Victoria, the series will see Pattinson join the likes of Vanessa Redgrave, Eve and Jane Wilde, and Sally Norton in portraying the Queen’s famous daughter. While she was in Hollywood, filming the movie, Somersetshire, the Duchess of Argyll was also reunited with her younger brother, the 9th Duke, after a 27-year absence. The pair were seen together in London in January and February for the first time in nearly 40 years and were seen laughing and chatting at various venues across the city. A source told the press that though they had their disagreements in the past, they have “mended fences” and are now “very much a team again.” As the Duchess and Duke of Argyll team up for a second time, it will be interesting to see if any of the old disagreements resurface. Perhaps the upcoming series will shed more light on their contentious past.
A Cultural Resurgence
In 2020, we will see more of the world of Robert Pattinson than we have in some time, as he has much to promote. Aside from his flourishing acting career and newfound stardom, the world’s most stylish actor will have a new musical endeavor to promote. In Indian Summer, he and Khandke will join forces to create an immersive experience for listeners, weaving traditional English folk songs into captivating narratives reminiscent of an Indian summer’s day. But not only does Indian Summer sound promising, so too does Pattinson’s other upcoming project. Working with renowned Australian director Ben Lewry, the pair are set to adapt the life of legendary explorer, John McDougal, into a feature film. The movie will be called First to Fight and will center on McDougal’s life as a war correspondent during World War I. Pattinson is one of the most versatile performers currently working, boasting an impressive array of skills from singing and acting to directing and producing. The English actor is truly making the most of the 2020s and beyond.