Walking down the streets of London, you would be forgiven for thinking that you had just fallen into the latest fashion-themed music video. In fact, the crowds and the cameramen are there to capture the looks of A-list celebrity as they walk by. This is because actor Robert Pattinson has just wrapped up filming for the latest installment of his popular Twilight series, which began with the blockbuster film series in 2008. Directed by David Cronenberg, the latest story takes us to London, where the actor plays a down-on-his-luck vampire named Edward Cullen who falls in love with a human girl named Bella Swan (played by Kristen Stewart). As a result of this meeting, sparks fly as the pair fall into a passionate relationship.
The film opens with the characters fleeing for their lives from the clutches of a crazed vampire named Stakeholder who has made a deadly pact with the undead. The trailer for the upcoming film teases some spectacular fight scenes and plenty of witty dialogue as the pair try to outrun their many pursuers. Although production on the movie is now complete, post-production still hasn’t even begun, which is par for the course for Pattinson as he has continually found himself in the middle of production rushes.
Talking to Dazed about his film work, the 35-year-old British actor opens up about his perfectionist side. “When I worked on the set of [2015’s] Pattinson, I felt like I was in a pressure cooker,” he says. “There’s a lot that goes into making a film, and you have to be mindful of every little thing. It’s easy to just give up and throw it all away, but you have to have the perfectionism to see it through and keep things interesting.”
The actor, who turned heads with his hobo-like appearance in the 2005 movie The Liberator, continues: “When I worked on [2014’s] The Rover, the crew and I were all on edge, knowing that it was [director] George [Pattinson]’s last shot. We didn’t want to mess it up, and I think that made us work harder. The vibe on set was intense, but in a good way.”
Pattinson, who was raised in London and has a home in the city, also spoke about his love for British culture. “I love being in London. I have all my favorite places there. I went to art school in London, so it’s nice to be back,” he says. “I was really happy when I was asked to be a part of the London premiere for The Rover. It was a real honor.”
‘Pattinson’ Is Now A Staple On The Awards Season Speeches Circuit
This year has been a good one for Pattinson. In January, he picked up three awards at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards, including the award for Most Popular British Film Actor. And the following month, he and Stewart were guests at the Vanity Fair Oscars party where they were seated next to fellow Twilight stars Kate Winslet and Rosie Perez. After their appearance on the red carpet, they joined the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, and Lupita Nyong’o for a Q&A with moderator Matt Lauer, followed by a screening of the film The Light Between Oceans.
The pair reprised their roles from the film in April for the fifth season of HBO’s critically acclaimed drama series The Sopranos. In an interview with Sopranos creator David Chase before the premiere of the new season, David Tennant, who plays the series’ eponymous antihero, said that he thinks Pattinson will do a “fantastic” job.
So, what is it that has helped make 2013 such a successful year for Robert Pattinson? For one, he has a new wife in the form of Russian model and musician Ekaterina Blinel, whom he wed in a sunset ceremony in May. The pair are already making waves on the red carpet together; they attended the British Fashion Awards in November in London and were voted the world’s sexiest celebrity couple.
In addition, Pattinson has been active with the media this year, making frequent appearances on the magazine cover and front row at fashion weeks around the world. In September, for example, he attended the London Fashion Week where he was the cover star of British Vogue. And at the Paris Fashion Week in October, he made multiple appearances on the French, Italian, and Spanish Vogue covers. He also graced the cover of Dazed in December and appeared in the magazine’s annual Christmas issue.
And, finally, after years of playing second fiddle to Stewart’s Twilight stardom, Pattinson is now poised to become a leading man in his own right. In 2013, he appeared in two high-profile and critically acclaimed movies: 2014’s The Rover and James Gunn’s 2014 horror movie Pitch Perfect. In the latter, he plays the role of the mute son of a rich family who has trouble making conversation with the ladies. The movie, which also stars Anna Kendrick, Elizabeth Banks, and Rebel Wilson, was a huge critical and commercial success, earning over 60 million dollars at the box office worldwide. It also won three Golden Globe Awards, including Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture.
Although 2013 was a big year for Robert Pattinson, it was also a year of tragedy. His father died of natural causes in April and his dog Skippy succumbed to cancer in September. But, even in the face of such adversity, he proved himself to be a force to be reckoned with, shining through in the roles he took on and in the accolades he won.