With the success of Twilight, it’s no surprise that 20-year-old Robert Pattinson found himself at the center of the Hollywood spotlight. Before you knew it, he was acting in the blockbuster Hunger Games and collaborating with some of the biggest names in music on the album, Burberries. Now that he’s finished filming the final Twilight installment, he’s taken some time off to focus on promoting his new movie, The Dark Horse. In this movie, he plays a detective who is determined to solve the mysterious death of a fellow police officer. We sat down with Robert to get more details about his new film and lifestyle.
The Making Of The Dark Horse
The Dark Horse was heavily inspired by Robert’s time spent working as a security guard in London. One of the things he learned during these years is how to film security camera angles that make people look like they’re trying to hide something. These moments, along with his work as a detective, inspired the character of Inspector Rebus. While filming in the UK, the 24-year-old actor had the chance to meet real-life counterparts of his on-screen characters. One of these people was Martin Hanlin, whom Robert described as “the spitting image of me as Rebus” and “the most brilliant actor I’d ever worked with.” Another was Louise Myers, the widow of William Myers, Martin’s character from Psychotically Yours. “It was such an honor to meet Louise,” Robert said. “She was incredible, and I really loved her work. Just being around people that you admire and that inspire you is something that can’t be faked.”
Inspirational Villains
While filming in London, Robert had the opportunity to come across a lot of villains. One of the most fascinating characters he encountered was a Russian loan shark named Vondrov who became a bit more than a villain after he started blackmailing Martin. The Russian immigrant, who goes by the name Boris or Barry, was a great inspiration for Rebus. “What makes Boris so interesting is that he’s a complete mystery,” Robert said. “No one knows what kind of person he really is. He could be anyone, and that’s what makes him so interesting.” The London underworld also provided the inspiration for Detective Rebus’ arch-nemesis, the equally brilliant and sinister Alec Harvey, a.k.a. the Saint. “I think the Saint represents something darker than what Rebus stands for,” Robert said. “Even when you think you’ve figured out who he is, there’s always something more underneath.”
The Importance Of Adding A Bit Of Sizzle
Because of his success in Twilight, it wasn’t long before Robert found himself in talks with Hollywood studios about starring in their upcoming movies. However, he felt that he should add a bit of sizzle to his resume by appearing in a couple of small independent films. In 2012, he made a cameo in the dark comedy, This Is Going To Hurt, and in January of this year, he starred in the action-adventure thriller, Belphegor. “The goal was initially just to do some good, independent films to get some more experience,” he said. “Then, all of a sudden, I was getting offered more and more high-profile projects.”
A Career In Action-Adventure
Before Robert signed on to play the lead in the upcoming Divergent series, Shailene Woodley had already cast him in the film adaptation of YA post-apocalyptic horror novel, The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones. Filming for this movie began last summer in New York City, and it was there that the 24-year-old finally found himself in front of the camera again after several years in the spotlight. Although City of Bones was originally intended to be an independent film, the studio was so impressed by Robert’s work that they offered to distribute it. “I was very nervous about doing another studio movie, especially after the experience of Twilight,” he said. “However, City of Bones is an independent project, so I didn’t have to worry about that. It was a great opportunity.”
The Future Of Stardom
Looking ahead, Robert isn’t quite sure what his next project will be. Since Twilight, he’s been keeping busy with a number of smaller, independent films as well as several high-profile TV shows. “It’s funny,” he said. “For the longest time, I really didn’t want to talk about myself. Then, all of a sudden, I found myself in the middle of a media circus, and it was something I couldn’t really escape.” However, he’s quick to point out that, as exciting as the spotlight can be, it comes with its downside. “I think the biggest issue is that if you’re not careful, it can go very quickly,” he said. “If you don’t have good people around you, it’s also easy to become too attached to the spotlight and lose yourself in it.”
Family Matters
Aside from his career, Robert is also very involved in his family. Since the release of Twilight, he’s been traveling back and forth between Los Angeles and London to spend time with his dogs – Lily and Harvey – as well as his daughter, Vivienne, who he shares with longtime partner, Violette Putnam. The 24-year-old actor also tries to spend as much time as he can with his wife, Sandy. “It really is true,” he said. “We found each other while we were filming Twilight, and now we’re just trying to make the most of it. We’re both writers, and we really enjoy spending our nights brainstorming stories.”
While it’s been great having so much attention, Robert is ready to put his career on hold so he can focus on his family. “I want to be there for Vivienne and see all the milestones she goes through,” he said. “I want to be there for her until she feels like she can look after herself. I’ve had my fill of traveling and want to be closer to home.”
A More Zen Approach To Life
Since he’s been in the media spotlight, Robert has taken steps to manage his time and maintain a level head. “I think the most important thing is just to take things as they come,” he said. “Don’t stress out about what might happen. It’s better to go with the flow and see where it takes you. Sometimes, that’s a good thing, and sometimes, that’s a bad thing. You just have to learn how to deal with it.”
Although Robert is focused on his family and trying to keep busy with his career, he still finds time to fit in some fun adventures with friends. In particular, he mentioned that he and Lily, his German shepherd, love to travel, and since Germany is one of her favorite places, they often visit Berlin when they can. “Traveling is one of the best ways to see the world and meet new people,” he said. “It can be really fun. We also like exploring castles and taking our time finding hidden gems in museums.”
Aside from traveling and spending time with family and friends, the most important thing for Robert is maintaining a healthy lifestyle and eating well. “I want to be around for as long as I can,” he said. “It’s important that I keep my body in good shape, so I can enjoy life as much as possible.” To that end, Robert tries to eat as many natural foods as possible and avoids eating out as much as possible. “I love to cook, so I try to make the most of it whenever I can,” he said. “I also read a lot, so I try to get as much knowledge as I can. That way, I can continue to develop as a person and be the best father I can be.”
In the end, it’s clear that Robert Pattinson was just born to be in front of the camera. The son of an English teacher and an archaeologist, he grew up in a small town in southern England and began acting at a young age. It wasn’t long before fans were flocking to see the young actor in a role, and it wasn’t long before he was sharing a screen with some of the biggest names in film. Along with the success of Twilight, which is still one of the greatest selling female-driven movies of all time, Robert was named one of the Sexiest Men Alive by People Magazine, and it’s easy to see why. Not only is he an elegant and charismatic actor, but he also has a charming and adorable personality that shows up on and off-camera.