Batman may not be the first movie that comes to mind when you think of Robet Pattinson. The actor is best known for his work on the high school series, The Scorpious Adventures of John Preston, which aired from 2015 to 2017. Most viewers had probably never heard of the show before but have probably seen or heard of Pattinson since he landed a main role on the big-budgeted DC superhero movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). That was followed by bit parts in the 2017 spy movie Secret Life of Cornishman Banks and the dark comedy Life of the Party.
More recently, he appeared in the sci-fi short film The Boy Who Could Fly (2018) and the horror movie Happy Valley (2018), both of which were released in theaters this year. He also has a recurring role this year as Mr. Burke on the FX comedy-drama series, The Man in the High Castle (2016–present).
While John Preston may not be recognized by name, the actor’s presence definitely is. Many of his scenes have become meme-worthy, perhaps most notably his scene in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice where he threatens Lex Luthor with an ice cream cake. It goes without saying that this is one of the most popular moments from the movie. Fans of the show may recognize the scene as well since Robet has a few tics similar to John Preston’s character. This includes mimicking voices and mannerisms, using hand gestures while talking, and occasionally sticking out his tongue when he laughs. It may seem like he’s channeling a different character but it’s all Robet…sort of like a sexy, evil John Preston.
15 Things You May Not Know About Robet Pattinson
Here’s a list of 15 things you may not know about the popular British actor:
1. He’s been acting for most of his life. You may know him from his work on a TV series or a movie, but he’s been acting for most of his life. He studied drama at Oxford University and then joined what is now the Royal Shakespeare Company. While there, he performed in many plays, including Much Ado About Nothing, Henry V, and Richard III. He made his film debut in 2001 with Crazy Stupid Love, followed by Love, Actually in 2003. Since then, he’s starred in many films, including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011), Paddington (2014), Exodus: The Journey to Freedom (2016), The King (2017), and Suspiria (2018).
2. He’s an animal enthusiast. In addition to his work as an actor, Robet is also a passionate animal rights activist. He’s said before that he feels a connection with animals that isn’t necessarily present with people. He often campaigns for animal causes and has even gone undercover at an animal testing center to expose the practice. He notably appeared alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in a 2013 PETA ad where they called for a boycott of fur products.
3. He’s a big sci-fi fan. As an actor, he has a diverse range of roles and has played both good and bad guys. However, he spends much of his time these days as a member of the Sci-Fi Academy studying screenplays and watching sci-fi movies. In 2016, he revealed that he had become a member of the society because he feels that science fiction teaches you how to behave in a world where technology is advancing at such a rate. “It makes you question what it really means to be human,” he said. “I think that’s the most important thing about sci-fi. It makes you question what it means to be human and makes you think about the world around you in a way that no other medium can. It forces you to really confront society’s ills. It’s something that I feel really passionate about.” In addition to the Sci-Fi Academy, Robet is also a member of the UK’s Society of Film and Television Arts as well as a supporter of the animal rights organization, PETA.
4. He’s passionate about music. You may not always see him perform onscreen but he’s certainly no stranger to the music video or concert stage. He took an extended break from acting in 2016 to focus on songwriting and producing. He released the single “Mountain High” with his band, The Voyces, the following year. One of the song’s lyrics goes, “The future doesn’t need us / We’re just gonna ruin it anyway.” He often collaborates with other musicians on their songs, particularly for the video versions.
5. He has a thing for bad boys. While he has played an array of roles, the majority of his work has been in the stoner comedy and teen drama genres. However, he has also played some pretty cool dudes in his time, including an undercover cop in Paddington, an American GI in The Last King of Scotland (2006), and an undercover agent in Blackbird (2006). In fact, some of his co-stars in Paddington, such as Jim Broadbent and Mark Strong, have gone on to play major characters in other films, such as Cherish (Broadbent) and Kingsman: The Golden Circle (Strong).
6. He supports Manchester United. You may not always see him supporting a football team in person but he has very publicly supported Manchester United since his teens. In 2007, he and his father, Chris, bought a Manchester United season ticket. In an interview with Esquire, he said, “We’re never going to be perfect. We’re going to make mistakes. We will support Manchester United and be loud and proud of it. We’re going to put our hands up in the air and wave our manchester United flags whenever we go to a game.” He continued, “I’m not a stereotype of a football fan. When you grow up in Manchester, you don’t go to premium bars and talk about soccer,” he said. “You own a football club.”
7. He has a thing for vintage cars. You may not always see him in the classic cars that he enjoys driving but he is a serious vintage car enthusiast. In 2016, he bought a fully restored, 1940s Bentley. In an interview with GQ, he said, “I’ve always been really attracted to old cars. When I was a kid, my dad’s garage was filled with old classics. I think it was a combination of fame and fortune that brought out the vintage car collector in me.”
8. He has five sisters. He was born and raised in Wiltshire, England, the son of Jane and Chris Pattinson. His father is a successful wine merchant who also owns vineyards in Spain and Chile. While none of his sisters are actors, three of them work in the film industry as stereotactic radiographers (scientists who use X-rays to create 3-D models of the inside of the human body). A few of them have appeared in Homesick (2019) and Midsommar (2019). In addition to his sisters, he also has a half-sister, Ruby, from his father’s previous marriage.
9. He’s friends with George Clooney. You may not always see him hanging out with the Hollywood A-listers but he’s certainly no stranger to the big stage. He’s a friend of George Clooney and they even share an agent. He’s acted in many minor and supporting roles in Hollywood films but has mostly stayed on the other side of the camera. In 2019, he appeared in two movies: the comedy Homesick, which he also co-wrote, and the drama The Farewell. For his work on the latter, he earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.