If you haven’t heard of them, then maybe it’s time you should have. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are arguably the most famous break-up couple in history. Since splitting in July 2012, they’ve worked hard to rebuild their public image and are now considered one of the power couple of 2014.
Pattinson, 28, and Stewart, 24, have been romantically linked since 2006. They first starred in The Twilight Saga as Edward Cullen’s (Pattinson’s) younger sister Bella and her love interest, James (Stewart’s character), respectively. Since the series became a massive international success, the pair have gone on to appear in numerous films together, winning a string of awards along the way. Most recently, the duo headlined New York City’s prestigious Ziegfeld Theater for the opening night of the musical drama We Will ROCK You. It was a highly publicized event that saw the former on-screen lovers reunited for the first time in a live staged performance. The following evening, they were photographed holding hands backstage, seemingly reconciling their turbulent past.
The Twilight Saga
The Twilight Saga is a literary phenomenon. Released between October 2008 and January 2011, it became the bestselling collection of novels in the history of publishing, later paving the way for numerous spin-offs and prequels. The Twilight Saga is primarily set in the town of Forks, Washington, where the beautiful and seductive Bella Swan (Stewart) struggles with her vampire craving. With the help of her reluctant beau, Edward Cullen (Pattinson), Bella endeavors to find her place in the world and comes to terms with her true nature. The film adaptation of Twilight was a massive worldwide success, becoming the highest-grossing vampire film of all time and spawning a whole generation of devoted fans. The film also received a record-breaking thirteen Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Stewart and Best Supporting Actor for Pattinson, making them two of the most successful on-screen couple of all time.
Awards & Accolades
Apart from acting, Stewart and Pattinson have both been nominated for numerous accolades, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. Stewart has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the 2012 film, On the Road, and was also in contention for the Best Actress award at the 2012 Golden Globes. Most recently, Stewart has been nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award and has won a Cinema Audio Society Award for her work in the film adaptation of Les Miserables.
Pattinson has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 2012 film, Act of Valor. He has also been nominated for a Golden Globe and has won a BAFTA Award and a Satellite Award for his role in the film Never Let Go (2010).
Now that they’re both established actors, Stewart and Pattinson have embarked on a promotional tour, appearing at film festivals and award shows across the globe. They’ve also published books, released singles, and launched their very own perfume, which they both featured in. Most recently, they’re hosting the BAFTA Brit Film Awards in London in April 2014.
Rebuilding Their Public Image
Since breaking up, Stewart and Pattinson have both worked hard to rebuild their public image. Stewart appeared in The Twilight Saga: New Moon as Jacob’s (Pattinson’s character) adoptive sister Alice, and since then she’s starred in a number of supporting and cameo roles in various TV series and films. Most recently, Stewart has taken on a more serious turn, starring in the 2014 film, Still Alice. Set in the near future, the film follows a woman who is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The actress won a Golden Globe and has been nominated for several accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Actress. The film is now available on Netflix.
Pattinson, too, has taken on more serious roles since their split. He first appeared in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse as the villain Victoria, later playing Prince Charming in the 2013 film adaptation of Snow White and the Huntsman. Since then, he’s appeared in supporting roles in The Divergent Series and The Hundred-Foot Journey. Most recently, he played the titular character in the indie sci-fi film, Valor. The film premiered at the 2013 Toronto Film Festival and has since gone on to win numerous awards, including the prestigious Jury Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
A History Of Troubled Relationships
Pattinson and Stewart didn’t become lovers-to-be overnight. In fact, their first public appearance as a couple was at the 2006 MTV Movie Awards, where they won the Best On-Screen Chemistry prize. Over the years, their relationship has been plagued by rumors of trouble. In a 2013 interview, Stewart called their chemistry on-screen “incredible,” but admitted that their personal life could be a little bit “crazy.” She had previously dated actors Colin Farrell and Ryan Reynolds. In 2009, Stewart filed for divorce from her husband, French actor Pierre Arnold, who she had wed in a private ceremony the previous year. The following year, she began dating British DJ and music producer Calvin Harris.
Things took a tragic turn in early 2012, when a mentally ill man broke into Harris’ home in North London and held him hostage for fourteen hours. (Harris later explained that he had inadvertently pressed the panic button on his remote alarm when he saw the doorbell ringing. Police arrived to find him surrounded by a group of people, one of whom was holding a kitchen knife.) During the incident, the intruder stabbed Harris in the arm and threatened to kill him, before he was able to be rescued by the police. (Fortunately, no one was harmed beyond the initial attack.) After what was then the worst held-up in English history, the press dubbed the event the “London Bus Terror.” Soon after the incident, the couple were both interviewed by Sky News and confessed that they were in a bad place in their relationship. In early 2013, Stewart filed for divorce from Harris, citing ‘irreconcilable differences.’ Since then, Stewart and Pattinson have been seen holding hands, laughing, and sharing an intimate embrace. They are now officially ‘dating’ and have been seen holding hands, laughing, and sharing an intimate embrace, as well as spending private time together on social media, including a number of PDA-packed Instagram snapshots.
On-Screen And Off-Screen Reconciliation
Aside from their film career, Stewart and Pattinson have also starred in a number of commercials and viral videos, often with heart-rending or comedic effect. In 2011, the pair starred in a video for the International Red Cross, titled ‘Unite Behind a Red Ribbon,’ which saw them perform various tasks, including setting up camp chairs, cooking dinner, and working together to carry a couch from one apartment to another. Later that same year, they starred in a PSA for the American Foundation for AIDS Awareness, titled ‘Be Careful What You Wish For.’ In 2012, they starred in a commercial for the American Cancer Society, titled ‘Celebrate Life,’ and appeared as a couple in the short film, I Love You, which celebrated the love that never dies. They later reprised their roles in a Funny or Die sketch, where they bicker and joke about their relationship.
Style And Beauty Influencers
Fame can be a double-edged sword. While it brings with it plenty of perks, it also has the potential to bring about significant strain on one’s personal life. Stewart and Pattinson were no different, and their work-life balance has been questioned since their Twilight days. In 2011, Stewart revealed that she spends most of her time working in isolation, writing, recording, or acting. “I really dislike going from set to set. I like having my space and being able to be myself. I like taking a break from the glamour,” she said. “I don’t always want to be in a big group of people. I want to go to a party and have fun. I want to go on a holiday and meet new people. But then I come back and do the same thing.”
Pattinson has also spoken out about wanting a less hectic schedule, revealing that he’s often “too tired and stressed out” to enjoy his off-screen time with his family. “I never really had a break after The Twilight Saga. I went from set to set, and it became clear that something had to give,” he said in 2013. “I don’t know how much more I can take, doing the same thing day after day, year after year.”