Rob Pattinson is best known for his portrayal of Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga. He has since gone on to star in a number of blockbuster films, such as The Rum Diary and Black Swan, before establishing himself as a leading man in Hollywood.
Despite his film career, Rob continues to stay close to his Twilight family and dedicated his 2014 Christmas gift to his mom, Karen. The 31-year-old is now an established family man, with two children, Boaz, 6, and Ruby, 4. In this article, we’ll explore the fascinating persona of Rob Pattinson, from his early life to the present day.
Early Life
Rob was born on July 1, 1985 in London, England, to Karen and Paul Pattinson. He has an older brother, Andy, and a younger sister, Chloe. His father is a travel agent and the family lived in a number of locations around Europe while Paul worked. When Rob was just seven years old, the family settled in Bath, England. Shortly after, Rob’s father died of a heart attack, prompting a period of great emotional pain for the young boy.
Fortunately, Rob’s mom worked hard to ensure her children had the best opportunities and remained close to her friends in the UK. She got her wish when Rob was finally accepted to Hillview, one of Europe’s most prestigious boarding schools. It was at Hillview where Rob first started acting, appearing in school plays and reading speeches from famous historical figures. Rob spent four years at the school and graduated with top honors in 2003.
Film Career
After leaving school early, Rob decided to pursue a film career in Los Angeles. He landed a role in the 2005 made-for-television movie, Summer of Love, which was originally aired on BBC America in the United States. Subsequently, he starred in the 2008 horror flick, Shadow of the Vampire, and the science-fiction comedy, I Love Hubble, which was released that same year. Rob co-starred in the comedy, The Ringer, with Mark Wahlberg in 2010.
In 2011, he appeared in four films, two of which were directed by his Twilight co-star, Taylor Lautner. The year was a big one for Rob, as he portrayed one of the most iconic villains in movie history in The Dark Knight Rises. The following year, he landed the male lead in the comedy, Something Borrowed, which was released in August 2012. Besides movies, Rob had a supporting role in the 2013 psychological thriller, Gone Girl, and a starring role in the indie flick, Good Time, in 2015.
Personal Life
Many people consider the Twilight saga to be Rob’s breakout film, due to the popularity of the charming vampire. He’s since gone on to star in numerous successful movies, each one proving to be more popular than the previous. His personal life has been as eventful as his professional career, and we couldn’t write an article about him without mentioning some of the most significant moments of his life. It started with good news in 2012 when he wed his longtime girlfriend, FKA Twigs, in 2014.
The high-profile wedding came as a surprise to many, given that the couple had kept their engagement secret for so long. They welcomed son Milo into the world in January 2014 and made the announcement soon after. In February 2016, the pair welcomed their second child, a daughter named Isla. The family enjoys spending time in the countryside and loves to cook and entertain guests at home.
As a family man, Rob is obviously going to want to remain close to his children. He hasn’t always been able to do this since he’s been so wrapped up in his big-budget Hollywood projects. It’s great to see him balance his time between working and being a dad. The best parent in the world is the one who makes the most time for their kids, regardless of their busy schedules. Children should be a priority for anyone who wants to be considered a good parent.
Twilight Saga
The Twilight Saga is undoubtedly Rob’s best known work. The four-part saga, based on the New York Times best-selling novel by Stephenie Meyer, was first released in 2009. Twilight was an instant hit and launched a thousand memes. Most notably, the film introduced the world to Edward Cullen and his vampire-like thirst for blood. Edward first appears in Twilight as a charming and handsome 17-year-old, with a distinct accent and a love of classical music. The older he gets, the more his accent becomes noticeable.
The success of Twilight led to the production of a sequel, New Moon, which was released in July 2010, along with a prequel, Eclipse, in April 2011. The first installment in the Twilight Saga remains one of the highest-grossing films of all time. The final part, Fire Walkwith Me, was released in November 2013 and became the lowest-grossing installment of all time, only earning $8 million against a budget of over $30 million.
The Rum Diary
Rum Diary is a wonderful depiction of Edward’s early years in New York, before the outbreak of the Spanish Flu. The film was directed by Bruce Robinson and stars Robert Pattinson as Edward. It’s the 1920s and Edward is a recent arrival to New York, having left his family home in Scotland to pursue a career in the city. Rum is a popular drink in the Caribbean at the time, and many Puerto Ricans emigrate to New York to work, prompting Edward to venture into the city’s speakeasy milieu in search of authentic Caribbean flavors. He befriends fellow expat Scottie (Benicio del Toro) and together they form a rum-running group called the Black Sheep.
Rum Diary was released in 2012 and went on to become one of Robinson’s best-received films. It received critical acclaim and won several awards, including the Golden Globe for Best Original Screenplay.
Black Swan
Rob played the dual roles of twin brothers in the 2010 psychological thriller, Black Swan. One of the main issues is that, as twins, they share the same DNA. This means that the characters are essentially the same person, inhabiting two bodies. However, even the creators of Black Swan don’t agree that these two characters are the same person. The film explores the dark and dangerous world of ballet, where individualism is frowned upon and all focus is on the performance.
The film was directed by Darren Aronofsky and starred Natalie Portman, who plays a ballerina who falls under the influence of a coquettish malevolent force. She becomes a homicidal maniac and seeks revenge on those who rejected her, including her twin brother. While the film was a critical and box office success, it didn’t treat its subject matter with the sensitivity some audiences felt it needed. Nevertheless, it’s one of Aronofsky’s most celebrated films.
I Love Hubble
In 2007, Rob starred in the sci-fi comedy, I Love Hubble. The plot follows the adventures of an alien (Pattinson) who falls to Earth and befriends a group of teenagers. Together, they set off to save the universe from an evil mastermind (Wahlberg). The film was directed by Greg Mottola and Kurt Wimmers, and starred Wahlberg, who also co-produced the film. As with many of Rob’s early film roles, he plays the ‘straight man’, here a goofy alien who finds humor in the absurdities of human culture.
The film was a critical and commercial failure, but it did introduce the world to Wahlberg, who went on to have a huge career in both film and music. Mottaola and Wimmers’ next project was the documentary, Bubbles, about the fashion industry. It was on this front that the duo’s association with Rob came to an end, as they began working with the English actor on the set of the film.
Shadow of the Vampire
In 2008, Shadow of the Vampire premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was directed by Tim Burton and starred Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonny Lee Miller, and Lucy Liu. The film tells the story of a man who discovers that he has a twin brother, Jeremy, who is also a vampire. They set out to find their father, Jonathan, who has abandoned them. Along the way, they battle various vampires, including their own father, who is now undead.
The film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series was obviously a huge success and went on to become one of the highest grossing films of all time, earning over $500 million at the box office. One of the most significant changes in the film compared to its predecessors is that the role of Edward’s father is now played by Luke Evans. Although, in the novel, Jonathan takes on the role of father, in the film it is Luke who raises his sons.