What’s the matter with Robert Pattinson these days? Is he having a bad hair day? Is he embarrassed by all the attention paid to Taylor Swift? Was he caught in a car crash and is struggling with post-traumatic stress syndrome?
It’s been a year since the release of Eclipse, and while the media has waxed lyrical about the ending of the love trilogy, most people have forgotten about the movie. And they should. The last we see of Robert Pattinson, he’s sporting a full head of hair and dressed in sharp, clean lines. And while some may argue that his appearance in the upcoming Judy Moody and the Notorious Rascal (in theaters November 29th) should remind us of his dashing good looks, it won’t take long for us to realize that something is different.
Pattinson has spoken publicly about how much pain he’s been in since the tragic fallout of Eclipse. “On reflection, I would say there has been more pain than joy since the release of Eclipse,” he told Wonderland magazine in October 2017. “It was a massive relief to have the final curtain come down, and to get on with my life, but at the same time, I feel as if I’ve lost a part of myself.”
Now that we’ve had time to process the film’s events a year later, it’s clear that while Eclipse may have closed one chapter of Pattinson’s life, it’s opened up a whole new one.
The Importance Of Good Hair Days
Pattinson credits his newfound beauty to his hairstylist and personal trainer, Alan Ferguson. “We’ve been working hard on my hair and my body,” Pattinson explained to Wonderland. “I try to only eat natural, healthy foods, which gives me better energy, and when I do eat bad foods, they tend to sit a bit further toward the bottom of my stomach. That means my body needs a bit more time to process and absorb it, which in turn helps me to look and feel my best.”
Nowadays, Pattinson shaves his head on occasion. He has a full head of hair at all times, but he feels that a clean-shaven look makes him look more alert and engaged. He even compared it to how he feels when he’s got a fresh shave versus how he feels when he’s got a few days’ worth of stubble. (We think he meant days’ worth of growth, but hey, you know what they say: never explain something away, especially when it comes to the finer details of celebrity hauls.)
A Year Of Self-reflection
In a beautiful quote from Judy Moody and the Notorious Rascal, the character played by Robert Pattinson speaks about his struggle with depression. “Every day is a gift,” he tells Judy. “What would you do if you didn’t have to worry about money? You could just enjoy life without any stress or pressure. And I believe that. I believe that we were all born to be happy.”
Indeed, the past year has seen the actor/director/screenwriter reflect on his life and the people he’s met along the way. He’s traveled to Africa and spent time with some of the most vulnerable people he’s ever met. He’s worked tirelessly on his mental health and sought help from some of the most gifted therapists in the world.
One of the highlights of his year was getting to work with one of his greatest idols, Marlon Brando, on stage. (The two worked together on the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Richard III, and it was an honor to watch and learn from Brando, whom Pattinson described as “one of the greatest actors of all time.”)
“For me, Brando was the physical form of an idol,” Pattinson explained. “He was a man apart; a real warrior. The way he carried himself on and off stage, the charisma he exuded, you’d dream of being like that one day. He had such presence, he could make you feel as if you’d known him your whole life. Naturally magnetic, you almost wanted to grab him and shake him up and down as you would a small child. He was so much fun to be around, and he made me feel as if I’d finally found my place in this world, as an artist. He was almost like a father figure, and it was a real joy to work with such a legend.”
Luminous Skin
Before he set off on his adventure of a lifetime, Pattinson had spent over a decade starring in films and television shows, rubbing shoulders with some of the most prominent names in the industry. He worked with the greatest cinematographer of our time, Roger Deakins, on the 2019 Academy Award–winning film, 1919, and his performance was singled out for praise, earning him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. (Deakins also collaborated with Ridley Scott on the director’s cut of Alien.)
The accolades kept coming for Pattinson as he continued to work tirelessly on his acting craft in the coming years. In 2018, he was part of the cast that won the BAFTA for Best Film (Comedy or Romantic Comedy). And at the end of last year, he was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his work in The Escape.
For someone who’s been through such extraordinary highs and lows in his career, how does he stay so positive? Pattinson credits his incredible sense of peace to his wife, FKA Twigs. “She keeps me grounded, and reminds me how lucky I am to have found love,” he explained to Wonderland. “I met FKA when I was 28 years old, and it completely changed my life. We’ve been together for more than a decade now, and it’s been an incredible journey, which I wouldn’t change for the world. It’s not just about the material things in life – the love, the respect, the warmth – it’s how you carry yourself, and what you make of it. We are surrounded by so much negativity in this world, so much despair – that’s what makes me want to shine through and let people see the good in me.”
Shades Of Grey
While we’re on the topic of looking better, let’s not forget about the amazing performance that was Diana Prince in Eclipse. (Go ahead and Google image search the character’s name if you must know what I mean. You’ll see what I mean.)
One of the things that makes Prince so captivating is her ability to shift from a seductress to a mother figure in an instant. It doesn’t hurt that she can play both roles with such brilliance that it almost feels as if it’s two different actresses in one body. Prince made us long for our mothers, even as she made us lust after her. And it’s a testament to the versatile actress’s talent that she was able to so effectively embody both roles, letting us see both sides of a woman’s nature. In many ways, her performance in Eclipse set the template for Pattinson’s own portrayal of Scott in Judy Moody and the Notorious Rascal – both characters find themselves in deeply uncomfortable situations and have no choice but to deal with their problems (Scott with mental illness and Judy with her very bad haircut).
Flawless Complexion
Speaking of complexions, did you know that Eclipse makeup artist, Clément Perrier, won an Academy Award for Best Makeup & Hair? (It was for his work on the 2018 film, Black Panther.)
The incredible level of detail and intricacy in Perrier’s designs are on full display as we follow Scott’s escapades through the looking glass. Whether it’s hiding his identity or playing various characters, Scott’s skin always looks flawless, as if he had one touch-up before the cameras started rolling. (It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Perrier’s makeup artistry is on a par with the greats of Hollywood fiction: James Cameron, George Lucas, and Ridley Scott.)