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Robert Pattinson: More then just Edward
By Marie (Age 19, USA)
  
Robert Thomas Pattinson was born in London, England on May 13, 1986. He has two older sisters, Victoria and Izzy. His father’s name is Richard and his mother’s name is Clare. This 22-year-old is quickly burning up in the entertainment business and is making teens, not just around the country, but around the world, swoon. He has recently received much recognition on his acting and his good looks and with the upcoming and highly anticipated release of the Twilight adaption around the corner, in which he plays one of modern teen literatures most beloved heroes, fans fervor is only bound to grow.
Robert at the VMAs with his Twilight costars. |
Pattinson has many nicknames that have accumulated amongst his family and friends, as well as his fans. There’s the name RPattz that fans around the world dubbed him as and of course, the ever so popular, Spunk Ransom, that Robert Pattinson gave himself in an MTV Twilight Tuesday interview. While those two nicknames stand out of the crowd from any other, he also goes by the nicknames, Rob and Patty, a name he was given by his surname.
This actor, who also has musical talents, didn’t start getting into acting until the age of fifteen where he joined the Barnes Theatre Club. But it
Robert with fellow Brit; "Gossip Girl's" Ed Westwick. |
wasn’t his passion for acting that brought him to this school. Pattinson says, “My dad wanted me to be an actor,” and of course, the social aspect definitely factored in. "Drama school was a social thing. I literally went there one-hundred per cent to meet these girls sitting at the next table," He admits of his costars. Pattinson is most known for his roles in films as Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and his role as Edward Cullen, in the up and coming, as well as definitely buzzed out about, Twilight. Although, his first big part in a film was actually a scene in Vanity Fair, it ended up being a deleted scene and put into the DVD as a special feature for the alternate ending. After, Pattinson took the role as Giselher in a TV film called, Ring of the Nibelungs. Then the role that put him on the map was soon after.
Robert as Cedric |
Playing Cedric Diggory in the fourth Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, Pattinson dug deep into his character to portray him just the right way. He went so far as to look online and see the comments of the readers of the book and has said, "I read a lot, as the shoot went on, and I read [Goblet of Fire] loads and loads of times. I sort of gradually found out about all these Harry Potter websites, and the comments they put in the forums I thought were really, really helpful, because they remind you of little things that you’ve never even noticed in the book, which are really helpful. There are lots of cool things, like even his main description, which was like ‘the strong silent type’ or something. I completely overlooked that in the book. And I read some fans saying that, so I’ll play it strong and silent." And all the hard work that he did was what made him fill in the shoes of the ever so popular, Cedric Diggory. Despite the pressures he felt in looking like perfection, as Cedric was supposed to, Pattinson nailed the role bringing the character to the big screen.
His next film which came out in 2007 was the role of Toby Jugg in The Haunted Airman. The film was about a World War II flight lieutenant who was injured and had to use a wheelchair from then on after. The character he had to portray was very traumatized and shattered from experiences, which was a far cry from the awkward and truly interesting character he played in his next film, The Bad Mother’s Handbook where he played Daniel Gale. His role as Gale is a favorite of many because of complexity of emotions that Pattinson showed he could do and the acting that he was capable of. Just as all his films do, it showed his commitment and ability to really get inside the character and that bringing the character’s physical aspect is just as important, as Pattinson showed by going as far as playing his character Daniel, with slumped shoulders.
Robert in How to Be |
The following projects that Pattinson worked on are currently unreleased, one of them being a short film called The Summerhouse where he played a character that leaves his girlfriend for another woman but ends up going back to her. The next two films that Rob worked on, although independent movies are getting quite the hype with audiences and fans. The first indie movie, How to Be, is about a character, Art, who is trying to find his way in life, and is frustrated while stuck in a life crisis. The character slowly realizes that life isn’t simple and that growing up, as well as finding your purpose in life are very real questions. In the movie, Pattinson shows the audience and his antsy fans some of his musical chops. He is a musician in the movie which mirrors Rob’s real life a little. Rob has said that music is his backup plan if acting doesn’t work out and with the reviews that Pattinson has been getting from fans and critics, he wouldn’t have trouble with using either one of these talents to work for him. He did so well with the character of Art that he won ‘Best Actor in a Feature’ Award at the Strasbourg Film Festival. The next indie film that Rob worked on was Little Ashes where Rob portrays the character of Salvador Dali. The film has been shown in a few film festivals like the Raindance film festival in London and is already receiving high praised reviews for Rob’s performance. The film, which fans are dying to see for many reasons, is considered to be daring and possibly controversial, which of course is one of the reasons why fans would love to see this actor tackle yet another intriguing and complex role.
Robert as the 'tortured' Edward Cullen |
Then of course, the movie that has plastered Pattinson on the map of movie history, Twilight, and not to mention the movie hasn’t even come out yet. The movie buzz is taking over the internet, television and bookstores all around the world. It’s almost guaranteed that anywhere you go, in just a few feet, Twilight merchandise, a book from the best selling series or a magazine with a Twilight mention will be there. And our very own Rpattz plays the role of the swoon-worthy, well-loved, Edward Cullen. Not only does he get high praise from his fans about his acting and good looks but the director of Twilight, Catherine Hardwicke, has only nice things to say about him as well. She gives him accolades for his performance as Edward saying he embodies what it is to be Edward Cullen- that he is Edward Cullen. She has said in an interview, “He’s a beautiful musician, a very creative soul, very similar to Edward. He just totally reads the most interesting stuff, and sees the most interesting movies, and is very introspective and diving into his existential self.”
Robert and Twilight costar Kristen Stewart in a photo shoot for Entertainment Weekly. |
With the pressure to be ‘perfection’ yet again, Pattinson dug deep into research for the role trying to get into the brooding mind of the vampire stuck in the body of seventeen-year-old. He read the book, Twilight, as well as draft of Midnight Sun given to him by author of the Twilight series, Stephenie Meyer. So how did Pattinson decide to play perfect Edward? Tortured. He realized that in the book, it can only be seen from Bella’s point of view, a girl who is head over heels. Knowing this, Robert went deep to see that Edward is a character, which can be seen as perfect from a love struck female but is actually a character that beats himself up for feeling too selfish. Rob joked, saying, “He’s the most ridiculous person who’s so amazing at everything." But his perception of Edward is what made Pattinson nail the role. A role that millions of fans are counting days to see brought to life.
Robert at the Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Party |
So what else can we expect from Robert other than films on the horizon, including a vampire movie expected to make millions? His music. Pattinson explains how his interest in music began and has grown, "I have been playing the piano for my entire life - since I was three or four. And the guitar - I used to play classical guitar from when I was about five to 12 years of age. Then I didn’t play guitar for like years. About four or five years ago, I got out the guitar again and just started playing blues and stuff. I am not very good at the guitar, but I am all right. I am in a band in London as well." In anticipation, fans are anxiously awaiting to hear Pattinson on the Twilight soundtrack, where he was asked to record for the film as well. (Listen to the song here
With an array of different roles and complex characters, Robert Pattinson can only grow in the movies he will partake in the future. Whether it is in his acting or in his music, fans are definitely asking for more of him out there. With his quirkiness, talent, good looks and hard work, we can only wish this actor the best and keep a look out for more.
References:
http://themovie-fanatic.com/hotlist/rising_stars/robert_pattinson/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1500155/
http://www.robert-pattinson.co.uk/
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