Robert Pattinson (born 13 May 1986)is an
English actor,
model and
musician. He is best known for playing
Edward Cullen in the film adaptation of
Twilight, based on
the novel by
Stephenie Meyer, and for the role of
Cedric Diggory in
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Pattinson was born in
London, England. His mother, Clare, worked for a modeling agency, and his father, Richard, imported vintage cars from the U.S.Pattinson attended Tower House School and Harrodian School.He became involved in amateur theatre through the
Barnes Theatre Company. After some backstage experience there, he took on acting roles. He caught the attention of an acting agent in a production of
Tess of the D'Urbervilles and began looking for professional roles. Since then he has performed in an amateur version of
Macbeth at the Old Sorting Office Arts Centre, as well as trying his hand at modeling.
He began his modeling career when he was twelve years old, but it wound down only four years later. He has blamed his lack of work as a model on his masculine appearance. Pattinson explained in December 2008, "When I first started I was quite tall and looked like a girl, so I got lots of jobs, because it was during that period where the androgynous look was cool. Then, I guess, I became too much of a guy, so I never got any more jobs. I had the most unsuccessful modeling career."
Pattinson appeared in the advertising campaign for
Hackett's Autumn 2007 collection.
He had supporting roles in the made for
television film Ring of the Nibelungs in 2004 and in director
Mira Nair’s
Vanity Fair, although his scenes in the latter were deleted, and only appear on the DVD version. In May 2005 he was slated to appear in the UK premiere of The Woman Before at the
Royal Court Theatre, but was fired shortly before the opening night and was replaced by
Tom Riley.
Later that year he played
Cedric Diggory in the film
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Consequently, he was named that year's British Star of Tomorrow by
The Times.He also has more than once been touted as the next
Jude Law.
Pattinson played
Edward Cullen in the movie
Twilight, based on
Stephenie Meyer's bestselling novel of the same name, which was released on 21 November 2008 in North America. According to
TV Guide, Pattinson was initially apprehensive about auditioning for the role of Edward Cullen, fearful that he wouldn't be able to live up to the "perfection" expected from the character. He will reprise his role as Edward Cullen in the Twilight sequel,
New Moon, which began filming in March 2009.
Pattinson also had lead roles in the feature films
Little Ashes (in which he plays
Salvador Dalí),
How To Be (a British comedy) and the
short film The Summer House. In 2010, he will appear in a theatre production for producer
David Pugh.
He appeared and presented at the
81st Academy Awards on 22 February 2009.
Pattinson plays guitar and piano, and composes his own music.He also appears as the singer of two songs on the
Twilight soundtrack: "Never Think", which he co-wrote with Sam Bradley,and "Let Me Sign", which was written by Marcus Foster and Bobby Long.The songs were included in the film after director
Catherine Hardwicke added Pattinson's recordings into an early cut without his knowledge, and he agreed that "one of them specifically, it really made the scene better. It was like it was supposed to be there."The soundtrack for the film
How To Be features three original songs performed by Pattinson and written by composer Joe Hastings.
Aside from recording for the soundtracks, Pattinson has said, "I've never really recorded anything - I just played in pubs and stuff", and when asked about a professional music career, he said, "Music is my back-up plan if acting fails."In 2008, he also performed with his first girlfriend's current boyfriend's band, called Bad Girls.
Year
Film
Role
Notes
2004
Ring of the NibelungsGiselher
Television film2005
Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireCedric Diggory2006
The Haunted AirmanToby Jugg
Television film
2007
The Bad Mother's HandbookDaniel Gale
Television film
Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixCedric DiggoryCameo
2008
How To BeArt
Strasbourg Film Festival Award for Best Actor
[21]TwilightEdward CullenMTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Performance MaleMTV Movie Award for Best KissMTV Movie Award for Best Fight2009
Little AshesSalvador DalíNew MoonEdward Cullenpost-production
2010
Remember Me
Tyler Roth
filming
EclipseEdward Cullenfilming starts August 2009
