Celebrity Profile: Robert Pattinson

Robert Pattinson. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Robert Pattinson’s pale complexion, mysterious aura and oozing sex appeal makes him one of the top leading men of today. Robert Douglas Thomas Pattinson was born on May 13, 1986 in London, England. His father, Richard, was an importer and distributor of vintage cars from America, while his mother, Clare, worked for a modeling agency.

Pattinson grew up in  the Barnes suburb of London and spent his early years in school at Tower House School. When he was 12 he attended the Harrodian School. This was also the time that he started accepting modeling gigs, although his workload eventually decreased four years later.

Pattinson’s acting career began after he joined the Barnes Theatre Company, where, after successfully auditioning, he cast in a small role in Guys and Dolls.

He then tried his luck with Thornton Wilder's Our Town, where he landed the role of George Gibbs. He also appeared in Anything Goes and Macbeth. With these theater gigs, Pattinson honed his skills in acting and eventually got the attention of an acting agent in a production of Tess of the d'Urbervilles. he eventually decided to pursue a career as a professional actor.

His first motion picture was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where he played the role of Cedric Diggory.

In 2008, he landed the role of a lifetime when he was offered the leading role of Edward Cullen in the Twilight, the film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s novel. The film was a smash hit worldwide and spawned a movie franchise, thus making him one of the highest earning and most bankable actors in Hollywood.

Time magazine included him on its list of 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2010. Forbes also included him on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list as one of the most powerful celebrities in the world in the Forbes Celebrity 100.

The conclusion of the Twilight series in 2012, enable Pattinson to explore other genres, especially in starring on small independent films.