The talented Robert Pattinson has done many complex roles over the years but is forever trapped as Edward Cullen. All he wants is to be taken seriously.
By: Mia McDermott
The year is 2017. Robert Pattinson has just broken out with his latest role as Connie Nikas, a criminal bank robber in “Good Time.” A raw, gritty film directed by the Safdie brothers. With a 91 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and endless praise from viewers and critics, Pattinson is showered with acclaim. “Robert Pattinson has redeemed himself by putting his all into this role. Finally those s*** Twilight films are behind him and he can concentrate on great acting,” one review proclaims. Another fan raves, “Brilliant performance by Robert Pattinson!!!! At first, I couldn’t tell it was Rob Pat. The accent!!! He was so convincing. Non-stop action!!!” It’s clear people are stunned by Pattinson’s unrecognizable character and his brilliant performance of shifting into the criminal. But when interviewers get their turn, the past looms.
“Are you still getting accosted by Twilight fans or have they grown up?” one reporter asks during a press tour for “Good Time.” Smile and nod, Robert. “Um, sometimes,” Pattinson states, ruffling his hair. Five years since the “Twilight” saga wrapped, yet the questions linger. His answers hint at his wish to be recognized for something more.
Robert Pattinson’s career is all about transformation and disappearing into each character. He began as Cedric Diggory, the golden-boy wizard in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” with a clean-cut look. Then came Edward Cullen in “Twilight,” the brooding vampire with a velvet-smooth American voice. In “The Rover,” he played Reynolds, the scruffy drifter adopting a shaky Southern drawl. In “Good Time,” he took on Connie Nikas, the chaotic hustler with a fast-talking Queens accent, bleach blonde hair, and a brown goatee. As Thomas Howard in “The Lighthouse,” he transformed into a grimy lighthouse keeper with a rugged New England tone. In “The Devil All The Time,” he played Reverend Preston Teagardin, a slick-haired, manipulative preacher with a sharp Southern twang. Slipping into the Batsuit in “The Batman,” morphing into the role with a low gravelly voice. Most recently he lent an unrecognizable tone to the Gray Heron in “The Boy and the Heron” proving his talent with only his voice.
Despite his range, “Twilight” trapped Pattinson. Making him into a reluctant idol, plastering his face on glossy magazine covers and the walls of teenage bedrooms. Where many would have capitalized on such fame, Pattinson made a decision few understood: he walked away. “Twilight” remains a ghostly presence, casting a glittery shadow over his attempts to outrun it, choosing to play characters like a bank-robbing criminal or a perverted, gaslighting reverend. He shifts into a completely different person in each of his roles, and each one steps further away from what people expect.
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So, how did Pattinson, a young Brit who stumbled into acting, end up in the role of a lifetime? As he’s shared in interviews, he didn’t know he wanted to be an actor growing up. He joined a theater program to impress a girl, starting as a stagehand. His first role, in 2004’s “Vanity Fair”, where he played Reese Witherspoon’s son, was cut without warning. The director felt so guilty not telling him that she offered up a role in one of the Harry Potter films. This is how he ended up as Cedric Diggory in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” 2005.
Pattinson’s ability to bring overlooked characters to life became evident early on. He took Cedric Diggory and turned him into someone fans rooted for, giving the role more depth. Had Cedric not met his end so quickly (SPOILER ALERT!), he might have been remembered as “the ‘Harry Potter’ guy” instead. But bigger things awaited.
He went in to audition for a role that a casting director said was his to take, but he completely bombed the audition. The next day, feeling like he had nothing to lose, he auditioned for “Twilight.” Though he claimed he didn’t know how to play a vampire, he found it surprisingly easy to slip into Edward when auditioning with surprising ease and putting his grungey take on the character. Robert has discussed many times about his take on the role and how he had his own idea of what he thought was best for the character. With his passion and draw towards unconventional roles, he wanted to make Edward Cullen “emo” and artsy and nearly got himself fired in the process. Pattinson was in for a five-year saga playing someone he couldn’t connect to.
The five-part fantasy romance saga became a phenomenon, grossing over three billion dollars and created a fandom for the ages. This series was never meant to please critics, it did exactly what it intended and was more than enough for its fans. Teen girls got to pick their ideal, swoon-worthy monster–whether that was a hot, pale, and sparkling vampire or a toned, tan, and hot-headed werewolf– alongside a relatable heroine, and an immersive fantasy world that felt safer than facing real-life problems. But for Pattinson, there was his before Twilight era and then the after.
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As the series unfolded, Pattinson’s mixed feelings about his role became clear to fans and media pages. Multiple interviews contained questionable comments from him about his opinion of the films. “The more I read the script, the more I hated this guy,” he admitted. “So that's how I played him, as a manic-depressive who hates himself. Plus, he's a 108-year-old virgin, so he's obviously got some issues there," he told the magazine Empire. Though fans embraced his performance as Edward, others labeled his portrayal as one-dimensional, overlooking the range of his abilities.
In Hollywood, reinvention is the name of the game. For most actors, the challenge is finding a defining role. For Robert Pattinson, the challenge was to outrun the one that did. He turned down mainstream roles, opting instead for the kinds of films that make you wonder whether he’s even trying to be liked. But this, of course, is the point: Robert Pattinson never wanted to be liked, he wanted to be respected. He wanted to reinvent himself as the kind of actor who couldn’t be pinned down, who would always keep the audience guessing. “I always like the idea of subverting people’s expectations.” While his filmography expanded in scope, the narrative surrounding him remained frustratingly consistent: Robert Pattinson, the actor who will always be Edward Cullen.
Fast forward to 2019: Robert Eggers’ “The Lighthouse” pairs Pattinson with Willem Dafoe in a tale of two lighthouse keepers slowly slipping into madness. With haunting cinematography, this film showcased Pattinson’s range – yet critics see it as another invitation to remind us he was once a sparkly vampire. “Robert Pattinson– playing heartthrob vampire, Edward Cullen– strapping Pattinson to a rocket ship of fame that came with an army of Twilight fans, a constant pack of paparazzi pursuing him, and a public prying into the details of his personal life,” a “Today Show” segment noted while promoting the film.
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Critics consistently preface praise for his work with skepticism saying, “I was worried about Robert Pattinson being in this movie, but…” Yet, one by one, his performances win them over. “There's nothing you can do about it," he states in a Vanity Fair interview. "That's the way it is. But it is weird being part of that, kind of representing something you don't particularly like,” he continues, discussing his feelings about being known for his role in “Twilight.”
Pattinson has always been a private person, he was never ready to be shoved into the spotlight. Those around him– fans and critics alike– saw him more as an idea than as a person. They couldn’t (or wouldn’t) see who Robert Pattinson really was. Pattinson has always been unpredictable and usually doubted when cast in new roles. Then came the role of Batman. When it was announced in 2019 that he’d be the next Bruce Wayne, Pattinson faced enormous pressure. “But there is no harsher critic of myself than myself, so I don’t need to worry about anyone else.”
“The Batman,” 2022 grossed more than $770 million making it one of the highest-grossing movies of the year, earning rave reviews and an 85 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Interestingly, looking at the response to this movie, there’s little mention of “Twilight,” Edward Cullen, or vampires. If any role is going to give him a new identity, it’s this one, equally oversized. Finally, it seemed clear to everyone that he’s not just talented, he’s a true Hollywood chameleon. And yet, there are still standouts.
“Our first guest tonight is a very talented actor,” Jimmy Kimmel starts, “who, like a lot of vampires, turned into a bat!”
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At times, Pattinson has successfully moved away from “Twilight.” Other times, his efforts seem exhausting, even try-hard. Why can’t he just accept it? He will always be a contradiction: the face of Edward Cullen, a brooding vampire whose pale skin and intense gaze became iconic in the “Twilight” saga. Yet he is obviously so much more.
I see Pattinson’s career as a tug-of-war between his past and present. While it is clear he is a talented actor, it seems he’s always trying to prove himself and shake off the “Twilight” label. I can’t help but wonder if this constant struggle is holding him back. It’s easy to understand why he would want to distance himself. The franchise, while immensely popular, can be limiting. Instead of resisting, he should embrace his past as part of who he is.
Batman could be the one that changes his identity, but then what? He is stuck as a bat. He might succeed in reinventing himself through a darker persona, but even in this transformation, he remains tethered to the roles of his past. He will always be marked by Edward Cullen and now by Bruce Wayne. The true challenge is finding peace with these roles as part of his identity. Each attempt at trying to distance himself reinforces his connection with his past. Though he may not know it, his struggle lies in the tension between wanting to break free and accepting that part of him will always be tied to “Twilight.” Robert Pattinson needs to embrace both the man he was and the man he’s become.