robert pattinson

early 2000s

Stage Presence

Pattinson attends Harrodian School, a noted institution for drama, and joins the Barnes Theater Club after befriending a group of female drama students while out to dinner with his father. In 2003, Pattinson meets with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire director Mike Newell before flying to South Africa to film the TV movie Ring of the Nibelungs. Upon arriving home, he lands the role of Hogwarts hunk Cedric Diggory.

2005

November 18

How Harry Met Cedric

Pattinson skyrockets to international fame as ill-fated Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. "The day before I was just sitting in Leicester Square, happily being ignored by everyone," he says at the film's London premiere. "Then suddenly strangers are screaming your name. Amazing!" Director Newell says, "Pattinson was born to play the role; he's quintessentially English with chiseled public-schoolboy good looks."

2008

July 18

Bloody Gorgeous

From handsome wizard to dashing vampire, Pattinson covers EW as Edward Cullen, the immortal hero of Twilight, with costar Kristen Stewart. Portraying the brooding vampire, described as "devastatingly inhumanly beautiful" in author Stephenie Meyer's Twilight book series, came with daunting expectations for Pattinson. "I stopped reading [blogs] after I saw the signatures saying 'Please, anyone else,'" the actor says of "Twilighters" initially protesting his casting.

November 14

The Face of Twilight

As the film's highly-anticipated release draws nearer, EW publishes a second Twilight issue with three collectible covers in response to the first cover's polarizing feedback. The ever-increasing buzz surrounding Twilight thrusts little-known Pattinson further into the spotlight. "I asked the producer, 'Is Rob ready for this? Have you guys prepped him? Is he ready to be the It Guy?'" Twilight author Meyer tells the magazine. "I don't think he really is. I don't think he sees himself that way. And I think the transition is going to be a little rocky."

November 21

Twilight Takes Bite Out of Box Office

"Twilighters" come out in droves for the film's release, making it the weekend's No. 1 film with $69.6 million. The movie's monumental success leads Summit Entertainment to green light the onscreen adaptation of Meyer's second Twilight novel, New Moon, with Pattinson and Kristen Stewart returning to star. "Props to Stewart and Pattinson for playing this uncool-girl-meets-undead-boy story with genuine romantic ardor," raves Rolling Stone. "You buy the fantasy because Pattinson goes beyond dreamboat duty to create a character you believe in."

2009

April 12

Interview with the Vampire

A swoon-worthy Pattinson covers GQ’s April issue, but the magazine reveals Hollywood's reigning heartthrob didn't always render people so smitten. "There was a call from the head of the studio," Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke says about execs questioning Pattinson's casting as Edward Cullen. "'Are you sure you can make this guy handsome?'" Fortunately for fans, Hardwicke won out, and says of the star, "He's obviously ridiculously photogenic, but he's also so talented…I see him creating stylized, odd, wild, fantastical characters."

Robert Pattinson: Five Fun Facts

1. Robert Pattinson was often taken advantage of by his older siblings. "Up until I was 12 my sisters used to dress me up as a girl and introduce me as 'Claudia'!" the actor told the BBC.
2. Robert Pattinson became known to his fans as 'Spunk Ransom' after admitting he disliked his name. "I hate any reference to my name," he told MTV. "I wish people would just completely invent a new one." 'Spunk Ransom' was Pattinson's suggested alternative.
3. Robert Pattinson, who plays piano and guitar, has two songs featured in Twilight. "I cried the first time I heard the two songs," director Catherine Hardwicke told MTV. "They're deep; they're very soulful."
4. While filming Twilight, Robert Pattinson injured himself on his very first shot. "I wasn't even doing a stunt. I was just trying to pick up Kristen Stewart and I almost tore my hamstring because I hadn't been doing enough squats," the actor told the Los Angeles Times. "It was very embarrassing."
5. While on the Twilight set, an enthusiastic fan asked a crew member to bring her baby on set and have Robert Pattinson take a photo with the child. "So there's a photo of me like biting a baby's head," he said.