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Traduction après la coupure / Transcript after the cut
Traduction par le RPattzClub et Pattinson Art Work:
L'évolution d'un homme
La
transition de Robert Pattinson d’idole des adolescents à Star à
part entière est bien engagée, dit Michelle Manelis. Si seulement il
arrêtait de paniquer...
Robert Pattinson essaye de me serrer dans
ses bras. Mais je ne joue pas le jeu; je n'aime pas serrer les gens dans mes bras,
donc je lui offre ma main à la place, ce qui le fait rire. "Ok, c'est comme ça que ça va se passer?"
il sourit, amusé et un peu surpris. Dans un effort pour rattraper mon
faux pas, et peut être encouragée par le Champagne que j'ai bu dans le
'Polo Lounge' de l'hôtel Beverly Hills pendant que j'attendais d'être appelée par les représentants de chez Dior, je répond enfin à son geste,
bien que maladroitement.
Plaisanteries échangées, nous nous
rendons dans la partie salon de sa suite ou une bouteille de Dior Homme,
dont Pattinson est la nouvelle égérie, est posée stratégiquement sur la
table. Je lui rappelle rapidement les nombreuses conversations que
l'ont a eu durant lequelles il insistait sur le fait que les parfums ne
feraient jamais partis de son futur agenda. Il fronce les sourcils. "Oui, vous avez raison, mais je sentais tellement mauvais que j'ai commencé à en porter."
Suggérant que son discours de vente assez douteux est au mieux une nouvelle approche, il rigole et acquiesce. Les manières de Pattinson font facilement oublier son énorme célébrité. Il est toujours le même acteur britannique inconnu que j'ai rencontré pour la première fois en 2008, durant la promotion de Twilight à L.A. A l'époque, il se lamentait que les filles à Hollywood ne le remarquaient pas. Il avait également des doutes sur la fiabilité commerciale du thème des vampires qu'il était entrain de promouvoir.
Suggérant que son discours de vente assez douteux est au mieux une nouvelle approche, il rigole et acquiesce. Les manières de Pattinson font facilement oublier son énorme célébrité. Il est toujours le même acteur britannique inconnu que j'ai rencontré pour la première fois en 2008, durant la promotion de Twilight à L.A. A l'époque, il se lamentait que les filles à Hollywood ne le remarquaient pas. Il avait également des doutes sur la fiabilité commerciale du thème des vampires qu'il était entrain de promouvoir.
De biens des manières, il illustre l'adage: 'soyez
prudent avec ce que vous souhaitez', reflétant ses réflexions fortement inexactes
sorties d'une autre époque. "Je ne m'attendais simplement pas à tout ça et je ne l'ai en rien cherché," dit-il, presque en s'excusant. "C'était vraiment de la chance. Je titubais tout simplement d'un job à l'autre".
La
franchise Twilight, qui a rapporté 3.7 milliards de dollars à travers
le monde, lui a permis de s'offrir le luxe de s'aventurer dans des films
tel que Water For Elephants, Remember Me et Cosmopolis. A priori, il doit être content de la tournure que prend sa
carrière ?
Il réfléchit à la question. "Et bien, ouais," dit-il, avec une pointe d'hésitation. "Ça prend une certaine direction, mais il est difficile de rester sain d'esprit. Vraiment difficile." Il tire sur sa cigarette électronique. "Au
début, je n'avais même pas remarqué que ma vie avait tant changé, parce
que je travaillais tout le temps. Je suppose que je m'y suis finalement
habitué."
Durant nos premières rencontres, quasiment tout le temps amenées par un film qu'il promouvait, il portait
généralement un look élégant mais avec une apparence savamment débraillée.
Aujourd'hui, cependant, il a opté pour un look plus décontracté. Il
semble que l'un des avantages du succès est la liberté de s'habiller
comme il le souhaite. Il représente le cliché de la star de cinéma incroyablement
belle, tout en portant une chemise grise classique, un vieux jean American
Eagle et des Vans. Il a une barbe de 2 jours et il porte sa
casquette à l'envers, avec pas un cheveu en vue. Malgré son statut d'acteur le mieux payé d'Hollywood, cet après-midi Pattinson
ressemble plus à quelqu'un que vous trouveriez dans un vieux bar.
Les dirigeants de Dior ont visiblement
été attiré par cette fibre de rockstar. La maison de couture a embauché
Pattinson pour être l'égérie de leur nouvelle campagne de pub, un
court film réalisé par Romain Gavras (qui a réalisé la vidéo de M.I.A - Born
Free). Sur la chanson de Led Zeppelin, Whole Lotta Love, Pattinson apparait dans divers scénarios illustrant cette libre nonchalance. Il conduit une
décapotable vintage sur une plage, accompagné d'un trio tout aussi
photogénique et cheveux aux vents. Nous le voyons également assis sur un
toit, mais aussi faisant des cabrioles avec une jolie femme dans un
hôtel. Il est le digne successeur du dernier ambassadeur des parfums
pour homme de Dior, Jude Law.
Sans surprise, la star s'est vu
offrir le parfait contrat. Avec des millions de fans dévoués,
allant des adolescents aux mères de famille, ce visage est un rêve pour les équipes
marketing.
Répondant à la question, pourquoi il a choisi Dior, il explique: "Je voyais Dior comme une marque plus que comme un produit individuel, même si je ne devrais probablement pas dire ça." Il baisse d'un ton et regarde les 2 représentants de Dior qui sont venus de Paris. "J'ai
regardé d'autres compagnies - et je ne dis simplement pas ça comme ça -
mais, pour un homme, je ne pense pas qu'il y est plus classe que Dior."
Notons qu'il fait à présent référence à lui même en tant qu'homme, il sourit et semble assez embarrassé.
“Et
bien oui, Je suis dans une phase un peu transitionnelle de ma vie.
J'essaie de sortir du fait d'être perçu comme étant très jeune et je pense
qu'en faisant ça, ça m'aide à brouiller les pistes. J'ai maintenant 27
ans et je sens que les gens me regardent différemment. C'est une année
bizarre. Avec la fin de Twilight et d'autres films que j'ai fait comme
Cosmopolis, je sens tout à coup qu'on me traite comme un véritable acteur
plutôt que…” Il attend, ne finissant pas sa phrase – chose qu'il a tendance à faire fréquemment.
Il se penche en avant de manière conspiratrice. “J'ai
porté plus d'eau de cologne ces 3 derniers jours que je n'en ai mis dans
toute ma vie. Et d'ailleurs, ce n'est pas de l'eau de cologne, c'est ce
que j'ai appris aujourd'hui; c'est de l'eau de toilette.”
Donc
à présent c'est un adulte qui porte de l'eau de toilette, quelle est la
prochaine étape dans sa carrière? Etant donné qu'il
est souvent dans les Top Listes des personnes les mieux habillées,
une ligne de vêtements pourrait être faire partie de son futur? “En fait, j'ai dessiné quelques costumes,” dit il avec enthousiasme “Notamment le costume vert émeraude pied de poule que j'ai porté à la dernière avant première de Twilight.”
Il a créé ce costume tant photographié en collaboration avec Gucci, la
marque que Pattinson porte le plus souvent lors de tels événements. “Je vais en faire d'autres dans le futur”
A l'évidence, c'est un homme qui apprécie un bon costume. “Oui absolument, j'ai une relation assez étrange avec les costumes” avoue t-il “Je
ne les porte qu'une seule fois et j'ai donc tout un stock avec plus de
1000 costumes. A l'occasion, je les donne à mes amis mais pour vous
dire la vérité, je suis un peu conservateur. Je trouve ça vraiment très
difficile de les donner; je ne sais pas pourquoi.”
C'est
une surprise que cette grande icône, qui semble tellement à l'aise quand
il foule les tapis rouges, soit en fait une boule de nerfs. Il me raconte son expérience typique lors de ces événements
glamour. “Je panique énormément. Je suis très très anxieux." dit il. "jusqu'à
la dernière seconde où je sors de la voiture pour aller à cet
événement, et tout à coup tout ça disparait complétement. Mais
jusqu'à ce moment là, je suis assez fou.”
Il n'est pas inhabituel pour les
acteurs Britanniques de parler d'eux mêmes en se dénigrant mais
Pattinson semble sincèrement troublé par ces moments là. “Pourquoi je
panique?” il répète cette question, semblant sérieusement perturbé. “Pour tout en fait. La dysmorphie de mon corps, une énorme panique générale.” C'est choquant d'entendre Pattinson souffrir de désordre dysmorphique. “Je
suppose que c'est à cause de cette énorme manque de confiance en moi
que je n'ai jamais trouvé pu devenir égocentrique. Je n'ai pas
de plaquettes de chocolat et je déteste aller faire du sport. J'ai été
comme ça toute ma vie. Je n'aime pas enlever mon T shirt. Je
préférerais me saoûler,” dit il avec un sourire aux lèvres.
Évidemment à Hollywood, un acteur principal est confronté aux mêmes pressions que
les actrices principales, préserver son apparence à tout prix est
impératif pour un éventuel futur rôle. “Oui, vous investissez sur vous même, c'est votre marque,” dit il. “Chaque
rôle est, je l'espère, une étape vers un autre rôle. Et à présent que
je commence à vieillir, je suppose que je vais devoir aller à la salle
de sport. Mais en fait, je vais devoir y aller tous les jours et ça va durer une
semaine”
Il y a, bien entendu, des façons plus agréables de rester en forme que soulever des haltères en suant dans une salle de sport. "Je vais vous dire", dit il en se mettant à rire.
"J'essayais d'apprendre à surfer. J'étais à Malibu et je ne m'étais pas
rendu compte qu'on me prenait en photo. J'avais l'air d'un parfait
idiot. Et quand vous passez pour un idiot plusieurs fois, pour une question de vanité pure, vous vous rendez compte que vous ne voulez plus
jamais aller faire du surf .”
Né et élevé à Londres, Pattinson a
deux sœurs plus âgées. Sa mère travaillait dans une agence de mannequin
et son père importait des voitures vintage des Etats Unis.
Il se souvient d'un de ses meilleurs souvenirs d'enfance. “Je
me souviens de Noël, me faufilant en bas et voyant mes parents déposer
les cadeaux sous le sapin. C'était des Lego Death Star,” dit il en souriant. “J'étais tellement excité. Je les ai encore. Ils sont encore intacts depuis ce matin de Noël où j'avais 10 ans je crois.”
Est ce que ce cadeau mémorable est entassé dans son garde meuble sous la pile de costume de créateur? Il se marre. “Non en fait, ils sont dans ma chambre chez mes parents.”
La
route de Pattinson vers la célébrité a débuté par quelques apparitions dans des pièces de théâtre après que son père lui ai suggéré qu'il pourrait rencontrer des filles s'il devenait acteur. Il a rapidement
décroché le rôle de Cedric Diggory dans Harry Potter et la Coupe de Feu.
Ce petit rôle fut un tremplin dans sa carrière et a attiré l'attention de
la réalisatrice de Twilight Catherine Hardwicke. Et le reste, comme on
dit, est écrit dans l'Histoire.
Il y a eu une présence constante, si
ce n'est turbulente, dans la vie de Pattinson ces dernières années – sa
collègue de Twilight et son ex petite amie Kristen Stewart. De manière
ironique, la relation Pattinson-Stewart n'a jamais été confirmée jusqu'à leur rupture.
L'an dernier, en juillet, un scandale a éclaté
quand un rendez-vous galant de Stewart avec le réalisateur
marié Rupert Sanders a éclaté au grand jour. Même si l'infidélité n'est
certainement pas rare à Hollywood, ce fut
Stewart, la moitié non mariée de l'équation romantique, qui a été
diabolisée dans les médias pour cette tromperie.
Après avoir fait
des excuses publiques à Pattinson (et plus tard à ses fans), le couple
s'est finalement remis ensemble. Mais ce fut de courte durée. On a vu
Pattinson déménagé ses affaires de sa maison de Los Angeles en mai
dernier.
Au sujet de la romance, il dit: “Je suis assez sensible, et j'aime un peu les grands gestes, mais c'est tout simplement à cause de mon égo. J'aime offrir des cadeaux aux gens et j'aime penser que je suis un grand offreur de cadeaux, mais seulement parce que je m'achète des trucs pour moi et ensuite je fais en sorte que ça marche pour l'autre personne.”
Depuis sa rupture, on lui a prête de nombreuses liaisons avec divers stars, de Katy Perry au mannequin Français Camille Row, sa collègue dans la pub Dior. Actuellement, il reste apparemment célibataire.
Avoir expérimenté tant de choses à un si jeune âge, y a t-il un conseil qu'il aimerait se donner à lui même s'il pouvait revenir en arrière dans le temps? “Pas grand chose” dit il.
Est ce que ça veut dire qu'il a pris toutes les bonnes décisions jusqu'à maintenant? Il fait une pause pour réfléchir “Je ne sais pas. Peut être.” Il sourit. “Ou peut être je ne le vois pas encore.”
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Transcript by RPlife:
The Evolution of Man
Robert Pattinson’s Transition From Tween Heart-Throb To Fully Fledged Star Is Well Underway, Say Michelle Manelis. If Only He’d Stop Panicking…
Robert Pattinson’s trying to hug me. But I’m not playing; I’m not a hugger, so I offer my hand instead, which sets him off into fits of laughter. “OK, this is how we’re doing this?” he smiles, amused and a little taken aback. In an effort to recover from my apparent faux pas, and perhaps propelled by the Champagne consumed in the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel while waiting to be summoned by the Dior representatives, I finally reciprocate his gesture, albeit awkwardly.
Pleasantries exchanged, we move to the lounge area of his hotel suite where a bottle of Dior Homme, of which Pattinson is the new face, rests strategically on the coffee table. I promptly remind him of the many conversations we’ve had during which he insisted that fragrances would not be a part of his future agenda. He frowns. “Yes, you’re right, but I just got so smelly that I had to start wearing it.”
Suggesting his questionable sales pitch is at best a novel approach, he laughs and nods. Pattinson’s manner makes it easy to forget his fame is of Olympian-sized proportions. He comes across as the same unknown Brit actor I first met in 2008, straight off the proverbial boat to LA to promote Twilight. Back then he lamented that girls in Hollywood didn’t
notice him. He was also doubtful about the commercial viability of the vampire-themed indie he was promoting.
In many ways he exemplifies the adage, ‘Be careful what you wish for,’ reflecting on those sorely inaccurate concerns sprung from another lifetime. “I just didn’t expect any of this and I didn’t ask for it,” he says, almost apologetically. “It was literally all luck. I just stumbled from job to job.”
The Twilight franchise, which has grossed $3.7 billion worldwide, has afforded him the luxury of venturing into edgier fare, such as Water for Elephants, Remember Me and Cosmopolis. Presumably, he must be pleased with the way his career is progressing?
He ponders the question. “Well, yeah,” he says, with a whiff of hesitation. “It’s kind of heading there, but it’s difficult to remain sane. It’s really difficult.” He draws on his electronic cigarette. “In the beginning I didn’t even notice my life had changed so massively, because I was always working. I suppose eventually I got used to it.”
At our first few meetings, almost always punctuated by a movie he was promoting, he was usually clad in an elegant ensemble but with an appearance of careful dishevelment. Today, however, he’s adopted a more casual look. It seems one of the benefits of success is the freedom to dress as he pleases. He fulfils the impossibly handsome movie star cliché, but he’s wearing an unremarkable grey shirt, old American Eagle jeans and Vans sneakers. His face is sporting two-day growth and he has a backward baseball cap perched on his head, with not a hair in sight. Despite his status as one of Hollywood’s most bankable and highest-paid actors, this afternoon, Pattinson looks more like someone you might find in a dive bar.
The powers that be at Dior were apparently attracted to this rockstar vibe. The fashion and beauty house pursued Pattinson for the lead role in its new ad campaign, a short film by Romain Gavras (who directed M.I.A’s Born Free video). It’s set to Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love and features Pattinson in various scenarios illustrating this free-spirited nonchalance. He drives a vintage convertible along a beach accompanied by a trio of equally photogenic windblown passengers. We also see him sitting on a rooftop and, later, cavorting with a beautiful woman in a hotel. He’s a worthy successor to Dior’s previous male fragrance ambassador, Jude Law.
Unsurprisingly, the star has been offered virtually every endorsement deal on the planet. With a devoted fan base in the millions, ranging from tweens to mums, this face is a marketing manager’s dream.
Answering the question of why he chose Dior, he explains: “I was looking at Dior as the brand rather than the individual product, although I probably shouldn’t be saying that.” He lowers his voice and glances at the two Dior reps who have flown in from Paris. “I looked at other companies – and I’m not just saying this – but, for a man, I don’t think there’s anything classier than Dior.”
Noting that he’s now referring to himself as a man, he smiles and looks slightly embarrassed.
“Well, yes, I’m in a vaguely transitional phase in my life. I’m trying to get out of being perceived as really young and I think doing this helps along those lines. I’m 27 now and I can feel people looking at me differently. It’s a weird year. With Twilight ending and other films I’ve done, like Cosmopolis, I suddenly feel like I’m being treated like an actual actor rather than…” He trails off, not finishing his sentence – something he tends to do frequently.
He leans forward conspiratorially. “I’ve been wearing more cologne in the past three days than I’ve ever worn in my life. And by the way, it’s not a cologne, which I learned today; it’s eau de toilette.”
So, now he’s a grown-up who wears eau de toilette, what’s the next move in his career trajectory? Given he frequently tops bestdressed lists, could a fashion line be in his future? “Actually, I designed a couple of suits,” he says, enthusiastically. “One of them was an emerald-green houndstooth I wore to the last Twilight premiere.” He created this much-photographed outfit in collaboration with Gucci, the label Pattinson most often wears at such events. “I’m going to do more of it in the future.”
Clearly, he’s a man who appreciates a good suit. “Yes, absolutely. I have the weirdest relationship with suits,” he confesses. “I only ever wear them once and so I have a storage unit with about 1000 suits. Occasionally I’ll give them to friends but, to tell you the truth, I’m a bit of a hoarder. I find it really, really difficult to give things away; I don’t know why.”
It comes as a surprise that this high-profile icon, who appears deceptively at ease when treading the red carpet, is, in reality, a jumble of nerves. He walks me through his typical experience in the lead-up to a glamorous event. “I do a lot of panicking. I get a ton of anxiety,” he says, “right up until the second I get out of the car to the event, when suddenly it completely dissipates. But up until that moment I’m a nut case.”
It’s not unusual for British actors to speak in self-deprecating terms, but Pattinson seems genuinely troubled by these moments. “What do I panic about?” he repeats the question, looking seriously perturbed. “Well, anything, really. Body dysmorphia, overall tremendous anxiety.” It’s shocking to hear Pattinson suffers from a dysmorphic disorder. “I suppose it’s because of these tremendous insecurities that I never found a way to become egotistical. I don’t have a sixpack and I hate going to the gym. I’ve been like that my whole life. I never want to take my shirt off. I’d prefer to get drunk” he says with a smile.
Evidently, in Hollywood, a leading man is confronted with the same pressures as a leading lady; preserving one’s appearance, at any cost, is imperative for the sake of future employment. “Yes, you’re investing in yourself, it’s your brand,” he agrees. “Every job is hopefully a step towards getting another job. And now that I’m getting older, I suppose I’ll have to go to the gym. But in reality, I’ll go every day and that will last a week.”
There are, of course, more pleasurable ways to get fit than the tedium of pumping iron in a sweaty gym. “I’ll tell you,” he says, erupting into laughter. “I was trying to learn how to surf. I was in Malibu and I didn’t realise I was getting photographed; I looked like a complete idiot. And when that happens enough times, you are an idiot, so in terms of pure vanity I realised that I wasn’t going to surf any more.”
Born and raised in London, Pattinson has two older sisters. His mother worked in a modeling agency and his father imported vintage cars from the United States.
He recalls one of his favourite childhood memories. “I remember Christmas, sneaking downstairs and seeing my parents putting a present under the tree. It was a Lego Death Star,” he grins. “I was so excited about it. I still have it. It’s still intact from that Christmas morning when I was, like, 10.”
Is this memorable gift tucked away in his storage unit under the rack of designer suits? He laughs. “No, actually it’s in my bedroom at my parents’ house.”
Pattinson’s short road to stardom began when he appeared in a couple of theatre productions at his father’s suggestion that he might meet girls if he became an actor. He quickly landed the role of Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. This small but pivotal role caught the attention of Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke. And the rest, as they say, is history.
There’s been one constant, if not turbulent, presence in Pattinson’s life these past few years – his Twilight co-star and ex-girlfriend Kristen Stewart. Ironically, the Pattinson-Stewart relationship was never confirmed until their break-up.
In July last year, a scandal broke out when Stewart’s illicit tryst with then-married director Rupert Sanders was discovered. Although infidelity is certainly no anomaly in Hollywood circles, it was Stewart, the unmarried half of the romantic equation, who was vilified in the media for cheating.
After making a public apology to Pattinson (and later to her fans), the couple eventually reunited. But it was to be short-lived. Pattinson was seen moving his belongings out of her Los Angeles home in May this year.
“There’s not very much that really bothers me – I don’t ever feel the need to forgive or expect people to be…” he trails off again. “I judge people on their actions. I don’t really care if it’s wrong or right, I give them the benefit of the doubt. If they do something I can’t be bothered to deal with, I just cut them out.”
On the subject of romance, he says, “I’m quite sensitive, and I do like a bit of grand gesturing, but that’s just my ego. I like to give people presents and I think of myself as the best gift giver, but only because I get stuff for myself and then make it work for the other person.”
Since the break-up, he’s been linked to various celebrities, from Katy Perry to French model Camille Row, his co-star in the Dior campaign. As of now, he remains apparently single.
Having experienced so much so young, is there any advice he’d give himself if he could go back in time? “Not much,” he says.
Does this imply he’s made all the right decisions so far? He pauses to consider. “I don’t know. Perhaps.” He smiles. “Or maybe I’m just not seeing it yet.”
The Evolution of Man
Robert Pattinson’s Transition From Tween Heart-Throb To Fully Fledged Star Is Well Underway, Say Michelle Manelis. If Only He’d Stop Panicking…
Robert Pattinson’s trying to hug me. But I’m not playing; I’m not a hugger, so I offer my hand instead, which sets him off into fits of laughter. “OK, this is how we’re doing this?” he smiles, amused and a little taken aback. In an effort to recover from my apparent faux pas, and perhaps propelled by the Champagne consumed in the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel while waiting to be summoned by the Dior representatives, I finally reciprocate his gesture, albeit awkwardly.
Pleasantries exchanged, we move to the lounge area of his hotel suite where a bottle of Dior Homme, of which Pattinson is the new face, rests strategically on the coffee table. I promptly remind him of the many conversations we’ve had during which he insisted that fragrances would not be a part of his future agenda. He frowns. “Yes, you’re right, but I just got so smelly that I had to start wearing it.”
Suggesting his questionable sales pitch is at best a novel approach, he laughs and nods. Pattinson’s manner makes it easy to forget his fame is of Olympian-sized proportions. He comes across as the same unknown Brit actor I first met in 2008, straight off the proverbial boat to LA to promote Twilight. Back then he lamented that girls in Hollywood didn’t
notice him. He was also doubtful about the commercial viability of the vampire-themed indie he was promoting.
In many ways he exemplifies the adage, ‘Be careful what you wish for,’ reflecting on those sorely inaccurate concerns sprung from another lifetime. “I just didn’t expect any of this and I didn’t ask for it,” he says, almost apologetically. “It was literally all luck. I just stumbled from job to job.”
The Twilight franchise, which has grossed $3.7 billion worldwide, has afforded him the luxury of venturing into edgier fare, such as Water for Elephants, Remember Me and Cosmopolis. Presumably, he must be pleased with the way his career is progressing?
He ponders the question. “Well, yeah,” he says, with a whiff of hesitation. “It’s kind of heading there, but it’s difficult to remain sane. It’s really difficult.” He draws on his electronic cigarette. “In the beginning I didn’t even notice my life had changed so massively, because I was always working. I suppose eventually I got used to it.”
At our first few meetings, almost always punctuated by a movie he was promoting, he was usually clad in an elegant ensemble but with an appearance of careful dishevelment. Today, however, he’s adopted a more casual look. It seems one of the benefits of success is the freedom to dress as he pleases. He fulfils the impossibly handsome movie star cliché, but he’s wearing an unremarkable grey shirt, old American Eagle jeans and Vans sneakers. His face is sporting two-day growth and he has a backward baseball cap perched on his head, with not a hair in sight. Despite his status as one of Hollywood’s most bankable and highest-paid actors, this afternoon, Pattinson looks more like someone you might find in a dive bar.
The powers that be at Dior were apparently attracted to this rockstar vibe. The fashion and beauty house pursued Pattinson for the lead role in its new ad campaign, a short film by Romain Gavras (who directed M.I.A’s Born Free video). It’s set to Led Zeppelin’s Whole Lotta Love and features Pattinson in various scenarios illustrating this free-spirited nonchalance. He drives a vintage convertible along a beach accompanied by a trio of equally photogenic windblown passengers. We also see him sitting on a rooftop and, later, cavorting with a beautiful woman in a hotel. He’s a worthy successor to Dior’s previous male fragrance ambassador, Jude Law.
Unsurprisingly, the star has been offered virtually every endorsement deal on the planet. With a devoted fan base in the millions, ranging from tweens to mums, this face is a marketing manager’s dream.
Answering the question of why he chose Dior, he explains: “I was looking at Dior as the brand rather than the individual product, although I probably shouldn’t be saying that.” He lowers his voice and glances at the two Dior reps who have flown in from Paris. “I looked at other companies – and I’m not just saying this – but, for a man, I don’t think there’s anything classier than Dior.”
Noting that he’s now referring to himself as a man, he smiles and looks slightly embarrassed.
“Well, yes, I’m in a vaguely transitional phase in my life. I’m trying to get out of being perceived as really young and I think doing this helps along those lines. I’m 27 now and I can feel people looking at me differently. It’s a weird year. With Twilight ending and other films I’ve done, like Cosmopolis, I suddenly feel like I’m being treated like an actual actor rather than…” He trails off, not finishing his sentence – something he tends to do frequently.
He leans forward conspiratorially. “I’ve been wearing more cologne in the past three days than I’ve ever worn in my life. And by the way, it’s not a cologne, which I learned today; it’s eau de toilette.”
So, now he’s a grown-up who wears eau de toilette, what’s the next move in his career trajectory? Given he frequently tops bestdressed lists, could a fashion line be in his future? “Actually, I designed a couple of suits,” he says, enthusiastically. “One of them was an emerald-green houndstooth I wore to the last Twilight premiere.” He created this much-photographed outfit in collaboration with Gucci, the label Pattinson most often wears at such events. “I’m going to do more of it in the future.”
Clearly, he’s a man who appreciates a good suit. “Yes, absolutely. I have the weirdest relationship with suits,” he confesses. “I only ever wear them once and so I have a storage unit with about 1000 suits. Occasionally I’ll give them to friends but, to tell you the truth, I’m a bit of a hoarder. I find it really, really difficult to give things away; I don’t know why.”
It comes as a surprise that this high-profile icon, who appears deceptively at ease when treading the red carpet, is, in reality, a jumble of nerves. He walks me through his typical experience in the lead-up to a glamorous event. “I do a lot of panicking. I get a ton of anxiety,” he says, “right up until the second I get out of the car to the event, when suddenly it completely dissipates. But up until that moment I’m a nut case.”
It’s not unusual for British actors to speak in self-deprecating terms, but Pattinson seems genuinely troubled by these moments. “What do I panic about?” he repeats the question, looking seriously perturbed. “Well, anything, really. Body dysmorphia, overall tremendous anxiety.” It’s shocking to hear Pattinson suffers from a dysmorphic disorder. “I suppose it’s because of these tremendous insecurities that I never found a way to become egotistical. I don’t have a sixpack and I hate going to the gym. I’ve been like that my whole life. I never want to take my shirt off. I’d prefer to get drunk” he says with a smile.
Evidently, in Hollywood, a leading man is confronted with the same pressures as a leading lady; preserving one’s appearance, at any cost, is imperative for the sake of future employment. “Yes, you’re investing in yourself, it’s your brand,” he agrees. “Every job is hopefully a step towards getting another job. And now that I’m getting older, I suppose I’ll have to go to the gym. But in reality, I’ll go every day and that will last a week.”
There are, of course, more pleasurable ways to get fit than the tedium of pumping iron in a sweaty gym. “I’ll tell you,” he says, erupting into laughter. “I was trying to learn how to surf. I was in Malibu and I didn’t realise I was getting photographed; I looked like a complete idiot. And when that happens enough times, you are an idiot, so in terms of pure vanity I realised that I wasn’t going to surf any more.”
Born and raised in London, Pattinson has two older sisters. His mother worked in a modeling agency and his father imported vintage cars from the United States.
He recalls one of his favourite childhood memories. “I remember Christmas, sneaking downstairs and seeing my parents putting a present under the tree. It was a Lego Death Star,” he grins. “I was so excited about it. I still have it. It’s still intact from that Christmas morning when I was, like, 10.”
Is this memorable gift tucked away in his storage unit under the rack of designer suits? He laughs. “No, actually it’s in my bedroom at my parents’ house.”
Pattinson’s short road to stardom began when he appeared in a couple of theatre productions at his father’s suggestion that he might meet girls if he became an actor. He quickly landed the role of Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. This small but pivotal role caught the attention of Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke. And the rest, as they say, is history.
There’s been one constant, if not turbulent, presence in Pattinson’s life these past few years – his Twilight co-star and ex-girlfriend Kristen Stewart. Ironically, the Pattinson-Stewart relationship was never confirmed until their break-up.
In July last year, a scandal broke out when Stewart’s illicit tryst with then-married director Rupert Sanders was discovered. Although infidelity is certainly no anomaly in Hollywood circles, it was Stewart, the unmarried half of the romantic equation, who was vilified in the media for cheating.
After making a public apology to Pattinson (and later to her fans), the couple eventually reunited. But it was to be short-lived. Pattinson was seen moving his belongings out of her Los Angeles home in May this year.
“There’s not very much that really bothers me – I don’t ever feel the need to forgive or expect people to be…” he trails off again. “I judge people on their actions. I don’t really care if it’s wrong or right, I give them the benefit of the doubt. If they do something I can’t be bothered to deal with, I just cut them out.”
On the subject of romance, he says, “I’m quite sensitive, and I do like a bit of grand gesturing, but that’s just my ego. I like to give people presents and I think of myself as the best gift giver, but only because I get stuff for myself and then make it work for the other person.”
Since the break-up, he’s been linked to various celebrities, from Katy Perry to French model Camille Row, his co-star in the Dior campaign. As of now, he remains apparently single.
Having experienced so much so young, is there any advice he’d give himself if he could go back in time? “Not much,” he says.
Does this imply he’s made all the right decisions so far? He pauses to consider. “I don’t know. Perhaps.” He smiles. “Or maybe I’m just not seeing it yet.”
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