Robert Pattison feels like he has fulfilled the final piece in an acting jigsaw that has swayed from drama to crime, horror to biopics, from the intriguing to the ephemeral.
The evidence? He’s starring in a comedy! Albeit, not your usual run-of-the-mill titter.
The Londoner, 38, is the leading man in Mickey 17, a death and rebirth spectacular that is as odd as it is original.
The big-budget Warner Brothers project, costing $150 million and directed by the brilliant Bong Joon-ho, also stars Mark Ruffalo, Toni Collette, Steven Yuen, and Naomi Ackie, and tells the story of Mickey Barnes, a disposable employee part of a human expedition that aims to colonize the ice world of Niflheim.
If there’s a mission that feels too dangerous, the crew uses Mickey. If he dies, a new body is ‘born’ with most of his memories intact, yet as you may predict, things don’t always go down the intended route.
Pattinson excels in the role, and it seems somewhat fitting that such an original concept should greet him on what is his 20th anniversary of acting.
A star who has shed off the typecast nature of his role in The Twilight Saga, and deservedly so, as his portrayal of Edward Cullen actually only accounts for a quarter of his career, Pattinson is now flourishing in the finesse and freedom of some brilliant roles, even if dying is an unfortunate by product.
STRIPLV: Dare we say, we are witnessing something that might be described as a sci-fi comedy here. PATTINSON: I’m trying to think if past sci-fi comedies have been well received because I think you’re right; this is definitely one of them. Mars Attacks!? Evolution was good. Is Back to the Future sci-fi? I guess. Ultimately, I think the movie puts itself in good company. And if it doesn’t, it’s too late to go back now, it’s in the can. STRIPLV: Does it feel strange, though, given that your roots, all the Twilight stuff, were in the darker elements, and many films since your breakaway have taken on deep ideas and emotions? That we’re now here. PATTINSON: Well, there’s been a bit of humor along the way, but I don’t think I’d ever want to do an out-and-out comedy, a Wedding Crashers-type skit. I think taking comedy out of a comedy scenario is smart. So Damsel was something like that. I wouldn’t really class that as comedy, more just a fun movie. How to Be had a quirky, surreal edge. I just I’m just following those same maxims. STRIPLV: I mean, the idea of repeatedly dying and being brought back to life is either deeply troubling or quite funny, right? PATTINSON: I think once you witness the way Mickey keeps dying in this movie, it becomes funnier the further through it goes. It’s like a really messed up version of Groundhog Day, which itself was pretty messed up. I loved the repetition, though, and the seemingly endless drag of rebirth and reinvention. It was also very cool to remove from reality the fear of death. It’s something we all think about, and speaking personality, the older I’ve become, the more I start considering not death itself but the fact it comes nearer. To portray someone so unafraid of ‘the end,’ because, obviously, it’s not the end at all, was a nice shift, and the movie was a lot of fun to make. STRIPLV: People have been impressed with your characterization, and that won’t be the first time you’ve heard that. You have a versatility that, with every new project, is displaying itself in different ways. PATTINSON: Well, that’s very kind of you to say so. I think the reality is I was tied to a character for a long time at the start of my career, and even now, all these years on, a big part of me wants to rebel against that, so as far as I can get away from ‘the norm’ – whatever that is – the better. I certainly feel free as an actor these days in a way that I never did before. STRIPLV: And you have total self-confidence in what you do? PATTINSON: I wouldn’t say that. I think doubt is very useful. Any actor will go through periods where they will hesitate and question whether they can live up to a character in a script or even the expectations that go with it. I had that with The Batman because the role was so big, but it could be a small project too, it doesn’t really matter. You don’t ever want that feeling of falling short. In every project I’ve ever taken on, I’ve come into it wanting to learn and to achieve new things. I like the challenge. STRIPLV: How have you continued to reinvent yourself in this way? PATTINSON: I think reinvention is very easy, on screen, when you are comfortable with yourself, in real life. In other words, if you’re not looking to change who you are, what you do, and how you go about surviving in the world, in yourself, then you’ve still got the space to do that in your work life. I wouldn’t want to be doing both of those things at the same time; I think I’d find knowing exactly who I was very confusing. STRIPLV: So what you’re saying is you’re in a good place, mentally? PATTINSON: Yes, definitely. I’m happy with how my life has gone – I have people in my life who mean the world to me; I have a daughter. What’s not to like? STRIPLV: You’re also one of the most photographed men in the industry. How have you managed to pull that one off? PATTINSON: (Laughs) Now that is a mystery to us both! Over the years, I’ve experimented with various diets and fitness routines, some more unconventional than others. At times, I’ve gone to extremes, whether it was trying out bizarre eating plans or pushing myself through intense workouts just to see what my body was capable of. I think when you’re preparing for a physically demanding role, there’s this pressure to completely transform yourself, which can lead to some fairly obsessive habits, like calorie counting, monitoring every single meal, or feeling like you have to train relentlessly just to meet an unrealistic standard. I think the more I’ve been through it, the more I’ve realized that the key to maintaining both physical and mental health is balance and self-acceptance. It’s about being kind to yourself. If you’re constantly punishing your body or fixating on an ideal version of yourself, it becomes exhausting. Nowadays, I focus less on the numbers and more on how I actually feel.
STRIPLV: Has fatherhood changed you? PATTINSON: I would hope so! I do chuckle when I hear that question, as the truth is there would have to be something fundamentally wrong if fatherhood didn’t change a person! I think the way it’s affected me most is in the amount you learn from a baby. I think before you become a parent, you imagine seeing your son or daughter grow is this very long, very slow process, though I remember feeling absolutely amazed and enchanted by how quickly she started developing her own personality. Even at just three months old, she already had this completely unique character. I wasn’t expecting that at all, and it’s been such a wonderful surprise to see how much of a little person she already is. I think the other thing I can admit is that before becoming a dad, I was kind of a hermit. But now, I find myself talking to neighbors, chatting with other parents at the park - just being out in the world so much more. I never thought I’d be one of those people having daytime get-togethers, but here I am, and honestly, I love it.
STRIPLV: Will this affect your film choices in the future? PATTINSON: I can see where you’re going with that, and you’re not going to suppose I’m going to segue in back-to-back voiceover animation projects. (Laughs) What I will say is that having kids gives you a point of reference on the subject matter, and by that, I mean in the past, I used to have zero interest in conversations about kids. If someone started talking about their baby, I’d completely zone out. And now? I totally get it. I’d rather be at home hanging out with my daughter than going out with friends most of the time. It’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done, so if that permeates my film choices in some way, however small, then I have to welcome that change. Why not? STRIPLV: You have renewed your partnership with Christian Dior, how do you describe that side of your life? PATTINSON: It’s been a transformative journey. At the start, I was still this slightly nerdy guy best associated with vampires. I feel like Dior has shaped me, and some of the collaborations have really given me an insight into a world I never really thought I would be a part of. Working closely with Kim Jones, Dior’s creative director, has been particularly inspiring. He is a very cool guy, and it’s great he sees that in me. (Laughs) STRIPLV: How would you describe your go-to dress style? PATTINSON: For me, it’s always about grey, muted, earthy tones. I feel like you can get away with a lot when you wear those shades, perhaps a bit of black or brown if I’m feeling rebellious. (Laughs) Put another way, I’m never going to be that guy who goes on with something fluorescent, or a pair of Elton John sunglasses, or a Pharrell Williams hat. Those guys are good at that stuff, and I’m happy to leave it to them. I’ll take the subtle, understated background look; the cashmere sweater and Harrington jacket do me fine!
SIX REASONS ROBERT PATTINSON IS ONE OF HOLLYWOOD'S MOST UNPREDICTABLE STARS
SCHOOL'S OUT The Young Robert Pattinson had an entrepreneurial streak, but his money-making ventures took a turn when he was expelled from school for selling adult magazines to his classmates.
QUID WHILE YOU'RE AHEAD While playing Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter, Pattinson admitted he had no clue what Quidditch involved.
TINKLING THE IVORIES Pattinson is a music enthusiast at heart; he has been playing the piano since the age of three and has even written and performed his songs.
NEAR NIRVANA For The Batman, Pattinson based his Bruce Wayne voice on Kurt Cobain.
CLOWNING AROUND For a man who has conquered Hollywood, it’s bizarre that he has a very real fear lurking in every circus tent: the clown! “They’re too happy. I don’t trust them.”
(ALMOST) CAUGHT IN THE ACT At auditions, the star regularly pretended to be from the United States to secure roles. This worked out well for him with XX, but less so on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, where he was exposed, much to his embarrassment.