You may have first seen heartthrob Robert Pattinson as Cedric Diggory in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,” but that was just the start of his Hollywood career. His story isn’t just one of physical transformation but of raw talent impacted by fame. Today, though he’s quiet about his private life, he’s a dedicated partner to Suki Waterhouse and a dad—but getting to this point was filled with shocking ups and downs…
He was kicked out of school for stealing adult magazines
Born in London, England, on May 13, 1986, Pattinson grew up with two sisters and had dreams of being a musician, which he still dabbles in today. Despite his love of music, he wasn’t the best student and was expelled from an all-boys school for stealing pornography to sell to other kids. He has admitted that he wasn’t the most obedient child, calling himself “quite spacey” to the Associated Press in 2017 and mentioning that both his older sisters were always protective of him as a result.
He was fired from a play right before opening night
After getting expelled, Pattinson enrolled at a private school in West London and became a member of the Barnes Theatre Company. He secured his first role at 14 years old, playing a Cuban dancer in a production of “Guys and Dolls,” and a few years later was cast in another London play, but was unfortunately fired right before the show was going to be launched. He didn’t share details, but told Variety he was “very self-pitying” and got “trashed” immediately after to cope.
Robert Pattinson took Valium to get through his Twilight audition
Auditions are nerve-wracking for actors, and auditioning for “Twilight,” one of the biggest book franchises in the world, must have been stressful for Pattinson. He showed up to the audition out of shape and wearing a stained shirt, later admitting that he was under the influence of pills because he knew it would be a long audition. Yikes!
He didn’t enjoy playing Edward Cullen in The Twilight Saga
While the films skyrocketed him and co-star Kristen Stewart to fame, earning around $392 million at the global box office, he hated playing the depressing love interest and was quite vocal about those feelings, placing blame on the author’s character creation and worldbuilding. He wasn’t as negative after the second movie, and finally, in 2025, he admitted that he had “such fond memories” regarding his “Twilight” work.
His relationship with co-star Kristen Stewart ended in a global scandal
At one point, these two were a power couple, but their relationship was turned into a marketing gimmick and a product, which ultimately overshadowed their genuine connection and contributed to the public’s fascination with their personal lives. Things got even worse when Stewart was photographed having an affair with director Rupert Sanders. They both issued apologies, and while Stewart and Pattison broke up for a bit, they got back together. By 2013, things had fizzled out for good. Since then, the former couple has reflected on it all, saying that being media sensations amplified things tenfold—and not in a good way.
His fame negatively impacted his relationship with FKA Twigs
In 2014, Pattinson moved on from Kristen with musician FKA Twigs, and unfortunately, this relationship was also marred by controversy and public criticism. During the relationship, FKA Twigs was racially targeted by his fans, and despite both denouncing it, the haters got to their relationship, and they broke up in October 2017, with the racism playing just one role in why things didn’t work out.
Robert Pattinson has struggled with body dysmorphia, anxiety, and depression
Pattison has been open about his mental health struggles, and while he’s mastered locking in on filming days, it took years for him to figure out what to do with his anxious energy. In 2025, he told Vanity Fair, “I guess after many years of doing something, you realize, oh, you can’t really get rid of the anxiety, but you can turn it around and use it as energy.” He has also discussed not feeling comfortable in his own skin and body.
He’s called himself a pathological liar and utilized intense method acting to get into character
Pattinson’s co-star from “The Drama,” Zendaya, told Jimmy Kimmel that he admitted to being a pathological liar, and he has been known to tell outlandish stories, like saying he watched a clown die when a car exploded during a circus. He also lied about living under trash cans in California. Beyond that, he is known to undergo extreme measures for his dark and moody roles, such as inducing vomiting, eating mud, and fully self-isolating, but still doesn’t identify as a method actor.