From blockbusters to indie movies, the heartthrob reinvents his career.
Starring in 'Life' por Anton Corbijn, he talks about fame, burgers and vampires. We have all dreamed of his fangs planted in our necks. But this fantasía is now over!
Robert Pattinson, the sexiest vampire, favorito! topic of all the paparazzi since 'Twilight', has completely performed his metamorphosis. Two chic cine with David Cronenberg 'Cosmopolis' and 'Maps to the Stars', then 'The Rover' por David Michod, an amazing road trip in the Australian desert, made him change.
As if after the 'Twilight' phenomenon, the indie cine allowed him to affirm serenely his talent in acting.
In 'Life' por Anton Corbijn ('Control', 'A most wanted man...), in theaters on September 9, Robert Pattinson plays truthfully the photographer Dennis Stock, a friend of James Dean (we owe him the famous pictures taken in New York and in the farm of Indiana where the 50s' idol grew up).
About to fly to Colombia where he will pursue the filming of 'The lost City of Z' por James Gray, Robert Pattinson talks with us on the phone. The voice is intense, joyful and the laugh is generous. Keep Calm!
ELLE: Allo? Robert Pattinson?
Robert Pattinson: Yes it's me!
tu are one of the most photographed celebrity in the world. Did tu enjoy to play a photographer? (Laughs) we must put things in context. In the 50s tu didn't become photographer like today with mobile phones, it was necessary to have technical knowledge .... It was a job that was practised with nobility.
How did tu practise?
Anton Corbijn gave me a Leica from 1944 and told me: Try to make him a friend, and see it as an extension of your hand because tu will not leave during the shooting!
tu took some pictures?
Yes. It was a disaster. I didn't want to mostrar them to Anton (laughs. Anton Corbijn is a very reputed photographer)
Watching the trailer, we wonder if tu would have prefered to play James Dean?
Absolutely not. Dane DeHaan is perfect for the part. Me, I never had a passion for James Dean. When I was looking for heroes to whom identify myself, James Dean was not one of them. He belonged to another time. I didn't look like him at all. However Dane knew all about him before the movie.
The friendship between the two men is interesting ...
My character, Dennis Stock, is only 3 years older than James Dean but he lost all his innocence. He is already a father, with responsibilities, his aim is to become an artist. He wants to devote 100% of his time to photography, and a wife and children are not part of the journey.
Whereas James Dean is still a teenager ...
He is a born artist. He is a born artist. The world of children is familiar to him. In any case he shares their imagination. There is this magic scene in the farm in Indiana where my character is taking pictures of James Dean playing with his young cousin. I loved this scene because I had to mostrar the envy and jealousy.
If James Dean was still alive, how would he live his excessive media coverage?
Badly, of course. What is happening nowadays can make tu crazy.
And you? How do tu cope with this situation?
What is terrible is that i became famous when the world changed. In 2008, everybody had a cell phone, it was the explosion of social networks. As results, the margin of freedom to protect the private life has become ultra thin. Not only were all these paparazzi camping outside my house but this new horde of fans who relayed information on social networks. It became unmanageable.
Has your personality changed?
At some point I became paranoid. I went no más out of my house in Los Angeles. It was hell. At the same time I was aware of the ridiculousness of the situation. It made no sense.
What is for example the worst thing someone has dicho about you?
It's going to make tu laugh but as a British, to hear someone say I'm American is the worst insult! I am English! Let it be known once and for all!
Does your past relationship with Kristen Stewart has suffered of this?
I preferred not to broach the subject.
tu left Los Angeles to live in London. Is this amor that made tu change countries? (He is in a couple with the English singer FKA Twigs)
(Laughs) Actually, i live between Los Angeles and London. But being in Londres is a pure delight. They leave me alone! It's the same everywhere in Europe. The other día i was strolling around Paris, and nobody bothered me!
Did tu get in touch with French directors already?
Yes! For a great project, but i can't talk about it because it is not signed yet. But I dream of working with her.
So it's a woman?
Oh my God! I have dicho enough!
When one speaks of artistic metamorphosis about you, how do tu live it?
It is a bit exaggerated don't tu think? There has been what I call "the happy accident" that was Twilight, which allowed me to meet David Cronenberg. Work with him open me up to new opportunities.
And if tu were offered another 'Twilight' movie?
Why not!
por choosing to make indie movies, tu were not afraid of losing some fans?
On the contrary, I think my name on a poster rallies my fan base. I hope to awake their curiosity and mostrar them a different vision of cinema. Don't forget that they grow up too. And they didn't want to see all their lives Robert Pattinson playing a vampire. We tend to devalue the fans. It's a mistake. The fan is an audience member like the others.
Would tu say this blockbuster offered tu a freedom of action on a platter?
It's undeniable. Now I am doing what i want. Like doing 'The Childhood of a Leader' with my old pal Brady Corbet. This is his first movie as a director.
It's the movie with Bérénice Bejo, isn' it?
Yes. She is great. She gave me nutritional advice: "Every morning, tu can eat and drink what tu want. The rest of the día tu be careful." I asked him: "Even hamburgers for breakfast?" She said, "No worries, mon petit loup!"
So tu are an happy "Englishman in London"? Yes! Like never before.
Starring in 'Life' por Anton Corbijn, he talks about fame, burgers and vampires. We have all dreamed of his fangs planted in our necks. But this fantasía is now over!
Robert Pattinson, the sexiest vampire, favorito! topic of all the paparazzi since 'Twilight', has completely performed his metamorphosis. Two chic cine with David Cronenberg 'Cosmopolis' and 'Maps to the Stars', then 'The Rover' por David Michod, an amazing road trip in the Australian desert, made him change.
As if after the 'Twilight' phenomenon, the indie cine allowed him to affirm serenely his talent in acting.
In 'Life' por Anton Corbijn ('Control', 'A most wanted man...), in theaters on September 9, Robert Pattinson plays truthfully the photographer Dennis Stock, a friend of James Dean (we owe him the famous pictures taken in New York and in the farm of Indiana where the 50s' idol grew up).
About to fly to Colombia where he will pursue the filming of 'The lost City of Z' por James Gray, Robert Pattinson talks with us on the phone. The voice is intense, joyful and the laugh is generous. Keep Calm!
ELLE: Allo? Robert Pattinson?
Robert Pattinson: Yes it's me!
tu are one of the most photographed celebrity in the world. Did tu enjoy to play a photographer? (Laughs) we must put things in context. In the 50s tu didn't become photographer like today with mobile phones, it was necessary to have technical knowledge .... It was a job that was practised with nobility.
How did tu practise?
Anton Corbijn gave me a Leica from 1944 and told me: Try to make him a friend, and see it as an extension of your hand because tu will not leave during the shooting!
tu took some pictures?
Yes. It was a disaster. I didn't want to mostrar them to Anton (laughs. Anton Corbijn is a very reputed photographer)
Watching the trailer, we wonder if tu would have prefered to play James Dean?
Absolutely not. Dane DeHaan is perfect for the part. Me, I never had a passion for James Dean. When I was looking for heroes to whom identify myself, James Dean was not one of them. He belonged to another time. I didn't look like him at all. However Dane knew all about him before the movie.
The friendship between the two men is interesting ...
My character, Dennis Stock, is only 3 years older than James Dean but he lost all his innocence. He is already a father, with responsibilities, his aim is to become an artist. He wants to devote 100% of his time to photography, and a wife and children are not part of the journey.
Whereas James Dean is still a teenager ...
He is a born artist. He is a born artist. The world of children is familiar to him. In any case he shares their imagination. There is this magic scene in the farm in Indiana where my character is taking pictures of James Dean playing with his young cousin. I loved this scene because I had to mostrar the envy and jealousy.
If James Dean was still alive, how would he live his excessive media coverage?
Badly, of course. What is happening nowadays can make tu crazy.
And you? How do tu cope with this situation?
What is terrible is that i became famous when the world changed. In 2008, everybody had a cell phone, it was the explosion of social networks. As results, the margin of freedom to protect the private life has become ultra thin. Not only were all these paparazzi camping outside my house but this new horde of fans who relayed information on social networks. It became unmanageable.
Has your personality changed?
At some point I became paranoid. I went no más out of my house in Los Angeles. It was hell. At the same time I was aware of the ridiculousness of the situation. It made no sense.
What is for example the worst thing someone has dicho about you?
It's going to make tu laugh but as a British, to hear someone say I'm American is the worst insult! I am English! Let it be known once and for all!
Does your past relationship with Kristen Stewart has suffered of this?
I preferred not to broach the subject.
tu left Los Angeles to live in London. Is this amor that made tu change countries? (He is in a couple with the English singer FKA Twigs)
(Laughs) Actually, i live between Los Angeles and London. But being in Londres is a pure delight. They leave me alone! It's the same everywhere in Europe. The other día i was strolling around Paris, and nobody bothered me!
Did tu get in touch with French directors already?
Yes! For a great project, but i can't talk about it because it is not signed yet. But I dream of working with her.
So it's a woman?
Oh my God! I have dicho enough!
When one speaks of artistic metamorphosis about you, how do tu live it?
It is a bit exaggerated don't tu think? There has been what I call "the happy accident" that was Twilight, which allowed me to meet David Cronenberg. Work with him open me up to new opportunities.
And if tu were offered another 'Twilight' movie?
Why not!
por choosing to make indie movies, tu were not afraid of losing some fans?
On the contrary, I think my name on a poster rallies my fan base. I hope to awake their curiosity and mostrar them a different vision of cinema. Don't forget that they grow up too. And they didn't want to see all their lives Robert Pattinson playing a vampire. We tend to devalue the fans. It's a mistake. The fan is an audience member like the others.
Would tu say this blockbuster offered tu a freedom of action on a platter?
It's undeniable. Now I am doing what i want. Like doing 'The Childhood of a Leader' with my old pal Brady Corbet. This is his first movie as a director.
It's the movie with Bérénice Bejo, isn' it?
Yes. She is great. She gave me nutritional advice: "Every morning, tu can eat and drink what tu want. The rest of the día tu be careful." I asked him: "Even hamburgers for breakfast?" She said, "No worries, mon petit loup!"
So tu are an happy "Englishman in London"? Yes! Like never before.
I'll be your man
And I'll understand
And I'll do my best
To take good care of you
You'll be my queen
I'll be your king
And I'll be your lover too
Yeah yeah
Yes I will
Derry down green
Color of my dream
A dream that's daily
Coming true.
And ohhh when the día is through
I will come to tu and tell tu of
Your many charms
And when tu look at me
With eyes that see
And we'll melt into each others arms
You'll be my queen
And I'll be your king
And I'll be your lover too
And I'll understand
And I'll do my best
To take good care of you
You'll be my queen
I'll be your king
And I'll be your lover too
Yeah yeah
Yes I will
Derry down green
Color of my dream
A dream that's daily
Coming true.
And ohhh when the día is through
I will come to tu and tell tu of
Your many charms
And when tu look at me
With eyes that see
And we'll melt into each others arms
You'll be my queen
And I'll be your king
And I'll be your lover too