It seems like an eternity since Robert Pattinson made his movie debut as Cedric Diggory in 2005’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (we say debut – he actually had a fleeting part in the 2004 film Vanity Fair, but his scenes ended up on the cutting-room floor).
In the ensuing years, the British star has proved himself to be one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors, delivering confident performances in everything from Twilight to Water for Elephants. His latest turn, starring opposite Willem Dafoe in Robert Eggers’ psychological thriller The Lighthouse, has earned him rave reviews from critics.
While we wait for the movie to arrive at Cineworld cinemas on the 31st of January, let’s take a look back at some of Pattinson’s most impressive roles…
1. Bel Ami (2012)
Based on the 1885 novel by Guy de Maupassant, Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod’s film saw Pattinson playing an impoverished former soldier in Paris who manages to elevate his social status by wooing a number of powerful women.
While the movie was largely panned by critics, Pattinson oozed sex appeal in his role as the seductive man-about-town, with The Guardian describing him as "smouldering".
2. Cosmopolis (2012)
David Cronenberg’s Palme d’Or-nominated drama cast Pattinson as young billionaire Eric Packer, who sees his world disintegrate in the space of a day.
Critics queued up to lavish praise on the British star, with The Telegraph gushing: "At its heart is a sensational central performance from Robert Pattinson as Packer. Pattinson plays him like a human caldera; stony on the surface, with volcanic chambers of nervous energy and self-loathing churning deep below."
3. Maps to the Stars (2014)
Pattinson teamed up with David Cronenberg again in this satirical drama about the pitfalls of the entertainment industry. The British actor played a limousine driver who’s keen to become a successful screenwriter, and, despite being part of a talented ensemble cast that included Julianne Moore and John Cusack, managed to shine brightly.
His performance, which earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Canadian Screen Awards, was described by BBC Radio Five Live's Mark Kermode as "nicely underplayed".
4. The Rover (2014)
A British actor playing a southern American in a movie set in the Australian Outback might seem like an odd equation, but in director David Michôd’s eyes, Pattinson was the ideal fit for the part of naïve youngster Reynolds in this contemporary western.
Michôd told the Sydney Morning Herald: "[He is] really smart, and not the sort of pretty boy I was expecting. As soon as it was time to start testing… he was my first choice, by a long way."
5. The Childhood of a Leader (2015)
Based on Jean-Paul Sartre’s 1939 short story of the same name, Brady Corbet’s coming-of-age drama saw Pattinson playing two different roles, including that of a widowed politician who turns out to be something unexpected.
While neither part was especially large (IndieWire labelled the actor’s contribution a "glorified cameo"), Pattinson still managed to make his presence felt with an absorbing performance.
6. The Lost City of Z (2016)
Based on real events, James Gray’s film focused on British explorer Percy Fawcett’s mission to find an ancient lost city in the middle of the Amazon rainforest.
Pattinson played Fawcett’s fellow explorer, Henry Costin, and struck a chord with film critic Matt Zoller Seitz, who described the Brit’s performance as a "terrific character turn".
7. Good Time (2017)
In another Palme d’Or-nominated drama – directed by Josh and Benny Safdie – Pattinson played a bank robber trying to steal enough money to bail his disabled brother out of jail.
The British actor received rave reviews for his performance, with Variety calling it a "career high" and The Hollywood Reporter agreeing that Pattinson had delivered "arguably his most commanding performance to date".
8. High Life (2018)
Pattinson made his sci-fi debut alongside Juliette Binoche in Claire Denis’s disturbing tale of a group of criminals who are sent into outer space to undertake a range of experiments.
For Denis, the casting of Pattinson was a no-brainer. She later told IndieWire: "Robert is very enigmatic, with a powerful presence. He gives off an aura that immediately makes you want to film him."
The Lighthouse will be showing at Cineworld from the 31st of January. Sign up to Cineworld Unlimited and enjoy amazing movies due for release in 2020, as well as getting invites to preview screenings and money off food and drink, all for just £18.40 per month (there is a higher fee for cinemas in London’s West End).
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