13 surprising things you probably didn't know about Robert Pattinson

August 2024 · 6 minute read
Updated 2022-05-13T13:26:39Z

"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" was the actor's first major film.

In "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," Robert Pattinson played the ill-fated Cedric Diggory. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

In 2005, Pattinson was a newbie actor who only had three roles to his name, but he landed the coveted role of Cedric Diggory in "Harry Potter and the Goblet Fire."

This was his first major role and, arguably, the role that put him on the map.

Pattinson chose to be in "Harry Potter" over going to university.

Robert Pattinson as Cedric Diggory. Warner Bros. Pictures

Pattinson was 17 years old when he was cast as Cedric Diggory in the "Harry Potter" franchise.

In a 2017 interview with Time Out London, Pattinson said that he had to choose between his role in"Harry Potter" and attending university.

"It went so far over schedule, I couldn't go. It was supposed to be four months, but it ended up being 10 or 11," he said. "I was 17 and I was the only person who wasn't in school. I'd just hang about."

But before "Harry Potter," Pattinson had an uncredited role in "Vanity Fair."

James Purefoy and Reese Witherspoon in "Vanity Fair." Focus Features

Although Cedric Diggory was Pattinson's first major role, he was cast in a small role in 2004's "Vanity Fair" before "Harry Potter."

The movie starred his future "Water for Elephants" costar, Reese Witherspoon, but Pattinson's scenes were unfortunately cut from the finished film. 

He said he was expelled from grade school for stealing — and then selling — pornographic magazines.

Robert Pattinson said he was expelled from school. Paul Hackett/Reuters

During an interview on "The Howard Stern Show" in 2017, Pattinson said he was expelled from his "elite" grade school for stealing pornographic magazines and selling them to his friends.

He would replenish his supply of magazines by stealing them from a local store, which ultimately led to the actor getting caught. 

"I used to go in and take, like, one or two, and then put them in my bag. I was in my school uniform when I was doing it, and it was kind of risky," he told Stern. "At the end, I got so cocky that I would take the entire rack."

Despite his successful film career, he's never acted on a TV show.

Robert Pattinson has been in over 30 films, though. Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Though he has appeared in TV movies and video shorts, throughout Pattinson's 15-year career, he's never acted on a TV show

Pattinson is also a musician.

Robert Pattinson plays the piano and the guitar. Larry Busacca/Getty Images

In addition to being able to play the piano and guitar, Pattinson sings and writes his own music. You might have recognized his voice on the "Twilight" soundtrack in his original songs "Never Think" and "Let Me Sign."

He still sings, and one of his more recent songs was recorded for Claire Denis's 2019 film "High Life."

The star said that he's always wanted to be a rapper.

Robert Pattinson's rap alter ego is "Big Tub." Chris Helgren/Reuters

During a 2020 appearance on "Late Night With Seth Meyers," Pattinson told the host that when he was younger he wanted to be a rapper, and he still kind of does. 

His rap name was "Big Tub" — part of Big Tub and the Tabby Cats — and he did record a few unreleased tapes.

"Yeah, I remember I didn't know how to scratch, and so I used to pull up and down the zip on my hoodie ... it sounds exactly like it," he said while laughing with Meyers.  

The actor has admitted that he's not the best driver.

Robert Pattinson told Ellen DeGeneres that he thinks driving is "terrifying." Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Pattinson told Ellen DeGeneres during his first appearance on her show that he doesn't really know how to drive.

"Technically I am driving, but I don't actually know how to drive," he said. "It's absolutely terrifying. Plus I don't know how to use the little wipey thing on the windscreen, so I can't actually see."

He is, however, an award-winning kisser.

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson have won the best kiss award four times. Christopher Polk/Getty Images

From 2009 to 2012, Pattinson and "Twilight" costar Kristen Stewart won the MTV Movie and TV Award for best kiss four times.

No other pairing has won two years in a row, let alone four.

Pattinson almost got fired from "Twilight."

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson as Bella and Edward. Summit Entertainment

Nearly a decade after the first "Twilight" film was released, Pattinson told Howard Stern in 2017 that he was almost fired from the role.

According to the star, he was acting "too serious" as Edward and was told to lighten up. He was even given a copy of Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight" with every mention of his character smiling highlighted for inspiration. 

Luckily, he and the director eventually came to a compromise about the character.

On the first day of filming for "Twilight," he suffered an unfortunate butt-cheek injury.

Robert Pattinson in "Twilight." Summit Entertainment

Pattinson told MTV in 2012, that on the first day of filming "Twilight" he almost tore his glute during a fight scene.

"[They] had to get a physiotherapist to come in and massage my butt cheek for the rest of the day," he said. "I was there for three months working out and stuff. I was at my peak, my physical prime, and then ... a-- done. The a-- is out!"

The actor doesn't like his popular nickname "R-Patz."

A lot of fans started calling him "R-Patz." Grant Lamos IV/Getty Images Entertainment

Pattinson told Today in 2012 that he doesn't understand "nickname culture" and thinks his own, R-Patz,  "sounds like an antacid tablet."

There's an asteroid named after the movie star.

The asteroid is named 246789 Pattinson. Earl Gibson III/Getty Images

Russian astronomer, Timur Kryachko, discovered an asteroid in 2014 and named it after Pattinson, reportedly because his wife suggested it. 

The asteroid's full title is 246789 Pattinson.

Read More:

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyjsdKtZKunkpq%2FtXnPmqutoZ6ovK95xZqaratdqb%2BqwsiaZGtoYW56eA%3D%3D