"Finally All Grown Up"
“For years I had the Twilight movies. Now, if you take a break for two years, there are 50 other actors there to replace you.”
“Luxury means to not have to worry.”
“Traditional masculinity doesn’t work any more.”
Robert Pattinson about masculinity, luxury, and his personal style.
Robert Pattinson about masculinity, luxury, and his personal style.
How do you feel as the new face of the Dior fragrance?
When Dior made me the offer I was shocked. Dior – the name alone is a myth… They asked after Twilight was over so the timing was right. They really piqued my interest.
So you were an easy catch?
Easy? No! (laughs) In the past doing a commercial would not have appealed to me because I couldn’t imagine that a real actor would do something like that. But meanwhile I have made a few movies and have grown as an actor. When we sat together with the director of the Dior spot to do some brainstorming I was fascinated by the artistic claim. I suddenly thought “What we do here is like a filmlet!” From this moment on I was really enthusiastic. So when you look at it that way the Dior campaign was a challenge for me. One that added to my past work in an exciting way.
The Dior man stands for luxury and natural elegance. What do these attributes mean to you personally?
The first thing that comes to my mind is an implied effortlessness. I think true luxury means to not have to worry about anything. When I shot the Dior film I actually really felt like that.
As the face of Dior Homme you’re supposed to speak to men your age. How would you describe your generation?
I’m 27 and I’ve just realized that no one is treating me like a child anymore. It feels weird to suddenly feel like an adult who is perceived by those around him differently than before. It’s hard to pinpoint what my generation is like. For most people my age the past ten years have been – just like for me – a transition period and many still try to find questions to the most basic mysteries of life. At least I do (grins).
What does masculinity mean to you?
Traditional masculinity doesn’t work anymore in today’s modern world. It’s a weird time for guys. Well, it’s probably also a weird time for girls (laughs). Masculinity, to me that always means being reliable and relatively pragmatic. But it also stands for so many ambiguous things. As an actor you often have to express certain ambiguities in a character. You’re both reliable and wild or loving and carefree at the same time. I don’t know if that is something I’d associate with masculinity. I just know that the code has changed massively over the past few years.
Traditional masculinity is often associated with the image of the “Lonely Cowboy”. Is freedom something important to you?
Absolutely. Once you’ve become a part of the public eye, you’re professional life is often confined. You’re stereotyped and caught in a certain character who people associate you with. Sometimes I like to make a joke out of manipulating the way people perceive me. I want artistic freedom even if it’s just to challenge myself over and over again. One of my latest roles, in “The Rover”, was very liberating by the way. We shot the movie in Australia, in the middle of nowhere. The character I play doesn’t have any teeth and was covered in mud and dirt from head to toe. But I didn’t care. I was running around half naked and was able to do things you usually can’t do when you’re constantly watched.
Usually the characters you play are pretty stylish. How would you describe your own style?
I have a couple of good basics that I wear day after day. When it comes to clothes, the most important thing for me is how they’re cut. As long as a piece of clothes fits well I don’t care about the rest. Then I wear it until it literally falls off of me.
Do you have any role models when it comes to fashion?
Jack Nicholson. I’ve always liked people for whom clothes are a mere necessity. It’s probably a man thing. I like things that are durable with regards to trends, things that are of top quality, [things] that last long. I always thought that it was cooler to only have one outfit – but one that you can wear to anything and anywhere.
What’s your…
…place to go to when you want to relax?
Rural England.
…favorite book?
Everything by Martin Amis.
…favorite singer?
Probably Van Morrison.
…you’re preferred time of day?
Depends on what I did the day before.
…favorite moment from the past?
I don’t really have one… But probably one that has to do with music.
…favorite animal?
My two dogs.
…favorite word?
Yes!
Scans | Translation | Via
