Robert Pattinson: who is The Batman star, where is he from - and who is his girlfriend Suki Waterhouse?

Robert Pattinson became a household name around the world overnight after the release of the first Twilight film in 2008, in which he starred as the sparkling vampire Edward Cullen.

Right now the actor is preparing for the release of his latest film as the masked crusader Batman in The Batman, alongside co-star Zoe Kravitz. After suffering setbacks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, The Batman will open in UK cinemas on Friday 4 March.

This is everything you need to know about the actor - and his relationship with girlfriend Suki Waterhouse.

Who is Robert Pattinson?

Robert Pattinson is an English actor who was launched into worldwide stardom after taking on the role of vampire Edward Cullen in the Twilight films from 2008 to 2012.

Pattinson was born in London on 13 May 1986 and grew up in Barnes, a district in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

He is the youngest of three children to mother Clare Charlton and father Richard Pattinson. His older sisters are Elizabeth and Victoria.

Prior to starring in Twilight, Pattinson kickstarted his film career with the part of Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Other films you’ll likely recognise him from include Remember Me (2010), The Rover (2014) The Lost City of Z (2016), Good Time (2017), The Lighthouse (2019), The King (2019), Tenet (2020) and The Devil All the Time (2020).

As well as acting, Pattinson has an interest in music. He has played the guitar and piano since the age of four, and has sung on the soundtrack of films he has appeared in.

Pattinson appears as the singer of two songs included on the Twilight soundtrack - Never Think and Let Me Sign. He also performed three original songs for his 2009 film How to Be.

In 2015, Pattinson became the first ambassador of GO Campaign, a nonprofit based in California which strives to raise awareness and funds to help orphans and vulnerable children around the world.

Speaking about the campaign, he said: “I’ve eagerly followed the growing impact GO Campaign has had over the years, on so many children and youth, and I love how tangible and transparent it is.

“They partner with some remarkable grassroots local heroes who are doing fantastic work but who lack the needed resources, and in places where a little bit of money can go a long way.

“I’ve been a donor and supporter, and now I look forward to joining their efforts, so together we can give opportunity to even more kids and young adults across the globe.”

His other charity work includes promoting the ECPAT UK’s Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People campaign, raising money for the Foundation for AIDS Research and participating in the charity telethon Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief.

Who is his girlfriend Suki Waterhouse?

Suki Waterhouse is an English model, actress and singer who grew up in London. She was born on 5 January 1992.

The 30-year-old has two younger sisters who are also models - Madeleine Waterhouse and Imogen Waterhouse.

Her modelling career began at the age of 16 and when she was 19 she was a lingerie model for Marks and Spencer.

Over the course of her modelling career she has worked with Burberry, Tommy Hilfiger, H&M and Redken. She has also appeared on the covers of Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire and Grazia.

In 2016, Waterhouse launched her brand Pop & Suki, which she co-founded with friend Poppy Jamie. Celebrities that have worn her brand include the likes of Jessica Alba, Lady Gaga, Cara Delevingne and Emily Ratajkowski.

She has appeared in TV shows like Material Girl and Into the Dark, and films like Love, Rosie, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, The Girl Who Invented Kissing, Assassination Nation, Detective Pikachu and The Broken Hearts Gallery.

In 2019 she also appeared in Halsey’s music video for the song Nightmare, directed by Hannah Lux Davis.

How long have they been together?

Pattinson and Waterhouse are believed to have been together since 2018, with their relationship initially being revealed in September by a report in Us Weekly which claimed that the two had been dating “for months”.

That same month they attended the Toronto International Film Festival, however they walked the red carpet separately and were busy promoting their own projects independent of each other.

After being photographed together on numerous occasions, Pattinson referred to his girlfriend in an interview, however didn’t name Waterhouse specifically.

When asked by The Sunday Times about his relationship, Pattinson said: “Do I have to talk [about Waterhouse]? If you let people in, it devalues what love is.

“If a stranger on the street asked you about your relationship, you’d think it extremely rude. If you put up a wall it ends up better.

“I can’t understand how someone can walk down the street holding hands, and it’s the same as when I do it and a hundred people are taking your photo.

“The line between when you’re performing and when you’re not will eventually get washed away and you’ll go completely mad.”

In 2019, Pattinson was spotted celebrating his 33rd birthday with Waterhouse at a restaurant in LA, and the following year engagement rumours started circulating after Waterhouse was seen with a ring on her ring finger. These rumours fizzled out when it became apparent that Waterhouse wasn’t wearing the piece of jewellery on her ring finger with any consistency.

When Covid hit in 2020, Pattinson reportedly spent his time quarantining with Waterhouse in London, per an article in GQ.

In October 2020, a source reportedly told E! News that the two were getting very serious.

They said: “Rob and Suki have definitely discussed getting engaged but are in no rush.

“Suki is not pressuring him and they are both very committed to each other. They love being low-key together and have very similar interests.”

The source also added: “They are truly inseparable and in love.”

It was only last year in 2021 that the two became somewhat Instagram official. albeit by accident, when Waterhouse posted a picture of herself wherein eagle eyed fans could just about make out a framed picture of her and Pattinson in the background.

Pattinson recently talked about how The Batman brought Waterhouse to tears.

Speaking to American talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, Pattinson said his girlfriend’s reaction to the film “changed the whole thing”.

He said: “Just seeing that it was capturing her attention the entire time and then she just held my hand and touched it right there (gesturing to his cheek) and I could feel a little tear and I was like ‘No way’.”

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