Robert Pattinson recently admitted that he finds it challenging to portray "normal characters" on screen, especially after becoming accustomed to playing more eccentric roles. The 39-year-old actor shared his thoughts in a recent interview with Icon magazine, discussing the transition from "wacky, brooding, and bold characters" to those with more conventional behavior.
Pattinson, known for his portrayals of unconventional characters, including Edward Cullen in the Twilight series, Thomas Howard in The Lighthouse, Bruce Wayne in The Batman, and Mikey Barnes in Mickey 17, expressed that he had a desire to play more ordinary characters. However, he found it surprisingly difficult to embody normalcy after being so used to playing "freaks".
His latest film, Die My Love, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, sees Pattinson starring alongside Jennifer Lawrence. The movie follows Grace (Lawrence) and Jackson (Pattinson) as they spend time in a secluded home in Montana, while Grace grapples with her mental health. The official synopsis describes Grace as "a writer and young mother, is slowly slipping into madness… acting increasingly agitated and erratic, leaving her companion, Jackson, increasingly worried and helpless". While Jackson appears to be the more stable character in Die My Love, Pattinson hinted that the role is still a departure from his previous work.
In a previous interview with GQ, Pattinson recounted his difficulty with improvising dance scenes with Jennifer Lawrence for Die My Love. He confessed that he struggled to dance on cue, while Lawrence and director Lynne Ramsey found it easy. Pattinson joked about needing choreography or wanting to cut the scene, feeling like he was going to have a "mental breakdown". He recalled them responding with, "Just dance, stop being a freak".
Pattinson also reflected on his workload, telling Icon that he realized, "At a certain point — maybe when you hit your 30s — you realize, 'I can't sit around waiting for my agent to call. I'll be dead'". Since 2020, Pattinson has appeared in only six movies, including voice work in the English dub of The Boy and the Heron. However, he has several upcoming projects, including Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, a film with Zendaya titled The Drama, and a sequel to The Batman, reportedly filming in 2026.
