Robert Pattinson: Being a dad makes life 'more fun'

Robert Pattinson, the well-known British actor, recently expressed that becoming a father has made his life 'more fun'. The 38-year-old star and his partner, Suki Waterhouse, who is 33, welcomed their first child in March of last year. During the London premiere of his latest film, Mickey 17, Pattinson shared with BBC News that he had anticipated feeling less adventurous after the birth of his daughter. However, he found that fatherhood has brought him immense joy. He humorously remarked, 'If someone told me I was going to die in a week, I'd be like, 'What? I want to spend some more time with my kid'. ' This statement highlights the deep love he has for his child and how it has shifted his outlook on life. Pattinson is starring in Mickey 17, a film directed by the acclaimed Bong Joon Ho, who is famous for his previous work on the Oscar-winning film Parasite. The new movie is based on the 2022 novel Mickey 7 by Edward Ashton. The plot revolves around a financially struggling man who volunteers to be an 'expendable' crew member on a perilous mission to colonize an icy planet. Each time he dies, he is cloned, and all of his memories are preserved. This intriguing premise raises significant questions about existence, mortality, and the nature of memory. At the world premiere held at Leicester Square in London, fans, particularly young women, erupted in excitement at the sight of Pattinson, who is affectionately known as 'R-Patz'. Two fans, Mia, 23, and Ellie, 22, shared that they had braved the chilly weather for hours just to see him. Mia expressed, 'We've been fans for years. ' Another enthusiastic fan, Jia, held up a bright sign that read, 'I love you R-Patz' in hopes of catching the actor's attention. Pattinson gained widespread fame after portraying the vampire Edward Cullen in the Twilight series, where he starred alongside Kristen Stewart. Prior to that, he captured the hearts of many as Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Since then, he has taken on various roles in major films, including The Batman and Christopher Nolan's Tenet, as well as a selection of unique indie films. When asked if he feels he has distanced himself from the brooding vampire character that initially made him famous, Pattinson responded, 'I think every part is hopefully still a part of you. ' He finds it remarkable that people continue to discuss Twilight, stating, 'It's insane to me that people still talk about it, I mean, Twilight was a long time ago. ' This reflects his appreciation for the lasting impact that film had on his career. Bong Joon Ho, the director of Mickey 17, is one of South Korea's most celebrated filmmakers. His film Parasite made history by being the first non-English-language film to win the Best Picture Oscar. Parasite is a sharp social commentary about two families from vastly different social classes and is regarded as one of the greatest films of this century. There is considerable anticipation surrounding how Bong Joon Ho will follow up such a monumental success. He mentioned that the team worked diligently on Mickey 17 and that the performances from the actors are exceptional. He is eager for audiences to experience the film. Bong also conveyed that the film's message is straightforward: 'Whether it's the future, or going into outer space, humans must live genuinely human lives. ' He expressed optimism about the future of South Korean cinema and television, believing they will gain even more popularity. Mickey 17 features a talented cast, including American actors Mark Ruffalo and Steven Yeun, British actress Naomi Ackie, and Australian star Toni Collette. Ruffalo shared that the opportunity to work with Bong was a significant factor in his decision to join the project, stating, 'He's just one of the greatest auteurs living today, his style, his voice, his visuals, his casting. ' Collette echoed this sentiment, expressing her excitement about collaborating with such a remarkable filmmaker. Pattinson's voice performance in the film has also been generating buzz online. Some fans were surprised by his unique accent, with one YouTube user commenting, 'For a second, I thought it was a different actor speaking. ' Pattinson is known for experimenting with different accents, but he admitted he was unsure of the inspiration behind his voice in Mickey 17. He explained that it was influenced by some cartoons and the challenge of adopting an American accent while surrounded by English and Korean individuals. As fans shouted 'R-Patz' from across the red carpet, Pattinson laughed and shared that he has grown to accept the nickname. He stated, 'I think the older you get, you can call me whatever you want. It's fine. ' Mickey 17 is set to be released in UK cinemas on March 7.