Robert Pattinson is no stranger to pushing his limits when preparing for a role.
While he doesn’t consider himself a method actor, his approach to getting into character often involves extreme and unconventional techniques.
Whether it’s obsessing over a single line or fully immersing himself in a character’s lifestyle, the Batman star has made headlines for his intense dedication.
Obsessing Over a Single Line in The Drama
In his latest film, The Drama, a romantic comedy-drama alongside Zendaya, Pattinson found himself spiraling over a particular scene.
He recently revealed that he spent three days meticulously analyzing a single line, writing out pages of textual interpretations in an attempt to uncover hidden meaning.
Feeling overwhelmed, he turned to his co-star Zendaya for reassurance.
“We had a scene together that was driving me crazy,” he told Premiere.
“The night before filming, I called Zendaya and talked for two hours about my doubts. Eventually, she just calmly told me, ‘The line means exactly what it says.’”
Reflecting on the moment, he laughed at his own overthinking, admitting, “And there I was, losing my mind for three days.”
Extreme Measures for The Lighthouse
This isn’t the first time Pattinson has gone to great lengths for a role.
While filming The Lighthouse in 2019 alongside Willem Dafoe, he fully embraced the physical and mental exhaustion of his character, Thomas Howard.
He described being “basically unconscious” throughout the filming process due to his commitment to playing a perpetually inebriated man.
In one particularly intense moment, he forced himself to vomit repeatedly on set.
However, his co-star Willem Dafoe wasn’t too thrilled about the method.
“Willem told me, ‘If he throws up on me, I’m leaving the set,’” Pattinson recalled in an interview with Esquire.
He also admitted to peeing himself on set to stay in character.
“It was the most revolting thing,” he said, adding that his director had to intervene at one point because Dafoe was visibly disturbed by his antics.
Despite his extreme dedication, Pattinson never let the role consume his off-screen life.
“After a take, you’re just exhausted,” he explained.
“I don’t know how you’d bring that kind of intensity home with you.”
Living in a Basement for Good Time
Pattinson’s dedication was equally intense for his role in the 2017 film Good Time.
To fully embody the desperate life of his character, a New York robber, he decided to live in a basement apartment in Harlem for two months.
He kept the curtains shut, didn’t change his sheets, and even slept in his character’s clothes every night.
“There was this woman upstairs who kept peeking in because she thought I was some kind of freak,” he shared.
His diet was just as grim—he survived solely on canned tuna, hot sauce, and Nespresso capsules.
Despite the grueling experience, the effort paid off.
Good Time received a standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, proving that his immersion in the role resonated with audiences.
Taking Inspiration from Animals for The Batman
Even in blockbuster films, Pattinson’s unique approach shines through.
For The Batman (2022), he studied real bats to perfect his movement during fight scenes.
Inspired by a Planet Earth documentary, he watched how vampire bats flapped around in a cage to terrorize their prey.
“The bat would flap around for an hour until the chicken inside the cage got so scared it fell asleep,” he told Jimmy Kimmel.
He then incorporated that frantic, unsettling energy into his portrayal of Gotham’s vigilante.
What’s Next for Pattinson?
Most recently, Pattinson took on a futuristic role in the sci-fi comedy Mickey 17.
While he hasn’t revealed whether he used any extreme techniques for this film, given his track record, it wouldn’t be surprising if he did.
As one of Hollywood’s most committed actors, Pattinson continues to challenge himself—and sometimes, his co-stars—with his immersive approach to acting.
Whether he’s analyzing scripts for days, sleeping in a basement, or making himself sick for a role, one thing is certain: he’ll always give it his all.