British schoolboy Robert Pattinson became Hollywood's hot new star alongside Kristen Stewart in Twilight

Dec 31 2008

relate to him." Robert is nothing if not pragmatic. A professional actor for seven years, he even had to pay his own school fees.

"I was at a small private school in London," he says. "I wasn't very academic. My dad said to me, 'OK, you might as well leave, since you're not working very hard'. When I told I him wanted to stay on for my A-levels, he said I'd have to pay my own fees, then he'd pay me back if I got good grades."

Robert did - an A and two Bs - but his father didn't pay, which must rankle.

Robert says of the car salesman: "My dad told me a lot of stories. I would never buy a car from him."

But it's clear Robert will have to answer to his family if he displays the slightest sign of diva-like behaviour.

Robert's aunt Monica Weller, from Leatherhead, Surrey, said: "My sister is going to make sure the fame does not go to his head." But she added: "Robert has wanted to be an actor for as long as I can remember. We are all really proud of him."

Robert readily owns up to the fact that he aspires to be Jack Nicholson and Twilight - his first lead role - is set to make him a superstar.

Happily, Robert isn't quite perfect. His American film bosses insisted