Fame ‘just happened’ for Rob — and he’s still getting used to being in the spotlight! Can you believe he’s so down-to-earth?

After playing Edward Cullen in the Twilight series, Robert Pattinson is considered one of the world’s most desirable actors! Everywhere Rob goes, thousands of fans flock there to greet and meet him. But despite the extreme levels of fame that the 25-year-old Breaking Dawn and Water for Elephants actor has achieved, he remains as modest and sincere as the day he started acting!

“You know, seriously, I just never thought I’d have that kind of effect on anyone and I still don’t really understand it,” Rob tells the NZ Herald.

“I think the people who lose their minds are the ones who’ve been fighting to attain fame for years and years,” says Rob. “If and when they suddenly achieve it, they’re like, ‘yeah, I deserve everything I’ve got’. For me, I literally took a step in one direction, not knowing what I was doing at all. It just happened. So I can’t really claim anything.”

But Rob wouldn’t have been happy if he didn’t make it in Hollywood. “If I had come out to LA, not got a job and had to go back to London, it would have pissed me off,” Rob admits. “I wouldn’t have liked that, but I mean, this is extreme.”

When he first started out in the industry, few people knew his name. But today, R-Patz is widely popular.

“I was in New Mexico doing a road trip across the States with my friends. I didn’t get recognised at first, but then a woman recognised one of my friends because he was next to me in a paparazzi picture — from two years before,” Rob remembers. ”Literally, we were in the middle of nowhere and this woman turns around and screams, ‘aren’t you Robert Pattinson’s friends?’ Then her head turned again and she looked at me.”

“She was in shock,” Rob says. “This took place at a fairground outside of nowhere and I thought we’d have to find her an ambulance, which wouldn’t have been easy.”

But even though it’s totally flattering, Rob’s still adjusting to the limelight. ”It’s hard to walk down the street,” he admits. “You can’t just do it in a regular way. I have to think about my moves. I can’t just casually run out to the store to buy milk. I have to plan ahead and figure out if the paparazzi will be there.”

“I’m not complaining, but I will say, that if in 25 years’ time people are still screaming, ‘Edward!’ when they see me, I think I might murder someone,” Rob laughs.

Yet even though he may not love the fame, Rob will miss playing Edward Cullen. “I’ll be very glad not to put those contacts in anymore or have to put on the sparkling makeup, but I will really miss the character,” says Rob. “I do love the guy. I feel like I know him pretty well now.”

BFFs — do you think it’s cool that Rob’s so chill, even after all his success the past few years? Share your thoughts with us!

- Lindsey DiMattina

More R-Patz Stories:

1. Happy 25th B-Day Rob!
2. Reese Witherspoon Calls K-Stew R-Pat’z GF!
3. What Are R-Patz & K-Stew Doing For His B-Day!