IMDB, the movie monitor and information website, has announced its top stars of 2009, and Robert Pattinson is number 1. Critics didn’t make the decision – the 57 million people that visit the site did, their clicks landing on Pattinson every time.

Rob swoops to the top from position 33 last year.

“The man once best known as doomed Cedric Diggory in ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ rocketed into the stratosphere as moody-sexy vampire Edward Cullen in the ‘Twilight’ films,” IMDB remarked.

Pattinson has “developed a fervent following of both fans and photographers who couldn't get enough of his sparkly skin, wayward hair, and magnetic screen presence. With the third Twilight film coming this summer, expect no downward turn in his popularity,” the website commentary added.

At number 1, Pattinson steps into Johnny Depp’s shoes. Last year IMDB’s top four men were all men, with Depp at the top and just one woman – Angelie Jolie – at number five.

In 2009 there was more equality between the sexes. Pattinson’s “Twilight” co-star Kristen Stewart was second, Johnny Depp third, Megan Fox fourth and Taylor Lautner fifth.

Gerard Butler was the only other actor with Irish roots to see the top 20. He came in at number 13, down from the tenth spot last year.