NZherald Robert Pattinson, the world’s most famous teen vampire, tells Michele Manelis
and Cindy Pearlman why he is pleased to finally say goodbye to Edward Cullen and
and his love for his new co-star.
Taking off his Twilight fangs has meant
Robert Pattinson can now sink his teeth into a diverse range of movie roles.
The first time I met Robert Pattinson, a few months shy of the release
of Twilight in 2008, he strolled into the lobby of the Beverly Hills hotel
completely unnoticed. No one had the slightest notion that his character, the
charismatic vampire Edward Cullen, would soon prevent him from sustaining any
kind of normality come the release of the film. He said back then, "I still
haven't decided if acting is going to be my career. I don't know if it's going
to work out. Who knows if people will go and see this movie?"'
As we
know, this would turn out to be an understatement of epic proportions. This
afternoon, three years later, we're in the same hotel but with a few changes to
the scenery. Two burly bodyguards stand protectively outside his door, a couple
of hundred paparazzi wait in the street and a horde of teenage girls are ready
to stampede.
Life hasn't turned out the way Pattinson expected. Reminding
him of what he said previously, he laughs. "You know, seriously, I just never
thought I'd have that kind of effect on anyone and I still don't really
understand it."
Although it's not unusual for British actors to speak
in a self-deprecating manner, Pattinson appears genuine.
Admirably, all
things considered, he's retained his sanity and isn't overly attached to his
status.
"I think the people who lose their minds are the ones who've
been fighting to attain fame for years and years," says the 24-year-old. "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."
