Taylor Lautner recalls ‘difficult’ rivalry with ‘Twilight’ co-star Robert Pattinson: We never ‘connected’
Taylor Lautner has given rare comments about his time filming Twilight, revealing he didn’t have a close relationship with one of his leading co-stars.
Movies
Don't miss out on the headlines from Movies. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Twilight actor Taylor Lautner has revealed he “never really connected” with co-star Robert Pattinson, adding the media-hyped Team Edward vs. Team Jacob debate didn’t help.
The US star — who played hunky wolf shapeshifter Jacob Black in the iconic movie franchise — revealed his true feelings about the years-old character rivalry and how it affected his relationship with UK actor Robert Pattinson — who famously portrayed the mysterious Edward Cullen — on Wednesday’s episode of the ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast.
“I don’t know for him, but for me at least it definitely, like, especially at the age I was at, like, you get your feelings hurt sometimes when you shouldn’t,” he explained to podcast host Alex Cooper about being pit against Pattinson, reports the New York Post.
“But it’s hard not to sometimes. But, yeah, it was a little difficult.”
Lautner, 31, added, “I think it was awkward at times for the two of us to be standing together on a balcony and having 10,000 girls booing Rob but then cheering for me but then this half, you know, booing me and cheering [for Rob], but then us having to have some sort of friendship. It was difficult.”
Lautner also revealed he never formed a close relationship with Pattinson, 37, because they are “very, very different people.”
“We never really connected on a deep level just because we’re different humans,” he explained, noting that his co-star “was always fantastic and the sweetest person ever.”
Despite the discomfort he often felt during his Twilight fame, Lautner said he looks back on the time with gratitude.
“There’s pros and cons to what [Twilight] gave me, but the pros far outweigh the cons,” the Squeeze co-host noted.
“It took a journey after the franchise was over with figuring out who I really am and what is truly important to me in life. I’m very, very thankful for the franchise.”
Surprisingly, Lautner also revealed that he nearly got cut after the first movie and had to fight to keep his role.
“My character in the first book is supposed to be like this 16-year-old, little scrawny boy,” he recalled.
“And then in the middle of [sequel] New Moon he transforms into this … built muscular man.”
Therefore, the casting team planned from the beginning to replace him with a huskier man to better portray the more built Jacob Black.
In addition to reauditioning for his role, the Sharkboy and Lavagirl star spent nine months packing on about 11.4kg to better mirror his character.
His efforts paid off and he remained in the role of Jacob Black for the remaining three films.
Lautner is still ripped to this day and even called out critics in June who accused him of ageing “like a raisin” by taking to social media to flex his biceps.
This story originally appeared on New York Post and was reproduced with permission
Originally published as Taylor Lautner recalls ‘difficult’ rivalry with ‘Twilight’ co-star Robert Pattinson: We never ‘connected’
Hollywood star lists Sydney unit for $1m
Aussie Hollywood star Isla Fisher has just put up her Sydney apartment for sale, with a guide price pegged at a cool $1 million.
Star on rumoured Pulp Fiction sequel
As he unveils his latest Hollywood role, star Samuel L Jackson reflects on whether he’d work with Quentin Tarantino again – and reveals the Pulp Fiction director has ‘just disappeared’.