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Kellan Lutz On Twilight
The Twilight actor talks sequels and vampires | | | |
The Twilight books were already a phenomenon, but few of the young cast who landed roles in the movie can have expected to be screamed at quite as much as they have been. And one of the most-deafened is Kellan Lutz, who plays Emmet Cullen: the other quiet, brooding one and probably the most buffed-up of the vampire family. We talked to him for the release of the Twilight DVD on April 6, about getting cast, his role in sequel New Moon, and how he can’t get enough of hot fans...
What was it like being part of the Twilight experience?
You know what, it’s a blessing. There’s nothing that can compare to this, the fans are amazing. You could do a hundred projects and still not have the fans that are there for Twilight. I love my character, I love our cast so much and I loved Catherine, and working on New Moon with Chris is amazing. There are so many great things about it that I don’t think I could ever work on something that would top it.I hear a few of you were friends beforehand: did you all audition together?
I’ve know Ashley Greene for years and Jackson [Rathbone, aka Jasper]’s mother and my mother have been friends for a long time. It’s funny when him and me get together, we’re like: “What’s your mom doing? What’s my mom doing?” It’s funny having a friend like that, who feels like a brother because your parents are so close. I was actually away in Africa doing Generation Kill while everyone was auditioning for Twilight. They all had like five different auditions: I was so lucky that I came back from Africa just in time and the actor who was playing Emmett fell through, lucky for me! I just did my best because I loved the role. Then they flew me out to Oregon a couple of days behind, so they were already doing rehearsal, and I auditioned for Catherine and she was like: “You’re perfect. Alright, go!” Did they have trouble making you so pale after you’d been out in the heat filming Generation Kill?
I think they probably did. We had a crazy makeup process with this new airbrush that took about an hour to spray on. It made us look pale but it wasn’t the most fun experience sitting in the chair. We were just caked in white makeup: they did a great job making us look somewhat dead. Had you read the book before you were cast?
When I got the part Ashley came to hang out and she asked me if I had read the books, and I was like, “What books?” I really didn’t know! I thought she was kidding until she brought the books and I realized I had a lot of homework to do! I am so fidgety – I swear I have ADD – and I always need to be doing something or being outside, just playing sports. But I made myself read it and I just loved the series and kept on falling more and more in love with my character. I realised Emmett was supposed to have curly hair, and I was kind of bummed because I have naturally curly hair but it wouldn’t grow fast enough after being shaved for Generation Kill. But it is nice to change your appearance so you can kind of get lost in your character, so it was good having my hair dyed and being pale. What’s the response from the fans like? Are you what they imagined?
For 99% of them, I am. I couldn’t have asked for anything better, and it’s just very humbling to have them want to take pictures and get autographs and want hugs. Their comments would make any actor’s day amazing. Of course there’s the 1% that say, “He’s not the perfect Emmet because he doesn’t have curly hair”. But hey, I couldn’t do anything about that! And for New Moon we have to stay exactly the same. Vampires can’t exactly grow hair. How has the New Moon shoot been so far?
It’s been going great. Chris Weitz, the new director, has answers for every single thing we would have to bring to him and more. It’s really nice because he showed us what he envisioned the movie doing and ideas for certain scenes. It really painted a picture for us, so we could see how things would be going down. How different do you think it will be?
Really different. Not for better or worse though. Twilight is such a beautiful, artistic movie and coming from her particular directorial background, Catherine could tell that love story. Chris’ talent and great forte is in CGI – having done The Golden Compass – and that’s what we need when there are werewolves in there. Each movie is just so different. If they had been the same, then I’d be really bummed that Catherine wasn’t a part of it. But since they’re such totally different things, it’s nice to see someone in there who has more knowledge and a better understanding of the CGI that we needed for the storytelling. Is there any rivalry between you guys on set?
No, honestly: the guys were the best! I think there were a couple of quarrels with some of the girls here and there, but no big issue. But the guys, we were all totally cool and everyone is so different. Guys are guys; they usually get along. Did you have competitions to see who could do the meanest, moodiest, scariest eyes?
Yeah, Jackson does that! I won the push up competition. And Rob definitely won the sexiest British accent! Do you make fun of Robert Patterson on set because of the fan attention?
We all feel for him because he such a shy, compassionate person in real life, not cocky at all. He’s been thrown into a fire of girls as this teen heartthrob. He’s handling it very well but I just don’t think he knew what was going to come of it. It’s just funny watching him try and talk to the fans: he does a great job, but he lowers his head when he is shy, and the girls love it! But you can tell he’s being so honest and earnest. Do you all get different types of fans?
I think fans are just obsessed with the Twilight saga and then within it they might have preferences between if they’re Team Jacob, Team Edward or Team Jasper. It just comes down to them loving the whole thing, and if they can get any of the boys from the book they are fine with that. And do you ever go for fans?
You try and make relationship with these fans, but the show runners [at conventions] only allow you 5 seconds to sign the autograph or take the picture, so it’s tough. Some people stand out that you see more than once, but you end up signing something and then thinking “Oh wait, I can’t put a heart there!” My best friends come with me and point out the hot girls and then they start talking to them. The whole time I’m like: “Wow, he found a cute one for himself. Typical!”
Interview by Emily Phillips
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