With lusty, and lustful, teenage screams of “Bite me!” audible from the opposite side of London, it was clear last night that the undead were in town. Yes, it was the premiere of vampire/teen romance Twilight, fresh from taking the US by storm and ready to sink its teeth into the UK. With the stars in town, we got to see exactly why Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson have made such an impact as Bella Swan and Edward Cullen.
Stewart arrived first, and sung the praises of the massive crowd who gathered in Leicester Square to see the pair walk the black carpet. “This is better than the premiere in LA - we were told to expect something smaller, so this is awesome.”
She also discussed the amazing response to the movie: “I’m used to doing movies that no one ever sees, so this is everything I have ever wanted on the grandest scale!” But she's not exactly embracing her newfound fame: “I totally don’t deal with it. Some people have a problem with that and some people like it.”
Talking about the making of the movie, she told us “We were so obsessed with this thing for so long; it was so fun but it was so heavy.” And she revealed a blooper you probably won’t see on the DVD: “Robert (Pattinson) tried to pick me up in the big fight climax scene in the ballet studio, and he pulled his groin. It was hilarious though, ‘cause he like falls out of frame, and his legs are all over the top. It was really funny. He was hurt, but he was laughing.”
Next along was Christopher Mintz-Plasse, who doesn't appear in Twilight but is currently in town filming Kick-Ass. Escorted by flame-haired screenwriter Jane Goldman, he joked: “I wrote all seventeen books of Twilight. I just fantasise about men who are vampires with no fangs and have reflections and can walk in sunlight.” Changing tack, he then claimed: “I auditioned, I was runner up to Robert: he looked younger than I did so he got the part.” Speaking slightly more seriously about his current project, he said: “Kick-Ass is going great; it’s going to be amazing. The film is wrapping this week.”
While Mintz-Plasse was clearly McLovin’ the attention, the star of the show – and the sexiest man in the world according to teenage girls everywhere – Robert Pattinson continued to be taken aback by the insane response from fans. “It is loud, and kind of intimidating. When people are screaming in your face it’s hard to know what to make of it.” Of the crowds, he remarked: “They camp out overnight. I don’t understand. There’s nothing I’ve ever been that fanatical about!”
Talking about his upcoming role in Little Ashes as Salvador Dali he said: “It was like complete opposite. That was a little tiny movie and this has become a huge franchise.”
He finished off with some tantalising titbits about his current dating status, revealing that although he is not “prowling around” for a girl, he is also not dating Camilla Belle as has been rumoured (girls all over the globe can now share a collective sigh of relief). Apparently ladies these days go about chatting him up in a very different manner than before: “Now it’s like (in theatrical American girl voice) “Oh I’m such a big fan!”” He also noted, of his vampire alter-ego: “I haven’t bitten anyone tonight but I have done before. I have been known for a little nibble.”