Post-Twilight stardom

“We haven’t shot the scene yet,” the 24-year-old actor says. “I’m really not supposed to talk about it,” Pattinson says “but we did shoot what’s called the birth scene a few months ago,and it was really intense.”

As fans of the popular book series know,Bella’s at death’s door while giving birth to their first child. The only way for Edward to save her is by “turning” her,giving her eternal life but also the curse of vampirism.

“It was a pretty traumatic scene for me to do as an actor and,frankly,horrible for me emotionally,” Pattinson says. “It’s very sad.”

Like Daniel Radcliffe,Pattinson is in the process of saying goodbye to the character who made him famous. The first part of the finale is due this November,the second in November 2012.

“It’s really exciting to finish,” Pattinson says already thinking of his other projects. These movies are part of Pattinson’s answer to the question: will there be life for him after Twilight? Pattinson’s answer: definitely. He’s already starring in Water for Elephants,based on Sara Gruen’s best-selling novel,set in the 1930s due shortly. “It’s a romance,but fans had better not expect to see any vampires. Pattinson plays Jacob,a veterinary student who drops out of school after his parents are killed. He joins a travelling circus as their vet—and falls in love with the star equestrian (Reese Witherspoon),married to the ringmaster (Christoph Waltz).

And,yes,he did get to know some elephants up close and personal,most notably Tai,the lead elephant.

“In fact,I met Tai a few weeks before I accepted this role. I love that my job as an actor allows me to spend three months with elephants.”

As for his human co-star,Pattinson has nothing but good things to say about Witherspoon.

“She’s a very attentive actor,” he says. Their love scenes are pretty torrid onscreen,but on the set it was a different story.

“I had a horrible cold,” Pattinson recalled,“so I kept apologising to her. I didn’t want to sniff on her too much. I didn’t want to get her sick.”

It has to be a relief for the young actor to be dealing with a literal circus in his work,since his off screen life has been a figurative circus ever since Twilight (2008) made him an overnight teen idol. The tabloid stories about his reported relationship with Stewart – a relationship which neither will confirm or deny—by now number in the thousands.

“It’s hard to walk down the street,” Pattinson says. “You can’t just do it in a regular way. I have to think about my moves. My life is premeditated. I can’t just casually observe without being observed.”

Pattinson,who will turn 25 on May 13,isn’t used to such fame. He spent a quiet childhood in London with his two older sisters,his mother and his father,a car salesman. He first appeared as Cedric Diggory,the earnest young Hogwarts student whose death casts a shadow over the end of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005).

Then Catherine Hardwicke cast him as Edward Cullen in Twilight and his life changed.

With Twilight coming to an end,Pattinson has mixed feelings about saying goodbye to Edward Cullen.“I’ll be very glad not to put those contacts in anymore or have to put on the sparkling makeup,” he says.

“But I will really miss the character. It’s been amazing to play the same character through so many adventures.” If there is a Twilight revival,the actor says,he would certainly be open to the idea of resuming his role

“I do love the guy. I feel like I know him pretty well now,” Pattinson says.Cindy Pearlman