Interview with Taylor Lautner!

Yup, you read that right! It’s blistering hot in LA, and we’re in one of the swankiest hotels in the uber-posh Beverly Hills area of the city. Celebs crowd around the pool, and the lobby is full of Paris Hilton types.

We head upstairs to wait for Taylor. He’s running late because his car got a flat tyre on the way over, but after a 12-hour flight, a few more minutes waiting for his hotness is no big deal.

Finally, it’s Taylor time! Oh man. Those eyes—they’re just as dark, gorgeous and deep as Stephenie Meyer described Jacob Black’s. He’s wearing dark jeans, Nike shoes, a black T-shirt and a grey cardigan, and his hair is spiked up to perfection. He has a slightly scary-looking PR person in tow, working a power suit and carrying the kind of handbag that we’d have to save up for five Christmasses to afford.

The thing you first notice about Taylor is that he likes to laugh. A lot. He doesn’t seem nervous, so it’s easy to forget that he’s only 17 and actually, this is kinda crazy for someone so young to deal with. He’s certainly more mature than most lads his age. Maybe it’s because he’s famous, maybe it’s because he’s hot. Perhaps Hollywood makes you grow up fast. Who knows? But he seems like a mellow, chilled out, happy sort of guy. He’s here to charm us, and he does his job to perfection.

Amazing to meet you, Taylor! Apart from beefing up that body of yours, what was the biggest change for you from Twilight to New Moon?

“Jacob’s role continues where it started in Twilight for the first half of the movie, but then I transform into a wolf and it all goes downhill from there! [Big laugh] I become a totally different person, which is good because it’s challenging and I like that.”

What was the atmosphere like on set?

“Oh, it was tons of fun. We all get along really well, and we definitely felt more comfortable on this one. We were all excited to be back to work, then we had eight weeks off, and now we’re back at work on Eclipse!”

Did you have fans trying to sneak on set this time around?

“I was actually surprised. The Twilight set was a lot different to the New Moon set. Because no one really knew what Twilight was before, we didn’t have fans flying in from Germany and Australia. This time, some actually got onto the set. They’d come to base camp and say, ‘Oh, I’m friends with Nikki Reed,’ and somehow they got let in and snuck up onto the set. They’re quite a range of ages! [Big laugh]”

Is it true that fans ask you to growl at them?

“A few…”

Do you oblige?

“I did once, but it was extremely embarrassing so I never did it again! It came out badly so I was like, ‘You know what, I’m sorry but you’re just going to have to wait for the film.’”

How did the vibe on set compare to Twilight?

“It was a little different for the first few weeks, but it’s been great to have the opportunity to work with different directors and see their contrasting styles. I’d say Catherine [Hardwicke, who directed the last film] is more spontaneous, she was a lot of fun on set. Chris [Weitz, New Moon director] is definitely more internal and thinks about things, he meets with us and writes us letters. Now we have David Slade, so I can’t wait to get to know him.”

What was your least favourite bit of New Moon?

“I didn’t even get the chance to go to Italy with the rest of the cast” Jacob and the wolves hang out in the Pacific Northwest. They don’t go to Europe!”

Who are you closest to in the cast?

“I honestly can’t pick just one person. If you asked me to make a list, I’s probably go through the whole cast. We all get on really great, on set and off. I don’t know how we’d do this series if we weren’t so close. That’s why we were so looking forward to Eclipse, because we get to hang out together again.”

Jacob and the wolf pack are telepathic. Would you like to be able to read your mate’s mind?

“I think I’d say yes, but I’m sure I’d change my mind later! I’d be like, ‘Yeah, of course.’ And then it’d be too much information! Edward actually deals with that all the time in Eclipse. He’s always reading Jacob’s mind and he can’t help it. He’s reading Jacob being in love with Bella, and he wishes he could block Jacob out but he can’t. So I’m sure it would become quite annoying.”

Do your mates treat you any differently now you’re famous?

“Luckily, they’re still the same, they’re all very supportive.”

Do some people try to be your friend just because of Twilight?

“I haven’t really noticed, but I’m sure it has happened a lot.”

Could you cope with being immortal, like Edward?

“I don’t know. Maybe!”

Which is your favourite book of the saga?

“Probably Eclipse, because it’s the highest point of the love triangle, when the three of them are together and there are a lot of funny scenes. I’m not the biggest reader, but I really enjoyed the series and I’ve read it a couple of times.”

Can you imagine life after Twilight?

“I haven’t even started to think about that yet. It’s a ride and I’m enjoying every moment of it.”