Interview: Robert Pattinson

While Remember Me is not exactly Fight Club, there are enough fists flying in Robert Pattinson’s direction in his latest movie to make the intimidating neck nibbler Cullen in Twilight seem more like a girly guy vampire in comparison. Stopping by for this casual conversation with surprisingly cheerful, unassuming and down to earth appeal for someone whose entry into the U.S. ranks with the mass female swooning once reserved for The Beatles, Pattinson readily dismissed any notions of superstardom, though hinting strongly at enthusiastic feelings of flattery when fans inevitably compare him to James Dean. The still decidedly boyish, playful star also reflected on the pros and cons of fame, including bullies targeting him for his acting aspirations, literally beating himself up for losing a fight on screen even if it is only make believe, and the ordeal of staying as stoic as possible while being strangled by Chris Cooper in a movie.

Q: Now, how did you like this acting experience, compared to biting in a movie?

ROBERT PATTINSON: Well, I could be doing a little biting in this movie, in those fights! No, it was great, especially not having to put all that makeup on. Yeah, that was one of the main things. But I read this script after the first Twilight film, and it was always in the back of my mind. I don’t know, there was something different about this. You know, it didn’t fit into like a typical teen movie thing. And I never read anything like it.

Q: In what way?

RP: It seemed quite realistic. And the character seemed realistic, and I really connected to it. But I don’t really know why!

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Q: Your character Tyler has lots of anger issues and conflicts with his parents. Do you have any of those kinds of pathologies?

RP: Ha! Not really. I’ve known a lot of kids who are troubled teenagers and stuff. But their families always seem really nice and supportive around them. And it’s just this kind of unknown. You know, you have this energy that doesn’t really, you don’t know where to place it. But I don’t think I have any particular problems myself, in that respect!

Q: How did you feel about doing those fight scenes, and acting with your fists instead of words?

RP: I loved it! Because I never do stuff like that in reality! So in a lot of ways it was quite…cathartic! But with Chris Cooper, I don’t know how I’d feel if I had to fight back. I was continually being beaten up by him! But yeah, it was quite daunting.

Q: How so?

RP: It’s hard. Especially being strangled! It’s really difficult to look like what’s actually happening! Because when you’re being strangled…nothing is really happening! You just sort of stand there.

Because I was experimenting with myself! You know, just before we shot it. And I don’t really know what the face is supposed to be, when you’re being strangled.

Q: Have you ever been in a fight before?

RP: I’ve been beaten up a few times.

Q: Who beat you up?

RP: A lot of people! When I was younger.

Q: How come?

RP: I was a bit of an idiot when I was younger. But always unprovoked. In my eyes, anyway!

Q: Like school bullies?

RP: No, I never got beat up by school bullies. It was after school. It was generally after I started acting. And I liked to…behave like an actor! Or what I thought was an actor. Which generally provoked a lot of people into hitting me!

Q: But were you hurt in those fight scenes?

RP: No, not at all. But they did cut out of the movie, where I kind of flipped out afterward. You know, from my own impotence. You walk into this big confrontation, and just end up being completely destroyed by your competitor.

And I was doing this thing, like hitting myself afterwards. Like in a spur of the moment thing! Which they cut out of the movie. But I hit myself so hard, I was in pain for the rest of the shoot! It was the most stupid thing I’ve ever done!

Q: And how about when you go nuts on that little girl in the school, because she’s tormenting your baby sister?

RP: There was one take on that which they had to cut out. Because it looked like I’d go to jail, not only for vandalism, but for child abuse as well! Because I spun her desk around, and the desk fell over. And she ran out of the classroom, even though she wasn’t supposed to! And when we tried to continue on with the scene, I was like, “Oh my god, I’m actually going to get arrested for this!”

But it was great. Though she looked absolutely terrified afterwards! But it was quite fun.

Q: Now that apartment you live in as a student in this movie…

RP: I loved that apartment. It was just a little bit messy! But I thought I could come to NY and just hang out at NYU, and pick up mannerisms. But it ended up being more of a circus than I thought it would be. I did know a lot of people who went to NYU as well, so that made it easier. But when you see college movies, it’s always like about a beer hall. And I was like, “This can’t be real!”