Interview

MARTIN: Do they scream and rend their garments?

LAUTNER: We’ve met many different fans: the criers, who come around quite often; the hyperventilators who stop breathing and have to have a medic come. We’ve definitely seen some passion.

MARTIN: How does it feel to be the source of that sort of worship?

LAUTNER: I don’t even know. I don’t know if it’s really hit me yet. They’re just passionate for the series and for the characters, and we’re just lucky enough to be a part of this. I don’t think it has much to do with me personally; it’s more because I’m playing the beloved Jacob Black.

MARTIN: Were you a Twilight fan before?

LAUTNER: I was not a vampire or werewolf fan at all. I’d never even heard of the series. I auditioned for the role, and as soon as I got it, I started reading the books. I’m not a reader, but I really did get hooked on them.

MARTIN: Do you hang out with Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart?

LAUTNER: The whole cast is really close. It would be difficult for our characters if we weren’t. It’s a love triangle, and we need to understand each other. So the fact that we’re close and can talk things through in rehearsals, and if we’re out at dinner, we’ll just randomly start talking about the scene we’re shooting the next day . . . If we weren’t able to do those things, I don’t know where we’d be.

MARTIN: What’s in store for that love triangle?

LAUTNER: Twilight develops the relationship between Edward and Bella. In New Moon, Edward leaves, and Bella needs someone to bring her out of this depression she’s in, so she turns to her best friend, Jacob. It looks like it could go past friends. Bella’s very confused. Jacob wants nothing more than to be more than friends. He wants Edward to get out of there so he can move in for the kill.

MARTIN: So to speak . . .

LAUTNER: Yeah. Bella’s torn. She’s still in love with Edward, but she’s kind of fallen for Jacob, too. When I read the books, I felt bad for Jacob, because he can’t have what he wants. I understand Jacob’s pain but also Bella’s pain—how she’s confused and torn between the two.

MARTIN: You understood that from personal experience?

LAUTNER: From getting into the character and being surrounded by these really talented actors.

MARTIN: What would you like to do next?

LAUTNER: I love action films. I’d love to do an action drama. I’m always looking to give my character something action-oriented to do.

MARTIN: Is the third Twilight movie happening, and are you in it?

LAUTNER: Yeah. We’re all staying focused on New Moon right now, but that’s in the back of our minds.

MARTIN: What would you be doing if not acting?

LAUTNER: I always played sports when I was young. I played football and baseball for eight years. I loved football. So maybe I’d be doing some kind of sport. I also loved writing and directing. So maybe that could be in my future too. I’d love to get into that.

MARTIN: You want to be a screenwriter?

LAUTNER: Possibly. Right now I’m an actor. But I could see that in my future.

MARTIN: You’ve got some time.

LAUTNER: Yeah, I’ve got a few years ahead of me.

Michael Martin is a New York City–based writer and frequent contributor to Interview.