Taylor-Made for Lautner

BEVERLY HILLS — When Jacob Black becomes very, very angry and turns into a werewolf, you know that no other actor could give justice to the role better than Taylor Lautner. I think if he were an animal, Taylor would be a werewolf, a friendly one (if there’s any), although he insisted that although the Jacob Black character in the Twilight Saga has become so close to him, the reel character and the real persona are poles apart. “I do get angry but I don’t turn into a werewolf,” said Taylor in jest during our one-on-one at a function room of Four Seasons for Breaking Dawn 1, the fourth in Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer, coming after Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse. Watch full video

The fourth and final book is too long that it just has to be split into two movies, with Breaking Dawn 2 coming out next year yet. Directed by Bill Condon (Dreamgirls, Gods and Monsters), Breaking Dawn Part 1 is now showing nationwide, also released locally by Pioneer Films like New Moon and Eclipse (and Breaking Dawn Part 2).

The Jacob Black character was “Taylor-made” for Lautner. He has the looks for it (notice how his thick eyebrows conjure up an image of an angry werewolf) and the body which he worked so hard to develop. In fact, he seemed destined for the role, perhaps just as his co-stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart were, he for vampire Edward Cullen and she for the human-turned-vampire Bella Swan.

I leave it to you to find out what happens to the trio in the current movie which is guaranteed to keep you glued to your seats and your eyes to the screen — unblinking! — even if you have read the book.

Taylor turned 19 last Feb. 11. He has (as if you Twi-hards didn’t know) brown eyes and brown hair, stands 5’10.5” (and growing). Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he is part-Dutch, part-German and Native American. His favorite sports are football, basketball and baseball. His mouth waters at the sight and smell of Mexican and Chinese food. “I love steaks,” he said.

Why did I say that Taylor was destined for the Jacob Black role? It’s in his background. At age six, he began studying karate and, by age seven, he was winning martial arts tournaments. He trained with seven-time world karate champion Mike Chat. By age eight, Taylor represented the USA at the World Karate Association championships. He became a Junior World Forms and Weapons champion, winning three gold medals. At age 11, he was ranked No. 1 in the world in several categories and went on to add three Junior World Championships under his black belt.

During Conversations’ first two interviews with Taylor (for New Moon and Eclipse), he described himself in three words: Outgoing, friendly and energetic.

That’s what he was during our third close encounter.

How different is Breaking Dawn 1 and 2 from the first three Twilight movies?

“This one is a little different. You know, even when you read the book you can tell that it has a totally different tone and feel than any of the previous ones. My character specifically, he grows up a lot in this movie and it’s exciting for me as an actor. Breaking Dawn 1 and 2 are the most challenging for me but it was fun to make and I’m very happy with the outcome.”

As you said, Jacob Black has grown up a lot in the Saga. How have you grown up as a person since the start of the Saga four years ago when you were barely 16?

“I think Jacob and I have grown up together. We all started making the Saga at a very young age and, you know, we’ve grown up not only as actors but also as persons. It has really helped up a lot; it has given us the opportunity to go off into other things. It’s great because we’ve all been in this together. We’ve gone through the same things at the same time, and it has been a really special experience.”

With Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in Breaking Dawn 1, now showing nationwide (released locally by Pioneer Films)

Lessons learned through the Twilight years?

“The biggest lesson I’ve probably learned is just hard work. As much fun as we had making these movies required a lot of hard work. But you know, it’s definitely worth it.”

Do you go into a special training specifically for the Saga before the start of the shoot?

“Yes, I do. For the Twilight movies, yes. Jacob has a specific thing going on so I had to maintain a certain kind of body throughout filming and when the shoot was done, I would go back to normal a little bit. I didn’t really have to keep up the ‘Jacob Black regimen.’”

What do you mean going back to normal?

“I mean, now I don’t have to force-feed myself every two hours. I don’t have to be in the gym six days a week. I’ve always been a healthy eater so I still eat healthy. I always play sports.”

And what is the ‘”Jacob Black regimen”?

“Rigorous workout and strict diet. You know, doing a lot of weight-lifting but not so much cardio exercises. I observe a high-protein/carbs diet, and less of sugar definitely. I eat small meals every two hours so I have something to burn when I work out.”

Is it hard to maintain your kind of body?

“Oh yes, it is! What I’ve learned is that it’s just as hard to maintain this kind of body as to get it in the first place. It’s hard because we’ve been traveling a lot and sometimes I hardly have time to go to the gym and to follow the eating-a-small-meal-every-two-hours routine. But then, I just have to do it.”

Now that the Saga has been completed, what will you miss most about it?

“I think what I will miss the most is the filming process. Oh yes, it was tough especially the last two days of filming Breaking Dawn 2 because it was just so surreal. I think it didn’t really hit me, and all of us, until the last two days of the shoot that we were done with it, that we were not coming back. It felt weird! The consolation is that we’re still together promoting the movies until Breaking Dawn 2 is shown next year.” (Note: Taylor has recently done a “non-Twilight” movie, the thriller Abduction which he himself co-produced under Quick Six Entertainment, his own company. He is ranked among Hollywood’s young earners, pocketing $34M in 2010 according to a People magazine report.)

Robert and Kristen said that the Twilight guys have become like a family and that, among other things, was what they would miss the most.

Whether fully-clothed or half-naked, Taylor exudes a unique kind of sexiness.

“For one thing, I really enjoy playing Jacob Black. But like Robert and Kristen, I will also miss the Twilight family because we’ve become super-close. It was such a memorable experience for us to be hanging out every day for three months. We got along so well that we became like brothers and sisters. When we reported on the set, it felt like we were just going back to camping.”

You said in a previous interview that Jacob Black has become close to you. In what way do you identify yourself with him?

“Uhm, you know, Jacob Black is short-tempered and I’m not like that at all. When he gets angry, he becomes a werewolf. I hope it doesn’t happen to me in real life.”

Will you find it hard to get Jacob Black out of your system? To the Twi-hards, you will always be Jacob Black.

“It’s a good question because, you know, being the character that you’re playing is a part of being an actor. But you’ve got to shed the character the moment you go into another one. As an actor, you play one character and being something different. We’re very thankful for this because it gives us the chance to play one role and go to other things, play other roles. I look forward to doing something very different now.”

During our last interview, I asked you what your ideal girl was and you said…

He has been linked to a few girls, two of them Selena Gomez (top) and Taylor Swift (above).

“…yes, I like a girl who can be herself.” (Note: Taylor has been romantically linked to Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift.)

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