Kevin Spacey denies reports Kate Moss will appear in his theatre work

Actor/director Kevin Spacey has denied reports of him approaching supermodel Kate Moss to appear in one of his upcoming London plays.

Spacey, 50, who serves as artistic director at the city's Old Vic theatre, is said to have taken Moss, 36, out to dinner earlier this month in a bid to convince her to take on a stage role.

But the American Beauty star has insisted on his Twitter.com page that there's "not a grain of truth" in the rumours.

"Great to hang w/ (with) Kate Moss last wk (week) but not sure where stories of her treading boards at the Old Vic came from. Not a grain of truth in it!" the Daily Star quoted him as writing.

Katrina in London with Ranbir 30 Dec, 2009 11:15 am ISTlTNN Print EMail Discuss Share Save Comment Text: Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif I

Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif If sources are to be believed Katrina is recuperating in London with her family, but a reliable London source informs that to everybody’s surprise she is actually in New York. Coincidentally Ranbir Kapoor is also in New York shooting for Sajid Nadiadwala’s Anjaana Anjaani.

Post her surgery in Mumbai, Katrina flew off to London claiming to spend New Year’s Eve with her family. Katrina, who ushers in the New Year with her mother and siblings each year, was thrilled about the family reunion because she was looking forward to playing with her sister’s little son. But with Katrina in London, it surely raises questions about their relationship.

There is a huge debate as to how her visit to New York wasn’t out and how everybody knew that she was in London. When called up in London at her grandmother’s place, a relative informed that Katrina is in New York.

However Katrina said that she was very much in London. It is just a joke in about me being in New York because she is harassed by many calls.

Kaif also skipped her ex- boyfriend Salman Khan’s birthday in favour of New York. Ranbir and Katrina met on the sets of ‘Raajneeti’ but their friendship really took off when they shot Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani. Ranbir has been in an ‘on-off relationship’ with Deepika Padukone while Katrina’s relationship with Salman Khan has slowly taken a setback.

Ajay's act in 'London Dreams' modelled on Bono

Ajay Devgan as a rock star strumming away the heated strings on stage is a hard act to swallow. Not for Vipul Shah who has modelled the Bollywood star's act on the Irish singer Bono in his forthcoming movie 'London Dreams'.

'So far we've only seen him in a sedate or comic image, never as someone who can cross the frontiers and do something outrageous,' Shah, who hasn't quite converted the actor in an outrageously punky rock star, told IANS.

'No, not quite the reckless renegade. I've modelled Ajay's rock act on Bono, the Irish lead singer from U2. Bono was never your quintessential rock star. He had a more sober and a less wild image. When Ajay gets on stage in 'London Dreams', he replicates the curbed tempered-down rock-star's image of U2. Yes, I modelled him on Bono.'

The gritty sweaty ambience, the riveting guitar licks, the angst-filled vocals and the screaming hysterical fans... Ajay goes through the rock motions in the film with elan.

Interestingly, Salman Khan has no particular image in 'London Dreams'. 'He plays a more improvisational musician whereas Ajay plays a more professional rock musician,' said Shah.

The director has already shot all the on-stage performances except one. 'I wanted to see how the other stage performances look before shooting the last one. I was afraid they'd all look the same. But they've all come out differently. And Ajay looks like a rock star in the truest sense of the word.'

Penelope Cruz loves London, but not its weather

Penelope Cruz does not quite like British weather. Dressed in a red trouser suit and heels for the UK premiere of her latest film Broken Embraces, she said that the English climate didn't suit her.

"I love London... but I have difficulties with the rainy weather," the Telegraph quoted her as saying. However, the weather remained fine despite earlier showers.

Broken Embraces is the fourth collaboration between Cruz and director Pedro Almodovar. And the Woman on Top star can't choose her best movie among it. She said: "That's hard, it's like choosing one of your kids."

The plot revolves around a film-maker who goes blind after an accident and struggles to re-engage with life.

Lindsay Lohan spends 11hrs in salon to get red hair bleached

Mean Girls star Lindsay Lohan has taken her obsession with Marilyn Monroe a step further, by spending 11 hours in a salon just to get her red hair bleached.

Lohan, 23, is also said to have had long extensions put in during her trip to the hairdressers, reports the Sun.

The actress finally emerged from a Beverly Hills salon puffing on a cigarette, though she covered up her new hairdo with a Fedora as she headed to on-off girlfriend DJ Sam Ronson's home.

Lohan had also revealed that she wanted to take her obsession with Monroe to the big screen, and star in a remake of movie classic 'Some Like It Hot'.

Bollywood Stars Compete With Hollywood For The Big Earnings

Forbes annually publishes its top celebrities list based on earnings and visibility. Top Hollywood earners make more than $100 million dollars annually. But how does its Bollywood brethren fair?

Depends on how you calculate earnings. India's most talented earns a tenth of that - according to the list of top income tax payers. India's top four actors paid $10mn in advance tax in 2009. Industry favorite Akshay Kumar paid $4mn in taxes and Bollywood King Shah Rukh Khan paid $3mn. Third on the list is superstar Hrthik Roshan, who paid $2mn followed by Aamir Khan who paid $1.3mn.

If advance tax receipts are accurate, it means that Akshay earned approximately $12mn last year, Shah Rukh Khan earned $9mn, Hrthik Roshan, $6mn and Aamir Khan, $4mn.

However, advance taxes often understate how much Bollywood stars actually pay as they are only an indication of the total income of a person. Bollywood stars have three major sources of income: (1) movies (2) endorsements (3) TV shows. And endorsements, for many, yield much more income than the movies.

Bollywood stars promote anywhere from 10 to 15 products a year and top stars make +$1mn per endorsement. Cola companies line up at the feet of Bollywood Stars with Coca-Cola and Pepsi paying top dollars for an endorsement. Not far behind, are the telecom companies who also shell out big bucks. These endorsements earn Bollywood stars more than movies.

Akshay Kumar endorses approximately 10 products at any given time. Conservatively, from his endorsements alone, Akshay makes $10mn. Add his salary from his movies, which averages $4mn per movie, and he makes an additional $12mn a year (given that he makes +3 movies a year). Finally, like many top bollywood stars, Akshay is on television. He is earning approximately $500k per episode as an anchor on the Indian version of Fear Factor. All in all, he is going to clear $20mn from the reality show for its forty episode run. That mean's Akshay's total earnings are $40mn dollars a year.

But that's not all Akshay earns in India, where Purchasing Power Parity (PPT) means that his earnings go along away. Take the standard PPT ratio of 5:1 and Akshay Kumar earns more than $200mn per year-adjusted dollars - more than any Hollywood Star.

Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan (also known as the King of Bollywood) are the two other movie stars who are doing the Bollywood trifecta: (1) movies (2) TV and (3) endorsements. A similar analysis of Shahrukh's pay would find him earning more than $50mn (in his top years). That's how the King of Bollywood can afford to pay a reported $30mn for a new house in London.

Bollywood stars aren't showing up in the Forbes list, but they should be.

Brad Pitt mobbed by school girls

Brad Pitt's heartthrob status is causing trouble for the actor as he gets mobbed every time he goes to pick up his son from school.

Pitt whose adopted son with partner Angelina Jolie, seven-year-old Maddox is a student at New York's prestigious Lycee Francais, causes such a uproar every time he appears at the gates of the school that the principal had to issue letters to parents warning their daughters to leave the actor in peace.

The school which is known for the celebrity kids on its rolls including Madonna's daughter and son, is flummoxed by its pupils reaction to the Ocean's eleven star, reported Daily Mail online.

"Madonna's children attend the school so students are used to celebrities, but Brad is another story. When he arrives at the school gates, all the girls rush out and practically mob the poor man," a parent told the newspaper.

Best Film: Slumdog Millionaire makes it India's night at the Oscars

It was a night to remember for India at the 81st annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday (early Monday in India). Slumdog Millionaire swept the Oscars with the film bagging eight awards, including Best Director and Best Film.

Among the winners were three Indians, music composer AR Rahman (best Original Score and best Original Song, Jai Ho), lyricist Gulzar (Jai Ho), and sound engineer Resul Pookutty (best Sound Mixing). AR Rahman became the first Indian to win two Oscars.

Danny Boyle picked up one of the biggest awards of the night, the title of Best Director, for Slumdog Millionaire. The cast and crew of the film went on stage to collect the Best Film award, which went to producer Christian Colson.

Simon Beaufoy was awarded for best Adapted Screenplay, Anthony Dod Mantle for best Cinematographer, Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, and Pookutty for best Sound Mixing and Chris Dickens for best Film Editing.

Earlier, Pookutty became only the second Indian to win the prestigious award, after Bhanu Athaiya for the costumes of Gandhi in 1982. (Filmmaker Satyajit Ray was given an honorary Oscar while he was on his deathbed in Calcutta in 1992.)

Accepting the accolade, Pookutty said, "This is not just an award. This is history being handed over to me."

He was soon overtaken by Rahman, however, who became the first Indian to win two Oscars. Rahman shared the Oscar for Best Song for Jai Ho with lyricist Gulzar, who wasn't present at the function.

Other winners of the most coveted categories included Kate Winslet as Best Actress for The Reader and Sean Penn as Best Actor for Milk.

Heath Ledger won the Oscar posthumously for best Supporting Actor for his diabolical act in The Dark Knight while Penelope Cruz picked up the best Supporting Actress Oscar for Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Dustin Lance Black scooped the Oscar for best Original Screenplay for the film Milk.

Dev Patel wrecked our relationship, says Freida's fiance

Slumdog Millionaire actress Freida Pinto's fiance blames the movie, and co-star Dev Patel, for the end of his relationship with the actress.

Jilted fiance Rohan Antao revealed that Pinto not only compelled him to stay mum about their engagement for the benefit of the movie, but also snubbed him to be with her on-screen lover.

The 24-year-old said his former love gave him the thumbs down in a phone call while she was promoting the film with her co-star, who is six years younger to her.

"She ended it with me after getting close to Dev Patel," News of the World quoted Rohan as saying. "Now everywhere I go, I see them on billboards. I am devastated.

"I hate the film. It wrecked my relationship. As soon as it became a success and she started spending all her time with Dev, she ended it," Antao said.

He continued: "She decided she didn't want to be with me anymore. She said she wanted us to be friends. But how can I be when she has destroyed my faith in love?

"She is infatuated with Dev. I don't know if they were having a sexual relationship, but if I came face to face with him I would have things to say.

"This is a very hard time for me, because as much as I don't want to let go, I have to.

"I wish her success in her career, but I can't watch the Oscars, and I don't want to watch the film -- it wrecked our love."

Winslet hated kissing co-star Leonardo Di Caprio

Actress Kate Winslet has revealed that she hated kissing co-star Leonardo Di Caprio in their latest movie Revolutionary Road.

Winslet's husband, director Sam Mendes, brought her and Di Caprio back together on the big screen in Revolutionary Road after they were last paired in the blockbuster romantic film Titanic, the Daily Mail reported.

Winslet had to get intimate with Di Caprio as they play a married couple in the film. But the actress was most uncomfortable because the intimate scenes were being coordinated by her husband, who did not seem to be affected at all.

"It was more that neither Sam nor Leo seemed the slightest bit bothered," she said. "I was like, 'Is it just me who feels a bit weird about this? You know. My friend. My husband'.

"But it was just me. There is this amazing still that was taken on set of Leo and me kissing, and Sam is in the background...You can see this look of absolute intensity on his face and I knew that all he was thinking about at that moment was the frame of the shot," Winslet told Elle magazine.

Winslet said she and Leo have a special chemistry onscreen because they have stayed close since the 1997 blockbuster Titanic. "Leo's friendship is a major thing in my life. It's a big relationship. We met when we were very young and did this incredible film (Titanic) which changed both our lives, but the best thing to come out of it was this friendship."

BBC Sound of 2009: Empire of the Sun

Australian fantasy pop duo Empire of the Sun have come fourth on the BBC's Sound of 2009 list, which features the best bands and singers to watch in the next 12 months.

One act from the top five is being unveiled every day this week, counting down to Friday, when the number one will be revealed.

Empire of the Sun are on a spiritual mission.

Dressed as extras from a psychedelic Star Wars, the duo are on an epic journey to seek out ancient cultures across the globe, searching for inner enlightenment while creating a musical dynasty that will last for ever.

It seems like a tall order. But the ambitious, enigmatic and utterly egotastic Empire of the Sun are dead set on their task.

So their debut album, the story it tells and the places it takes them is "a walk to finding the inner being", singer Luke Steele says. "It's kind of like a spiritual road movie.

"We went to Shanghai and met the emperors, and we went to Mexico and met the Aztecs, and now we're going to Iceland.

"It's now or never and we have to push the limit. There's no holding back and there's nothing to lose. We really want to make something otherworldly and special."

Steele, who also fronts indie group The Sleepy Jackson, has teamed up with Nick Littlemore of electronic outfit Pnau, who is friends with Sir Elton John, has worked with The Killers and been in a band with Ladyhawke.

Together, the pair's 1980s-influenced soft pop synthesisers and blissed-out space beats have already taken them into the Australian top 10.

The music is coupled with a striking image of two colourful, cosmic crusaders that has been inspired by movie characters and rosily-remembered childhood idols.

"We are superheroes. We are Emperor Steele and Lord Littlemore," proclaims the singer.

In the video for their first single, Walking on a Dream, the pair are seen in front of the Shanghai skyline striking overblown, dramatic poses.

Steele grandly waves huge feathers and a big red stick while wearing white face paint, a bright blue oriental frock coat, gold ceremonial neckwear and a tall ornamental crown that looks like it might have been a rather nice lampshade in a former life.

"We've done the band thing, which is great, but we wanted it to be a lot more epic and theatrical," he declares.

"We want to start something a bit bigger than what bands have been for the past 20 years. We want to bring entertainment and colour and positivity and melody back into it."

The album, also called Walking on a Dream, was made over two years between other projects. "I was only ever in town for a night in Sydney, where the studio was, so it was all quite spontaneous," Steele says.

"I'm really good at writing top lines and coming up with chord progressions and production." Littlemore is all of the above plus is "amazing in terms of writing words", the singer says. "He's quite romantic with his words. He's like a beat poet."

The group borrowed their name from a 1984 JG Ballard novel, which was adapted for the screen by Steven Spielberg in 1987.

"We wanted something quite epic," Steele says, citing the history of Chinese emperors and the importance of the sun to the Aztecs.

"And obviously Jesus Christ is the son of God and everything," he adds, slightly inexplicably.

"We were looking for a name and we saw that and it just seemed so fitting."

Steele has become so immersed in the band's mythology that he has even named his daughter, born in October, Sunny Tiger. (The band also have a song called Tiger By Your Side and tigers feature in their graphics.)

The singer now wants to blow the minds of young fans in the same way that pop stars did when he was growing up in the 1980s.

"We're so visual," he says. "We want to make something that as a child you see and you just love because it's so colourful and it's got imagination.

"Music is magic, and with imagination combined it can be completely epic. We've been both on the road doing shows for the last 10 years and we wanted something that's higher - visually, mentally, physically, a bigger level, a bigger vision that can last for ever."

Sound of 2009 countdown kicks off

The first act from the BBC's Sound of 2009 list has been revealed, with electro-pop duo La Roux at number five.

The list is intended to highlight the best new music talent for the new year.

It is based on tips from 134 leading UK tastemakers, who named their favourite three new acts. A longlist of 15 artists was published last month.

One act from the top five will now be revealed every day this week, until the number one is announced on Friday. Last year, Adele and Duffy topped the list.

The Sound of 2008 top five also included The Ting Tings, Glasvegas and Foals.

Wrestler Rourke hits red carpet

US actor Mickey Rourke took to the red carpet in London on Monday night to promote his latest film, The Wrestler.

The 52-year-old stars as has-been professional wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson who is reluctant to throw in the towel.

The movie won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and Rourke is also tipped to be nominated for an Oscar for his role.

The Wrestler will be released in cinemas across the UK on 16 January.

Rourke gave up acting for more than a decade to take up boxing.

But speaking in London's West End, he said he had to forget his fighting background for the role in the The Wrestler.

"It got in the way because wrestlers don't move like fighters, and fighters don't move like wrestlers - it was really more like I had to get my mindset out of that," he said.

"In boxing, you move very gracefully. These guys move very hulkingly and you can read their punches."

'Emotional scenes'

Rourke struggled to get Hollywood roles following his acting absence, but came back into the limelight with a part in Sin City in 2005.

"I had 15 years to think about what I was going to do when I got a part I could sink my teeth into. So you just step up to the plate, or you go get a job," he said.

There had been reported rumours about a clash between Rourke and co-star Marisa Tomei, who did not attend the premiere.

Rourke said working with her was "an experience", and added: "The more heavy emotional scenes were with the very young and talented Evan Rachel Wood.

"They were the hardest to do, it was all about a father and a daughter.

"He was more concerned with being on the road and wearing his tights than he was with bringing up his daughter."

Spice girl scares soon to be mom Mel C

Former Spice Girl Melanie Chishholm also known as Mel C is nervous about giving birth to her first child after listening to the hospital horror stories that her bandmate Melanie Brown told her.

The British singer who is expecting her first child in February next year said in an interview to 'Reveal' magazine that she has heard terrible tales about having a baby from mum-of-two Melanie Brown also known as 'Scary Spice'.

However, the singer insists she has not been put off and the rest of her bandmates have offered her the support she needs.

She tells 'Reveal,' "The girls are really excited and supportive. I've seen quite a lot of them lately, except Victoria, obviously, because she's out in LA a lot. Mel B has been talking me through all the fine details of giving birth and has told me loads of horror stories. Well, she is Scary isn't she? So I suppose it's her job to scare me a bit."

Mel C is the last of the erstwhile all girls pop group 'Spice Girls' to become a mother. Melanie also revealed in the interview that her former bandmates have already started baby shopping

Ajay Devgan is a prankster: Asin

Working with Bollywood actor Ajay Devgan in Vipul Shah's London Dreams was an eye-opener for south Indian actress Asin.

"Working with Ajay Devgan has been a revelation. He is a prankster and not at all the quiet type of person," said Asin, who has just made her Bollywood debut in Aamir Khan-starrer Ghajini.

Asin says all of them gelled very well while shooting for the film. "The three of us including Salman (Khan) had great fun," she said.

London Dreams will be Asin's second Bollywood venture. It is about a music band formed by Asin, Salman and Ajay.

Kelly Brook has the body most admired by British women

British women crave for body like that of Kelly Brook, according to a new survey. The TV star, 29, who was voted the sexiest woman in the world in 2005, has a curvy shape most ladies dream of, reports the Sun.

Cameron Diaz’s long legs and Friends star Jennifer Aniston’s hair were also on most women’’s wish list.

The most coveted face was said to be that of Tomb Raider star Angelina Jolie. The poll of 5,000 was conducted by weight-loss pill LIPObind.

Jealous Victoria pulls plug on Beckham's Italian interview

Victoria Beckham might be the 'in girl' of fashion right now, but even she has her own insecurities. Posh spice was reportedly fuming with jealousy when she got to know that husband David has granted permission for an hour long interview with Italy's glamorous TV presenter Ilaria D'Amico.

Beckham who has recently made a move to join European football giant AC Milan was supposed to give his exclusive first interview in the city of Milan, but sources in Italy
claimed jealous Victoria was so angry she pulled the plug on the special hour-long chat.

After a day of confusion, the producers of the show finally revealed that the 'Beckham Show' would go ahead but last for only 15 minutes. The format had been changed "at the request of the Beckham camp," some sources revealed.

Though a spokesman for Posh and Becks dismissed that as "nonsense" and insisted the interview would go ahead as planned. Victoria had a right to fret as earlier David Beckhamhas been involved in some highly publicised extra marital affairs, the most well known being his affair with secretary Rebeca Loos in 2004.

£100m appeal to keep Titian works

Two galleries are hoping to raise £100m to buy a pair of paintings by Italian Renaissance artist Titian.

The Duke of Sutherland is offering the works to the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Gallery in London for £50m each.

If the galleries raise the funds to buy Diana and Actaeon, then the second painting - Diana and Callisto - will be offered for sale in four years.

The figure represents one third of their estimated open market value.

The paintings were created as part of a cycle of works for King Philip II of Spain from 1556 to 1559.

They form part of the historic Bridgewater collection owned by the duke and on display at the National Gallery of Scotland.

The collection also includes three paintings by Raphael, a Rembrandt, a Van Dyck, a Tintoretto and two more Titians.

'Most important'

The 7th Duke of Sutherland has decided to sell some of the collection to raise £100m.

His offer comes with the added incentive that, should the two galleries manage to raise the necessary funds, the entire collection will remain on long-term loan to the Scottish gallery.

"The Bridgewater Loan ... is the most important Old Master paintings loan to any public museum in the world," said the gallery's director, John Leighton.

Losing Diana and Actaeon, he added, "would be like the Mona Lisa being taking out of the Louvre".

Speaking to the BBC's Today programme, Mr Leighton maintained the investment was essential, despite current pressure on public spending.

"We would never argue that expenditure should be diverted from all those important areas - whether it's health, defence, or whatever - but we do have to keep spending on culture," he said.

"Every so often you just have to make a major investment in the quality of our National Collections.

"Not every year, not every ten years, [but] once or twice a century and that moment is now."


Under the deal, the galleries will be offered each painting in turn. They have until the end of this year to commit to buying the first.

Titian (Tiziano Vecellio) is acknowledged as one of the greatest colourists of all time, who pioneered the use of oil paints, and paved the way for generations of artists to come.

Titian announcement expected soon

The National Gallery of Scotland and London's National Gallery are poised to reveal whether Titian's Diana and Actaeon has been saved for the nation.

The two institutions are hoping to raise £50m to jointly buy the painting before a deadline of 31 December.

But a spokeswoman for the National Gallery said an announcement would "ideally" be made this week.

The campaign, launched in August, was recently boosted by a £10m pledge from the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

At the time, the galleries said it took them "significantly" closer to their target.

A statement for the National Gallery of Scotland said: "The campaign to save Diana and Actaeon is ongoing. The target has not yet been met. We will make an announcement when we are in a position to do so."

The Scottish Government is also expected to reveal a "significant" pledge to the fund soon.

Private buyer

The painting has been on public display at the National Galleries of Scotland and London for more than 200 years but it is now being sold by its private owner, the Duke of Sutherland.

If the galleries raise the funds to buy Diana and Actaeon, then a second Titian painting - Diana and Callisto - will be offered for sale in four years.

If they fail to raise the required £50m then Diana and Actaeon could be sold to a private buyer.

The two Titians were created as part of a cycle of works for King Philip II of Spain from 1556 to 1559 and form part of the Bridgewater collection, which has been on loan to the National Galleries of Scotland since 1945.

The collection also includes three paintings by Raphael, a Rembrandt, a Van Dyck, and a Tintoretto.

Government pledge

Some newspaper reports have suggested the Scottish Government will give a further £10m to the fund.

A spokesman said: "The Scottish Government recognises the national importance of the Bridgewater Collection to Scotland as the greatest private collection of old masters on loan to a public gallery anywhere in the world.

"That is why we acted decisively, giving the National Galleries a significant funding pledge which was essential to get its fundraising campaign off the ground. We will make a further announcement soon.

"We are determined to do everything we can to ensure that this world-class collection remains on view for visitors and for the enjoyment of the people of Scotland."

Should the two galleries manage to raise the necessary funds, the entire Bridgewater collection will remain on long-term loan to the Scottish gallery.

Move over Harry Potter...

"There was something about Rob.

"Among his many other talents, he had something otherworldly that he brought to the screen.

"Something special, and tortured, and interesting and strange…" says Twilight director, Catherine Hardwicke.

So how does a boy from Barnes become this autumn's hottest vampire and the talk of American fan sites?

Robert Pattinson first came to public attention playing Cedric Diggory in 2005's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the fourth film in the series.

In a noteworthy, if short-lived performance, Diggory lost his life and the girl to bespectacled love rival, Potter.

But Pattinson is having the last laugh - his new role as vampire Edward Cullen has seen him crowned Rolling Stone's hottest actor of the year.

The 22-year-old British star beat 3,000 hopefuls to land the role of the "vegetarian" vampire Cullen - the youngest of a surrogate family of vampires who have chosen to renounce human blood.

Twilight has been hugely successful in the US, where it set a new record for the biggest opening weekend for a movie directed by a woman - and toppled James Bond from the top spot.

"Seeing my face on buses - it's like being in 1984," says Pattinson, from under a mass of hair. "It's not good for someone who suffers from extreme paranoia.

"I can go on the tube and hardly anyone knows who I am, but then you go to these screenings where people scream at you. Sometimes I wonder if they have all been paid to be there!"

Love story

Based on the hit book series from author Stephenie Meyer, Twilight is being cited as the next Harry Potter, with sequels already in the pipeline.

Essentially a love story, it sees Edward fall in love with schoolgirl Bella and struggle to protect her from the sinister world of vampires.

"When I read the books and the fan sites, you could see there was so much passion for these books," says director Hardwicke.

"People got so involved, they were swept away in this romance… and I wanted to bring that crazy, giddy feeling to the screen."

Hardwicke found her Bella in 18-year-old Kristen Stewart, probably best known from her turn as Jodie Foster's screen daughter in The Panic Room.

"You have to find the chemistry or the whole movie wouldn't work," explains Hardwicke.

"I knew Kristen had to be Bella, and then the search was on for the perfect Edward.

"So many cute guys would walk in the room, but they just looked like the cute guy that could be at your high school."

"But from the moment they [Robert and Kristen] first met, you could really feel that there was something going on."

The film appears to embrace the idea of sexual abstinence, in line with the author's Mormon beliefs, but the stars play down the connection.

"It's about the anticipation - walking that knife edge. How close can Edward get without killing her. It's much more exciting than the actual act," says Hardwicke.

"Yeah, I mean, have you ever tried to watch a feature-length porno?" laughs Pattinson.

An upcoming star with the world seemingly at his feet, Pattinson has also contributed music to the film soundtrack.

"I grew up with a whole bunch of musicians, and I thought this would be good for them," he explains.

"I'd like to do an album, but there is such a stigma attached to actors who release music maybe I should do it anonymously, or just wait until I am unemployable."

But that may be sometime off. Both actors are set to return for the second and third movies, New Moon and Eclipse.

Typecasting fears

"I usually only get to follow a character for six weeks or so," explains the shy and earnest Stewart.

"I do little movies, and typically they never even see the light of day, and I have this huge grieving process afterwards. But in this case I get to follow her for an incredibly long time, hopefully - so I'm rather excited.

"It's terrifying as well, because you really have nothing to lose with the first one," says Pattinson. "But now it will be harder to build up the same kind of hype, especially in America."

Despite the comparisons to Harry Potter - Twilight was released in the week that would have seen the US debut of the sixth Harry Potter film - its stars insist it is not a teen film.

"We never thought of it as a teen movie - in the US, 45% of the audience is over-25. It's for all ages, even men like it!" says Hardwicke.

"It's funny, when you have a film that has children in it, it becomes a kid movie," says Stewart. "But we didn't have this frame that we had to fit into in."

"There is a large group of people that will always consider us as these characters," she continues "but the only thing that you can do is try to work on different things in between.

"In my next film, Welcome to the Rileys, I play a 16-year-old runaway street kid, and she could not be more different from Bella.

"If it was just Twilight for the rest of my life as an actor, I would be quite miserable."