Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE

The SCENE had a chance to sit down with Robert Pattinson, who plays Edward Cullen in the movie "Twilight," which comes out in theaters today.

Q: How does it feel to be idolized more for the character of Edward Cullen than who you are since you were relatively unknown?

A: "In some ways, it is good. I guess it keeps you kind of grounded. I mean, it is much easier to stay ego-free because, you know, it's not really you. Everyone who is a fan of the book transfers Edward to whatever human form is there. I guess it is good in some ways. You don't become an idiot. I don't really find it annoying. I may find it annoying next year. Right now it is so totally unexpected. He is 17, so I can't really play it for the rest of my life. I don't really think I am going to be attached to it too much, I hope."

Q: Are you afraid of being pigeonholed as Edward? A lot of actors such as Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio's worst fears were being a teen idol. How would you go about dealing with not being a teen idol?

A: "Not listening to what production companies tell you to do while doing publicity. I think that is a key thing. Everyone wants to put you through media training. People will like try and bully you into being politically correct and stuff. If you do a part and you are not ashamed of the part and you haven't done it for money, which I didn't even know that I would be famous afterwards, I had no idea. But I guess if you stay honest, it doesn't really matter. Maybe you'll be unlucky and like stay a teen idol, but I am aging so rapidly at the moment I don't think I will be able to be one. Plus, as soon as I finished shooting the movie, I stopped going to the gym and stuff. If I end up like I looked last year when I didn't get any jobs, then maybe I won't be a teen idol for long. "

Q: Is it awkward seeing your face on T-shirts, posters and lunch boxes?

A: "I don't really feel that I look like me on the poster and stuff. I look at it, and I don't really connect with it. One of the weirdest things was when someone came to Hot Topic with a picture of my best friend on their T-shirt. I was looking at it thinking, 'Who is that? Why do I recognize that?' And I thought it was me for a bit. And then I was like, 'Oh my God! How do you know that?' That was just one of the most bizarre things that I have ever seen."

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