Taylor Lautner: There's More to Me Than Muscles

Taylor Lautner: There's More to Me Than Muscles



“Twilight” heartthrob Taylor Lautner is starting to feel that his rippling muscles are overshadowing who he is as an actor. “It has become embarrassing,” Taylor told reporters June 3 at a press conference in South Korea.

Lautner, 18, was the undisputed breakout star of “New Moon” after gaining 30 pounds of muscle to play the hulking werewolf, Jacob Black.

He added: “It doesn’t annoy me, but people do tend to ask about it [my workout routine and my weight gain] a lot.”

Lautner, who worked out six days a week and ate every two hours to gain and maintain his rippling 8-pack abs, added: “To me it’s just part of the character. It’s not like I can take it off!”

Despite all the flattering attention he’s receiving for his buff body, Lautner is more than happy to change his look for a movie role.

“The only reason I did it [gained weight] is because the character required it and I love the character,” said Taylor. “So, a year from now, if I fall in love with a character that requires me to lose weight, I’m ready to do it.”

Since transforming from a lanky teen werewolf in 2009’s Twilight to the muscle-bound shapeshifter in “New Moon” and “Eclipse,” a shirtless Taylor has been featured on numerous magazine covers showing off his chiseled body.

The athletic Taylor, who is a martial-arts expert, has experience with physically demanding action roles.

At age 12, he was a junior world karate champion. And in 2005, Taylor starred in the family film, “The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl.”

But the dramatic transformation Lautner made in the “Twilight” saga has amazed even his co-stars. Kristen Stewart, 20, can’t contain her admiration for the actor’s dedication.

“Taylor’s an entirely different person physically,” she gushed. “It took him so much time.”

Lautner and his co-stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart will be attending the MTV Movie Awards June 6 to present an exclusive clip of their upcoming film. The MTV Movie Awards airs June 7 on MTV.

“Eclipse” hits theaters June 30.