Twilight Director Recalls Robert Pattinson’s ‘Makeover’ for Role — and Why He Turned Down Hair Extensions

Robert Pattinson had a complete “makeover” for transformation Twilightis Edward Cullen.

In a new interview with Josh Horowitz for Happy Sad Confused podcast, director Catherine Hardwicke reflected on the making of the film in 2008 on its 15th anniversary. She recalled how she had to work hard to sell Pattinson, 37, to the studio as the romantic lead.

Although she said there was “pretty much no competition” between the actor and his co-stars due to his current chemistry with Kristen Stewart, who was cast as Bella Swan, Pattinson’s “makeover” was necessary.

“When he came to my house he had black bangs – hair dyed black – a bit out of shape because he was hanging out in the pub all the time,” Hardwicke, now 68, recalled of her first impression of the star.

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Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen and Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan in ‘Twilight’.

IMPRINT ENTERTAINMENT/MAVERICK FILMS/SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT/ / Album / Alamy Stock Photo

She sent footage of his chemistry reading with Stewart, 33, to the studio, and after Pattinson went to meet the crew at Summit, she said they called her and expressed concern about her choice.

“They called me back and said, ‘Do you think you can make this guy look good?’ and I say, ‘Yes, I want to. Did you see his cheekbones? Here’s a photo. We do hair makeovers — everything, we do everything. Makeover, he’ll start working out and he’ll be gorgeous.’ But at first they didn’t believe,” she recalled. “I mean, he walked in there with a stained shirt.”

The makeover included his “hair, eyebrows, even teeth,” Hardwicke added. “He started working out and working with a trainer. He put in a lot of effort; you know, nice effort in that.”

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Edward Cullen’s hairstyle was a particular source of conflict, the director said. She said she likes guys with long hair and had a vision of a vampire with long locks, but Pattinson was adamantly against it.

“We incorporated his hair,” she revealed of an early move to create Edward’s look. “He hated them. He says: ‘No! Not! Don’t torture me!’ ”

The team then “played [and] came up with this great hairstyle” that Pattinson ended up keeping through all four films. “Hairstylists were telling me left and right that kids would come into their salon, ‘I need that haircut,'” Hardwicke recalled.

Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and director Catherine Hardwicke at the ‘Twilight’ premiere at the Rome International Film Festival in October 2008.

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty

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When it came to the role of Edward, Pattinson was the obvious choice for the director, but that was mostly because of his instant chemistry with Stewart. Hardwicke said she caught sight of the actress “very early on”.

“As soon as I saw it Into the wild, I say, ‘I think she’s the one,'” she said. “I was laser focused, like, I want to her.”

After meeting Stewart, her decision was solidified. “I thought, ‘She’s got it.’ She doesn’t—-, she will never overdo it, she has that anxiety. She had everything.”

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As for her and her co-star’s dynamic together, Hardwicke said it was clear from the beginning that they were meant to be Bella and Edward.

“Right when Rob came along, there was no competition because the two of them felt that connection so strong,” she said of their chemistry reading, which included a scene where they officially meet in biology class. “I don’t think she felt that strongly with the others, but you know it makes total sense because they’re both, like, so indie — indie music, indie authors, writers, movies. I mean, they had all these things together.”

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Source: HIS Education