EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Twilight Actor Edi Gathegi Scared Stephenie Meyer
Sept. 18 2009, Published 10:50 a.m. ET
"This is nothing personal, let me assure you, Bella. Just thirst." - Laurent in New Moon
There was something frightening about Laurent in Twilight, and as the premier of New Moon approaches RadarOnline.com spoke exclusively with the man who plays him, Edi Gathegi, at the Suite Life: Skybar Emmy Suite on Thursday in Los Angeles and learned more about the seemingly menacing man. However, without his dreadlocks wig and red eyes, Gathegi is less intimidating in real life and actually pretty funny. He told us he accomplished his ultimate goal in New Moon – scaring Stephenie Meyer!
Radar: It is almost two months until the opening of New Moon!
Gathegi: Whoa, it is creeping upon us.
Radar: What was filming New Moon like?
Gathegi: There weren’t that many people on set this time. My big scene was with Bella. It wasn’t like the same crazy, everybody’s around dinner situation. It was still wonderful; it was nice to be able to sink my teeth into my character a little more. I think it’s going to be really great.
Click here to see photos of the La Push werewolves arriving in Vancouver
Radar: How scary is your scene?
Gathegi: Let’s just put it this way. I told Stephenie Meyer that my goal would be to scare every 14 year-old girl, and she looked at me and said “Edi, you’re so sweet and you have such a little baby face, no one is going to be scared of you at all.” Then she saw the movie and the dailies said, “OK Edi, you scared me!” And I said “That means a lot coming from you,” especially since she told me I wasn’t even going to be able to BE scary!
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Radar: Kristen seems so sweet, was it hard to play someone who wants to kill her?
Gathegi: I can get into character. I don’t care how sweet you are, if the character needs me to be a certain way then that’s the way I’m going to be.
Click here to see Rob and Kristen kissing at a concert in Vancouver
Radar: What do you think about Taylor? He is pretty much the buffest man around.
Gathegi: I saw it happen gradually but it’s still pretty phenomenal. The best way I can describe it is he was 16 when he started lifting and he gained 30 pounds, so basically God said, “This is your role. This is what I’m going to give your body. I’m going to allow your body to be able to do this because this is your destiny.”
Radar: Chaske Spencer told us about going to Wolf Camp, did you go to Vampire Camp?
Gathegi: I went to Vampire Camp for Twilight but not for New Moon. I went to Wolf Camp one day and trained with the guys. Vampire Camp is better.
Watch Chaske Spencer talk to RadarOnline.com about his gym competition with Rob Pattinson
Radar: Have you seen New Moon and can you tell us anything about it?
Gathegi: I’ve seen the movie, but I can’t talk about it. I can’t say anything. I will get in trouble. I can say the very stock answer which is the fans are going to love it, because they are. It’s beautiful.
Radar: How about your wig, did it itch?
Gathegi: It doesn’t itch, they wrap your head so tightly and then they put the wig over it.
Radar: So Kristen’s going to be fine, because she’s wearing a wig now?
Gathegi: I heard. I wasn’t up there so I don’t know much about it, but she’ll be fine.
Radar: She needs to put on your wig!
Gathegi: I know they should put that in the outtakes. And then I need to put on her wig as a joke. As a matter of fact, I need to show up in Eclipse and hide out in the background and hide out in her full hair and makeup!