He's hanging up the fangs.
With Breaking Dawn filming now complete, Robert Pattinson must say goodbye to alter ego Edward Cullen — a role he's played since the Twilight series began filming in 2007.
"It does feel like a breakup," the 24-year-old actor tells The Chicago Sun-Times. "I do love the guy, it's been amazing to play the same character through so many adventures and I'm going to miss him. It's like the last day of high school."
And very much like school, Pattinson, who stars opposite Reese Witherspoon in Water for Elephants (opening April 22), has grown up dramatically during his vampire tenure.
"It's so strange because my life has changed so much over these years, but Twilight and Edward Cullen will always be a part of me," he says. "It's been my whole life. My whole 20s. And I wouldn't have it any other way."
Of course the franchise paired him with Kristen Stewart, who went on to become his real life leading lady. Though Pattinson rarely speaks about their relationship, he dismisses rumors that he and the 21-year-old actress are getting married. "I'd love to have a family — sometime in the future."
So while leaving behind the supernatural world of Forks, Wash., might be bittersweet for the hunky Brit, it does have a few perks. Says Pattinson, "I'll be very glad not to put those contacts in anymore or have to put on the sparkling makeup."
