"Eclipse" has been tearing up the multiplex for days, but that doesn't mean the vampire film's stars get a break from their appearance-a-minute publicity duties. Ashley Greene, Nikki Reed and Xavier Samuel have already jetted across the pond for the London premiere, and the cast is expected to pop up at random surprise appearances across the U.S. throughout the weekend.
Lucky for Taylor Lautner, then, that the "Late Show With David Letterman" actually tapes in the afternoon, so perhaps the 18-year-old was able to get a decent night's sleep before the hectic weekend schedule shifts into gear. Wearing a fitted gray suit, Lautner chatted with the talk-show host about his persistent onscreen shirtlessness, who would win in a fight between a vampire and a werewolf, and how he got started in the business.
About that last topic of conversation, thank the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. "[My karate instructor] was actually the blue Power Ranger for a year," Lautner laughed.
The Ranger-turned-teacher encouraged Lautner to start auditioning, which led to a few commercials and then the decision to move the entire Lautner family from Michigan to Los Angeles when he was 11. He soon landed a starring role in "The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D."
And now, of course, he's the proudly shirtless Jacob in the "Twilight" movies. But when Dave wanted to know if Jacob could take down Edward Cullen in a fight, Lautner wouldn't take the bait.
"It'd be a tough call," he said. "[Werewolves are] very strong. We are very fast. We work as a pack. That's kind of our thing."
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