Sunday Mercury has two new articles, with short interviews, about Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.

Here is an excerpt from Kristen’s interview:

The 18-year-old Twilight star has found herself catapulted to instant fame following the success of the film in the States, with her face on everything from badges to bags and posters.

But she said: “I’m pretty low-profile. I can go out I don’t ever get recognised by anybody.”

She added she wasn’t bothered about the attention surrounding the film.

“It’s fine,” she said. “On one hand you have to be wary now who wants to work with you, maybe you have a little bit more pull, now you’re going get your movie made with me. But I only want to work with people that really inspire me and just have the right artistic thing going.”

Twilight tells the story of Kristen’s character Bella Swan, who falls for vampire Edward Cullen, played by Robert Pattinson.

But Kristen feels she is different to her character.

“The point of her is she’s like the generally relatable character, you project yourself on to her,” she said. “I guess if I was to put myself into this position it might be a little bit different but she’s very sure about everything she feels and thinks.

To read the complete article, click here.

And here is an excerpt from Rob’s interview:

“It’s strange. I’ve even had people wanting to pay for autographs, which is crazy. You keep thinking you should do a little dance for them as well or something.”

Although he now lives in LA, Robert remains down to earth, saying matter-of-factly: “I just decided that I should try to act. So I auditioned for Guys and Dolls and got a little tiny part as some Cuban dancer and then I got the lead part, and then I got my agent. I owe everything to the Barnes Theatre Club.”

Not that it’s all been plain sailing. His scenes in 2004 movie Vanity Fair were deleted and, in 2005, he was fired from a West End play just before opening night.

But the lantern-jawed Londoner isn’t letting the adulation go to his head. He doesn’t even have a car.

“I can’t see any advantage to fame,” he says. “I’m happy with the life I have now. I’ve got the same two friends I’ve had since I was 12, and I can’t see that changing.

“I haven’t even seen the movie yet. If I watch my own stuff I want to be sick, every single time.”

To read the complete article, click here.

I thought these were very good articles/interviews. Some of the questions we have heard time and time again, but some of them were new and interesting to read. Rob’s article in particular was pretty funny - he never fails to say something completely random.

What did you think of these articles? Did you learn anything new from them? Were you surprised at anything you read?

Both Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart were voted into this year’s Wenn/Popeater.com awards by readers. Rob got himself the title of ‘Hottest New Male’, and Kristen won opposite him, getting ‘Hottest New Female’.

Here’s what Popeater.com had to say about Rob and Kristen, as well as who they beat out:

Hottest New Male - Rob Pattinson
Late newcomer Rob Pattinson has stolen this award from the hunks and studs who have toiled and struggled to look perfect and preened for the past 12 months. The brooding Brit star of vampire film Twilight swept into town in November with his unwashed hair and deep stare and stole the hearts of teenage girls across America. So much so, he won a staggering 50 per cent of the votes in the Hottest New Male category. Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford was a brave contender with 40 per cent - but his teen show co-star Penn Badgley lagged behind in third with a sorry 10 per cent.

Hottest New Female - Kristen Stewart
Pattinson wasn’t the only young star to use the Twilight tidal wave to sweep home a WENN/PopEater award - his co-star Kristen Stewart has topped the Hottest New Female poll, pipping Juno actress Ellen Page to the top of the pile. Gossip Girl teen Taylor Momsen managed third place.

‘Twilight’ was up for ‘Movie of the Year’, but came in second place to The Dark Knight.

SOURCE

I’m not so surprised that ‘Dark Knight’ beat out ‘Twilight’ in the ‘Movie of the Year’ category, since it was such a huge hit, and I think it is pretty cool that ‘Twilight’ came in second. But anyways, congrats to Rob and Kristen! I think that’s huge that they were both chosen in their categories.

What do you think of these awards? Are you surprised at the results at all? Do you think any of the other cast members should have been runners-up?

Below are today’s set of odds and ends - the last of the year!

Entertainment Weekly weighs in on Rob’s new haircut
• While on vacation for the holidays, Entertainment Weekly writer Mandi Bierly missed all the hoopla over Rob’s haircut - so now she’s weighing in, and she wants your opinions too! To read more, click here.

Robert Pattinson Eyes Problem for Vampire Sequel

• PR-Inside has a short little article about how Rob is not looking forward to New Moon. Why? Those darn contact lenses. To read the article, click here.

MSN’s Year in Photos

• Robert Pattinson has a picture featured from the LA Twilight premiere in MSN’s annual “Year in Photos” slide show. To view it, click here.
  (Thanks Rebecca)

Top 5 Spiritual Young Adult Novels of 2008

• ‘Breaking Dawn’ was chosen by BeliefNet as their #1 of the Top 5 Spiritual Young Adult Novels of 2008. To read why, click here.

5 To Remember, 5 To Forget

• Seattlepi.com has a new list of the 5 things to remember, and 5 things to forget about 2008. Which list did Twilight end up on? The 5 to remember, of course! To read more, click here.

Twilight: The Best of 2008

• Novel Novice Twilight has created a look back at 2008 and compiled a list of the best Twilight events from the past year. To read more, click here.
  (Thanks Sara)

Which celebrity would you want to kiss at midnight?

• Popsugar.com has a new poll going to see which male celebrity YOU would want to kiss at midnight. Robert Pattinson is, of course, on the list - up against other celebs like Brad Pitt, James Franco, and more. To vote in the poll, click here.
  (Thanks Kat)

What was the best film of 2008?

• The Bay View Compass has a new poll to see what you think the best film of 2008. Twilight is one of the nominees, and is currently (way) ahead of the competition. To vote, click here and scroll down to the left hand side of the page.
  (Thanks Matt)

Well, those are your last set of odds and ends for 2008! Happy New Year Twilighters!

Related Articles

• TWILIGHT ODDS AND ENDS WEDNESDAY 1/7/09
• TWILIGHT ODDS AND ENDS WEDNESDAY 3/4/09
• WACKY WEDNESDAY: CAPTION THIS! (2-11-09)
• TWILIGHT ODDS AND ENDS: THURSDAY
• TWILIGHT ODDS AND ENDS THURSDAY 12/4/08

For today’s Top Ten Tuesday, we’ve decided to mix it up a bit! Back in early August, Blast Magazine created a Top Ten list of their own. It was so great that we decided to feature it as this week’s Top Ten Tuesday list!

10. The end of “Breaking Dawn�

“‘We have plenty of time to work on it,’ I reminded him.

‘Forever and forever and forever,’ he murmured.

‘That sounds exactly right to me.’

And then we continued blissfully into this small but perfect piece of our forever.�

9. Bella and Edward’s first ever kiss from “Twilight�

“I couldn’t breathe.

He hesitated - not in the normal way, the human way.

Not the way a man might hesitate before he kissed a woman, to gauge her reaction, to see how he would be received. Perhaps he would hesitate to prolong the moment, that ideal moment of anticipation, sometimes better than the kiss itself.

Edward hesitated to test himself, to see if this was safe, to make sure he was still in control of his need.

And then his cold, marble lips pressed very softly against mine.�

8. Jacob imprints from “Breaking Dawn�

“My jerking came to a stop; heat flooded through me, stronger than before, but it was a new kind of heat - not a burning.

It was a glowing.

Everything inside me came undone as I stared at the tiny porcelain face of the half-vampire, half-human baby. […] The gravity of the earth no longer tied me to the place where I stood.

It was the baby girl in the blond vampire’s arms that held me here now.�

7. The cliff jump in “New Moon�

“I smiled and raised my arms straight out, as if I were going to dive, lifting my face into the rain. But it was too ingrained from years of swimming at the public pool - feet first, first time. I leaned forward, crouching to get more spring…

And I flung myself from the cliff.�

6. Bella first sees Edward in “Twilight�

“It was there, sitting in the lunchroom, trying to make conversation with seven curious strangers, that I first saw them.

They were sitting in the corner of the cafeteria, as far away from where I sat as possible in the long room. There were five of them. […]

The last was lanky, less bulky, with untidy, bronze-colored hair. He was more boyish than the others, who looked like they could be in college, or even teachers here rather than students.

[…]‘That’s Edward. He’s gorgeous, of course, but don’t waste your time. He doesn’t date. Apparently none of the girls here are good-looking enough for him.’ She sniffed, a clear case of sour grapes. I wondered when he’d turned her down.â€�

5. The wedding from “Breaking Dawn�

“I didn’t realize I was crying until it was time to say the binding words.

‘I do,’ I managed to choke out in a nearly unintelligible whisper, blinking my eyes clear so I could see his face.

When it was his turn to speak, the words rang clear and victorious.

‘I do,’ he vowed.�

4. Bella’s first kiss with Edward as a vampire in “Breaking Dawn�

“It was like he’d never kissed me - like this was our first kiss. And in truth, he’d never kissed me this way before.

It almost made me feel guilty. Surely I was in breach of the contract. I couldn’t be allowed to have this, too.�

3. Bella punches Jacob in “Eclipse�

“Finally, he let go of my face and leaned away.

‘Are you done now?’ I asked in an expressionless voice.

‘Yes,’ he sighed. He started to smile, closing his eyes.

I pulled my arm back and then let it snap forward, punching him in the mouth with as much power as I could force out of my body.
There was a crunching sound.

‘Ow! OW!’ I screamed, frantically hopping up and down in agony while I clutched my hand to my chest. It was broken, I could feel it.

Jacob stared at me in shock. ‘Are you alright?’

‘No, dammit! You broke my hand!‘�

2. The meadow scene from “Twilight�

“‘Isabella.’ He pronounced my full name carefully, then playfully ruffled my hair with his free hand. A shock ran through my body at his casual touch. ‘Bella, I couldn’t live with myself if I ever hurt you. You don’t know how it’s tortured me.’ […] He lifted his glorious, agonized eyes to mine. ‘You are the most important thing to me now. The most important thing to me ever.’â€�

1. The tent scene from “Eclipse�
“‘Please!’ Edward hissed. ‘Do you mind!’

‘What?’ Jacob whispered back, his tone surprised.

‘Do you think you could attempt to control your thoughts?’ Edward’s low whisper was furious.

‘No one said you had to listen,’ Jacob muttered, defiant, yet still embarrassed. ‘Get out of my head.’

‘I wish I could. You have no idea how loud your little fantasies are. It’s like you’re shouting them at me.’

‘I’ll try to keep it down,’ Jacob whispered sarcastically.�

AOL Money and Finance has a few polls going on right now, and Stephenie Meyer is a nominee in one of the polls! The poll involves breakout stars of 2008, and asks readers to vote on who will cash-in on their newfound fame most in 2009. Stephenie is among nominees like Michael Phelps, Tina Fey, Neel Kashkari, and Sarah Palin.

To vote for the lovely Stephenie Meyer in AOL’s new poll, click here.

(Thanks Miaoru)

Go Stephenie! She is up against some fierce competitors, but I think she will surprise everyone in 2009 and make it even more successful than 2008.

How do you think Stephenie ranks up against the other nominees in the poll? Do you think she will be able to make 2009 more successful than 2008?

Twilight is featured on the Yahoo! homepage…again! Yahoo! Movies has a new article about the winners, losers, and in-betweeners of the movie world for 2008. One of the winners? Twilight, of course! They also talk about how even though Dark Knight was huge, Twilight still beat it out in terms of best rate of return.

Here’s a bit of what they had to say:

If only Wall Street had bet on Twilight. Or Hannah Montana. Or Kirk Cameron.

With a $167.3 million overall domestic take as Sunday, per Box Office Mojo, Twilight made more than four times its reported $37 million production budget—the best rate of return on any film in the 2008 Top 10, including The Dark Knight.

Here’s a look of the top-grossing films of 2008 through Sunday based on numbers compiled by Box Office Mojo:

• The Dark Knight, $530.8 million • Iron Man, $318.3 million • Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, $317 million • Hancock, $227.9 million • WALL-E, $223.8 million • Kung Fu Panda, $215.4 million • Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, $174.9 million • Twilight, $167.3 million • Quantum of Solace, $164.3 million • Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!, $154.5 million (Originally published Dec. 29, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. PT)

To read the full article, click here.

Wow! That is a pretty huge achievement. We all knew how tiny the budget was - but Twilight made more than 4 times it’s budget! That is awesome.

What do you think of these numbers? Were you surprised at all? How do you think Twilight ranks compared to the other movies on the list?

Alright ladies and gentlemen - you nominated and voted, and now the winners of part 1 of our New Moon: Pick Your Dream Cast have been chosen. To refresh your memory, I’ve included the three nominees for each character, as well as the winner that was chosen by YOUR votes!

So without further ado, here is part one of YOUR New Moon Dream Cast:

Okay! So this concludes part one of our New Moon: Pick Your Dream Cast project. What do you think of the cast that was chosen? Do you have someone else in mind who would have fit a specific character better?

Thanks to everyone who participated, and remember: YOU picked the nominees and YOU voted! So if you’re unhappy with the cast that was chosen, make sure you keep checking back so you can participate in part 2 of the project!

**Please remember that this is NOT the actual cast, just a fun little activity put on by TA, so have fun and don’t take it too seriously!**