Becoming a Hollywood heartthrob was never on Robert Pattinson’s to-do list. But he has become one of the hottest teen idols in the world. The poster boy continues to be idolized for his role as vampire Edward Cullen, opposite Kristen Stewart’s Bella Swan, in the wildly popular Twilight film series.

And the fantasy blockbuster maintains its momentum, with the release of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part I on Nov. 18, followed by Part II in November of 2012. The Twi-hard craze shows no signs of letting up.

Reminding the 24-year-old that he must endure at least two more years of adoration from devoted zealots makes him grimace a little. “None of us ever thought Twilight was going to be so massive,” admits Pattinson during an interview in L.A. while promoting Eclipse.

As all-encompassing as the phenomenon turned out to be, the actor has been wise enough to act in different genres along the way. Last year, he starred in the romantic drama, Remember Me, with Emilie de Ravin, Lena Olin, Chris Cooper and Pierce Brosnan.

Out later in the year is his controversial role as a 19th-century Paris reprobate in the R-rated adaptation of the Guy de Maupassant story, Bel Ami. “It was really fun to do, because he is a completely amoral character.”

And then there is his measured performance in the movie version of Vancouver-born Sara Guen’s novel, Water for Elephants. Opening April 22, the Francis Lawrence-directed melodrama follows the exploits of Jacob, played by Pattinson, a veterinary university student who abandons his Depression-era middle-class life after his parents are killed in a car accident. Jacob ends up joining a circus to help care for the animals, but gets embroiled in the dysfunction of his new surrogate family.

Reese Witherspoon plays Marlena, the equestrian star of the Benzini Brothers’ Most Spectacular Show on Earth, and the object of Jacob’s affection. Christoph Waltz plays Marlena’s charming husband, a sadistic animal trainer and ringmaster.

“I like that Jacob jumps on a train out of desperation to find something else,” says Pattinson of his character. “He ends up falling in love with the star attraction, who’s also the wife of the ringmaster, and all sorts of chaos ensues.”

Besides the romantic turmoil, the actor appreciated the depiction of the 1930s in the U.S. Somehow, it felt familiar to the London-born lad. “I always had an affinity for that era,” he says. “I’ve always wanted to do a movie around that time.”

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