Kellan it like it is

For star Kellan Lutz, who plays strong but sweet vampire Emmet Cullen, it marks the end of a journey that plucked the young actor out of obscurity, and shot him to an unimaginable level of fame.
But meeting Lutz, there is no mourning in evidence. Dressed fashionably, built like a tank and looking like a picture-perfect Abercrombie model, he oozes all-American confidence. He expresses gratitude to the franchise: clearly he loves promoting it.
“Because it’s the final film,” he says, “I’m just embracing it, loving every moment of it. And one of my biggest passions is travelling. So I love getting to visit new places.”
It’s a passion that for a long time the 27-year old wasn’t sure he’d ever experience. Raised on a dairy farm in North Dakota, Lutz’s childhood was a modest one, where dreams of fame and stardom seemed naïve. The actor admits that being growing up as part of a large family instilled in him a competitive streak – and a need for attention.
“Having a lot of brothers, I had that middle-child syndrome. I just wanted attention. From my parents’ perspective I didn’t really need it. I wasn’t a bad child growing up.”
He pauses. “Well, except for my pyro days! I did like setting things on fire. I liked making fireworks and lighting things and creating little bombs.” He shrugs, “Hey, it was a farm.”
Of course.
“I didn’t get much attention from my mother, because I have six brothers and one sister. So my mom was spending her time and energy with the younger kids, and the older kids, if they were in trouble. So I had to figure out a way of being centre of attention. I was acting when I didn’t even know what acting was, playing up or retreating into my own little world. And I had this drive to become worldly and see what was out there. I didn’t want to stay on a farm for the rest of my life. So when I fell into acting, it made sense.”
One gets the sense that Lutz doesn’t really “fall” into anything. Hugely determined and business-minded, he’s already turned himself into a one man industry. A successful model for Calvin Klein, Lutz has also followed in the footsteps of Sean Combs and Kanye West, utilising his fame to launch his own clothing line, Abbot + Main. As if that weren’t enough, he also has two inventions awaiting patent.
“I’ve always wanted to be an inventor, I have a book full of about 50 inventions. Because growing up as I did, I didn’t think you could just become an actor, I thought you needed a ton of money to support yourself first. So I was always scheming about ways to get money and make a name for myself. I thought if I could just come up with a brilliant idea, have that Nikola Tesla ‘eureka’ moment, then I’d be set. I always thought that if I could create something that could help people, that I could see being sold on a shelf, I’d feel like I contributed something. Also, I’m just very business-minded. And Twilight has offered me so much opportunity that I want to capitalise on. This industry offers so many chances and I don’t want to miss out on anything.”
In terms of his acting career, Lutz is pushing to become the next big action star.
Last year, he featured in Arena opposite Samuel L. Jackson, and he has just finished filming another indie thriller, Java Heat, with long-time hero Mickey Rourke. “He’s a character,” he says diplomatically. “I think he’s tamed himself a bit, but he’s still got that spark”.
But in typical fashion, Lutz also has his eye on a very specific prize. In an interview just days before I met him, the star confidently asserted that he’s win an Oscar one day. “But I’m in no rush to get there,” he added.
He laughs off the quote, but doesn’t falter.
“I’m so determined to be the best actor I can be and to keep growing and learning. And I’ve watched myself from nine years ago when I had my first tiny role on The Bold & The Beautiful and my evolution as an actor really just puts a smile on my face. I feel like I’ve found my place in the industry.”
Watch this space.