There are three criteria to being the next big male pin-up teen idol, you have to be cute, you have to have a sensitive side, and if you really want to go for broke, you have got to be British. Twilight turned the virtually unknown Robert Pattinson into an international teen idol overnight and there are plenty of other British actors that are looking to use that criteria to break themselves into the Hollywood mainstream.

One such actor is Stevenage-bred Alex Pettyfer, whose previous films include Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker, Wild Child, and Tormented. The 20 year-old hopes to make a further Hollywood splash with the teen drama Beastly.

The film is a modern-day retelling of Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve’s Beauty And The Beast, based on a teen novel by Alex Flinn. In it, Pettyfer plays Kyle Kingson, a good-looking, but vicious high school student who becomes cursed by a spell that makes him ugly looking, but soon develops feelings for a classmate, played by High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens. The actor talks about the emotions that go with being a self-conscious teen, a consistent theme in Beastly.

“I think we’re all self-conscious at some point or another,” Alex believes, “I think it’s about growing up and becoming secure in yourself, and kind of pushing forward. I still am growing up.”

Alex talks about what was the biggest challenge of being a “beastly” character.

“I think the final half hour of sitting in a chair every day,” he says, “I find it hard enough to sit down for 20 minutes, let alone that amount of time. So yeah, the makeup. With fur, it gets hot, but you still have your skin. Whereas, I had this rubber mask, literally, there was about 75 pieces that were put on, and then they had to spray-paint it, and then they had to paint over it.”

“I shaved my head for the movie, so you basically have a whole layer of glue over your head,” Pettyfer adds, “And it gets very claustrophobic. You touch yourself, and you’re touching, essentially, silicone, so you can’t feel your face. When you need to itch, you can’t itch. It’s a very disturbing feeling. I know it doesn’t sound great or that bad now, but when you have an itch underneath, and you can’t scratch and [you scratch] and you can’t feel anything, it’s weird.”
However, like the more traditional “Beast”, his more brutal form, Hunter, has no fur. Pettyfer gave us the reasons behind the difference.

“[Writer/director] Daniel [Barnz] and me always said, ‘No fur,’” he says, “We kind of went into [makeup artist] Tony Gardner’s shop, and I sat there for what must have been 16 hours. And went through it all. We decided, ‘Oh, we should have more tattoos, more this, more that.’”

“And we basically came up with this concept that everything that [my character] thought was ugly on a person would come out in him,” Alex continues, “In the beginning of the movie, he sees that Kendra (played by Mary-Kate Olsen) has this tattoo on her face, and he says like, ‘Oh, you’re ugly. You have this tattoo.’ And the pieces of glass in his cuts, because he’s a vain guy, all the shards of mirror that he smashes when he’s angry would essentially be put into his scar. I found it very fascinating that design of him.”

Alex was asked whether it was harder to play his character when he’s a jerk or when he’s more vulnerable.

“I think it was harder to play vulnerable,” Pettyfer believes, “I think anyone can act like a jerk easy. I think to undergo that, I call it a surgery, because it was practically a surgery every day and become someone else and look different, and feel the eyes are on you, it was a very hard process.”

Pettyfer was also asked whether he had to work even harder as a performer, because his face was covered in makeup and prosthetics.
“No,” he replies, “You know what was great was that all the prosthetics that were attached to my face all move with my face and like it’s still me. I guess there were certain scenes where I had teeth in that would restrain me from talking.”

“I remember Heath Ledger said when he did Brokeback Mountain that he said that he wanted to close his mouth,” Alex adds, “His mouth was like a fist, because he had been through so much hurt. There’s little stuff, like my mouth doesn’t open as much because he’s pained by how he looks.”

Alex was then asked if he read any past versions of Beauty And The Beast.

“I read the [original Beastly book] by Alex Flinn,” Pettyfer answers, “But obviously, everybody’s seen Beauty and the Beast, the tale, the musical. I actually saw the TV show with Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman. And he has a lot of fur on him! That guy goes through prosthetics more than anyone.”

In Beastly, playing the girl who transforms Alex Pettyfer’s character into his “beastly” self is Mary-Kate Olsen, who is herself, along with her twin sister, Ashley, a former teen idol. Pettyfer talked about the experience of working with and meeting Olsen.

“I remember being like 11 years of age or 12 years of age,” Alex says, “And you go like, ‘Who’s your crush?’ ‘The Olsen twins!’ And then you grow up, and you’re 18, 19. And you have this petite little lady come up. She’s so wise beyond her years. And she is a presence. It was a great experience to work with her. [I confessed my crush to her] everyday. She wasn’t having any of it.”

Beastly is not the only role Pettyfer has done as of late as he previously played the title character in the teen science-fiction film I Am Number Four, which came out this past February and did decently at the box office. Alex was asked how it felt to be Hollywood’s latest “man of the hour”.
“Am I man of the hour?,” Pettyfer says, “I don’t feel like man of the hour. I feel like I had just done two films that I’m very proud of. I’m just excited for people to see both of them. They have great messages and this is a movie that I’ve been waiting to come out for a long time. I’m a very lucky boy to be in the position that I’m in.”

Finally, Pettyfer was asked whether he enjoyed doing action films like I Am Number Four or more emotional, dramatic roles like this film.

“I think you just look to be challenged as an actor,” Alex replies, “I think that’s the most important thing. I guess I had fun doing both. It’s fun to run around and blow up shit, as they say. But it was so great to have this intimacy.”

Source: The Cinema Source

Although the last few months have been full of “Hunger Games” and “Mortal Instruments” casting rumors, there has been no real news from either studio on the casting status of the male leads in both highly anticipated films (though we have learned they’re open to unknown talent). I’ve expressed both anxiety and frustration over this situation before, but since everyone is still waiting on the official word, it is my job to continually harass possible stars whenever I see them.

Luckily for me, I keep running into rumored candidate Alex Pettyfer via various promotional events for his two new films “I Am Number Four” and “Beastly.” During our most recent interaction, the press day for the modern take on “Beauty and the Beast,” I knew that he’d have no news to give me, so I told him what I, as well as many of my fellow Crush readers, think about which role he should take on.

Very simply, I explained that he should sign up to play Jace Wayland in “The Mortal Instruments” over Peeta Mellark in “The Hunger Games,” because he has the perfect amount of edge and intensity for Jace and not enough soft, mushy sweetness for Peeta.

“Really? But I am soft and mushy,” Alex protested. “I’m a romantic.”

“He’s soft,” his “Beastly” co-star Vanessa Hudgens agreed, and playfully poked his shoulder as proof.

I told him I wasn’t so sure about that, but he then offered to fire his agents and managers so I could make all his career decisions for him. I said that wasn’t necessary, I but could be called in as a consultant to report to him what the fans want him do.

“Done, done,” he said. “I will do what you say,” he joked.

Yeah right, Alex. Regardless, when is he making that decision?

“I’m not sure,” he said and then gave me that same familiar spiel he’s been giving everyone: “I’m a big fan of both books and when both projects are moving forward I’ll hopefully interact.”

Source: Hollywood Crush

Teen.com interviewed Alex and wanted to share it with his fans!

Newcomer Alex Pettyfer takes us on a wild adventure with co-stars Dianna Agron and Teresa Palmer in director D.J. Caruso’s I Am Number Four. The UK hottie plays John Smith (Number Four), who might look like your average teenager—except he’s from a planet called Lorien. This suspense thriller has drama, action (thanks to producer Michael Bay), and your classic love story…with a few twists, of course.

Pettyfer joined us for an exclusive interview at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills where he comfortably, in his lovely British accent, discussed the making of I Am Number Four, working with Glee sensation Dianna Agron, and his next film projects, where he gets to rub shoulders with Justin Timberlake, Olivia Wilde, and Vanessa Hudgens.

Movies.com: Nine children survived the destruction of the planet Lorien and you are lucky No.4. What sort of powers does Number Four develop?
Alex Pettyfer: I have telekinesis—basically the ability to move things without touching them—and I have lumen, which is a source of light that…allows me to demolish/harm these creatures in the movie that are called Piken, who are sent to Earth to destroy the nine survivors.

Movies.com: You’ve described this movie as a coming-of-age story, and [it's] one of the reasons why you took on the role. Tell us about the struggles your character faces.
Pettyfer: He’s struggling with the fact that he wants normality and he’s not going to get it. There’s a pivotal point where he either fights or doesn’t fight. What’s so great about the story and what [grabbed] me is that you go on this journey with this guy who essentially doesn’t want it, and that’s such a phenomenal thing…there’s no cheesy 80′s montage of him learning how to use his powers; it’s very much [in] the realm of Bourne…and it makes it that much more interesting.

Movies.com: You co-star alongside Glee sensation Dianna Agron and Aussie Teresa Palmer…do you consider yourself lucky?
Pettyfer: [Smiles]. Dianna and Teresa are amazing in the movie. Diana had this very Audrey Hepburn/Grace Kelly feel to her and it’s amazing to watch the energy of both of them on screen. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen two girls in a film [who] might become iconic characters.

Teresa is such a bundle of energy and she worked hard training for this film. It’s great to work with someone who has prepared for months and learned these tricky moves that God knows I would never be able to do.

Movies.com: Your character ends up falling in love while simultaneously discovering his powers.
Pettyfer: Right, he hasn’t got his powers when he first meets [Dianna] but they are trigged by the feelings he begins to have for her, so he gets his powers, and falls in love.

Movies.com: How does your character balance his quest for survival and his personal life?
Pettyfer: Teenage hormones—you can’t balance it. [Laughs].

Movies.com: Seems like you’ve developed a close relationship with D.J. Caruso.
Pettyfer: D.J. is great. I’ve loved his work since day one. I liked Disturbia, even though I thought it would never work…but it did. All the movies he has ever done have been so great, and he has this eye for telling a story and making you care. He’s a very good mentor and I look up to him.

Movies.com: Let’s talk about your upcoming projects, Beastly and Now.
Pettyfer: Beastly comes out in March. It’s the classic Beauty and the Beast story but with a modern twist. What can I say is that [the make-up] took about four and a half hours to put on and an hour and a half to get out.

Now, it’s a very original idea. It’s about a guy who starts aging at the age of 25. It’s very dark and very much in the vein of Inception. I play the bad guy—I can’t go too much into detail. I’ve never played a bad guy but I certainly enjoyed it…not sure if I should say that I had a great time playing the bad guy. [Laughs].

Source: Movies

The 20-year-old British actor chatted about his much-anticipated movie I Am Number Four (co-starring on- and off-screen girlfriend Dianna Agron and Aussie actress Teresa Palmer).

JJ: What was the experience like embodying a fictional character with super powers?
AP: It’s amazing. Every kid wants to have super powers and wants to run around and be a super hero. I didn’t feel any pressure to live up to anyone’s imagination because when you read a book, you think of how the character is in your head, whereas no one has read the book. At the time, everyone found out about the book because of us filming the film. So hopefully people would imagine me as the character as they read it. So it took off a lot of pressure.

JJ: Was the difference because it wasn’t a well-known superhero? As opposed to Captain America or Thor?
AP: Yeah, we are creating a character. He’s original, he starts off first hand. What we are doing now is the beginning of hopefully something.

JJ: What was your favorite scene to film?
AP: Probably jumping off a cliff backwards. I jumped off an 80 foot waterfall. Which is pretty cool. I had wires. Most people when you say “Oh, I had wires” – they think they do it all for you, but the only reason the wires are there are so to stop you from falling.

JJ: How many takes did that take?
AP: Six. I was very scared.

JJ: What was the difference from the first and sixth one, any more or less scared?
AP: I needed my head to be far from the rock. By the sixth one it was as far away from the rock.

JJ: What was your favorite prop from the film?
AP: Necklace. It was a symbol of who I was. It was the only alien thing I had on me. I still got a few of them.

JJ: What is the first word that pops in your head when I mention Tim Olyphant?
AP: Hitman.

JJ: Teresa Palmer?
AP: Energetic.

JJ: Dianna Agron?
AP: Classical.

JJ: Where are you going to be on opening day?
AP: Hiding in a shed.

JJ: Why? Shouldn’t you sneak in a movie theater and watch it?
AP: No. Absolutely not.

JJ: Favorite TV Shows apart from Curb Your Enthusiasm?
AP: Apart from Curb Your Enthusiasm, I loved Entourage – kind of coming to an end now. I loved Prison Break – also coming to an end. I don’t really have any other TV shows. Oh – I loved Inbetweeners. It’s U.K., but they’re making a U.S. version. You should get on that. I like Two and a Half Men.

JJ: Favorite music?
AP: I like Adele at the moment. Civil Twilight – their last one is moving. They’re American. Kind of like rock, but like classical rock. They’re really good. They sing “Letters From the Sky.” Really good song.

JJ: What is your favorite concert you’ve been to?
AP: The Police. In Hyde Park when I was about 9 years of age.

JJ: Dianna says you can sing.
AP: I can not sing. I went to karaoke last night and can not sing.

JJ: Go to karaoke song?
AP: [Oasis'] “Champagne Supernova.”

JJ: How many tattoos are you at now?
AP: Let me count. Seven.

JJ: What were the last three you got?
AP: Just on my wrist.

JJ: Would you get any removed?
AP: Yes. I didn’t think about it when I was a little younger.

JJ: What inspires you?
AP: Paul Newman. Because he is a humanitarian – and he’s classic. Men and Women love him.

JJ: What kind of humanitarian efforts are you into?
AP: My granddad always wanted to open an asthma clinic. So I wanted to do that. I want to help kids find what they want to do in life. Give them opportunities. Because a lot of kids don’t have the opportunity to find their path. A lot of them are kind of forced down a road they didn’t want to go down.

JJ: Favorite things to do in the United States that you can’t do in the U.K.?
AP: In-N-Out Burger. I love In-N-Out Burger. It’s my favorite. [I love the off-the-menu] double single and the weather is amazing over here. Over there, I miss the architecture in England.

JJ: Describe your ideal Valentine’s Day.
AP: I’ve never done anything on Valentine’s Day. Never. I’ve never done anything. I think it’s very commercial. I think it’s an excuse to bump prices and sell things.

JJ: What’s an ideal date for you?
AP: Disneyland. Because it’s closer to home. It’s very fun.

JJ: Best up and coming actor?
AP: Chloe Moretz or Mia Wasikowska

JJ: Favorite off-set memories from I Am Number Four?
AP: I went to a Pirates game. And they had lost 25 games in a row. And Tim turns around and I was being funny with him and said, “I bet you $100 that the Pirates will win.” And he went “Pfft – fine.” Pirates are down by 3 – and he said “$200″. So I said “Fine, $200″. It’s a tie, Pirates come back – last pitch, last ball, last batter – and the Pirates hit it right out the stadium and I won $200. What a fun day.

JJ: The Mortal Instrument books? What do you think about possibly playing the role?
AP: I love Mortal Instruments but I’m trying to think about what to do next.

Source: Just Jared