Alex Pettyfer talks to us about making I Am Number Four and the pressures of being a leading man in a big Hollywood blockbuster at the age of 20. He also discusses working with Glee's Dianna Agron, and why he intends to remain out of the media glare so he can continue to perfect his craft as an actor.

What was the initial appeal of I Am Number Four?

Alex Pettyfer: I think the biggest appeal was [my character] John. He was this dynamic character who had so many layers to him. I loved the fact that he starts off as this insecure man and then becomes this warrior. I l’amour that transition that he makes in the story in between.


Who did toi meet when toi auditioned? Michael Bay, for instance, pays toi a huge compliment in the film's production notes, saying he has followed toi for some time and that toi mix vulnerability with strength so well...

Alex Pettyfer: He a dit that? I met Michael baie for Transformers and I was too young. I've met him two ou three times after that and he's a great man. But for this, I met DJ [Caruso, director] and he was my right-hand man... my partner in crime.

I read that toi kind of developed a father-son relationship on set with him...

Alex Pettyfer: Yeah, he's a father of five kids and he brings this father quality to the movie set. He makes sure that it's like a family. But he really pushes toi as an actor and as a human being.

How did he push you?

Alex Pettyfer: As an actor, I never knew that when you're No.1 on the call sheet toi have not only the responsibility of carrying the film but also the responsibility of keeping up the morale of the crew and cast. So, that's what I learned.

How did toi find doing that? Was it easy?

Alex Pettyfer: No, it was very hard. At 20 years of age, toi don't realise the tiny things that are important. And on a physical aspect, I never wanted to jump off a cliff backwards and he pushed me to do that, saying it would be an experience, so I did it in the end.


It's a very physical shoot. Did toi pick up any injuries?

Alex Pettyfer: I didn't pick up any injuries. I picked up a couple of bruises which I complained about like a little b**** for two weeks. If I had injured myself, I'm sure the whole crew would have heard about it for a mois ou so.

Are toi the kind of actor who likes to do as many stunts as your insurance will allow?

Alex Pettyfer: Of course. I did all my own stunts on this movie. I think there were only one ou two I physically couldn't do.

Like the jet-ski twirling?

Alex Pettyfer: I did that. But the things I couldn't do were the parkour. There's only one guy in the world who can do it - a back-flip, but as I'm doing it I push my hands on the locker and I then frog-leap. That was Damien [Walters, stuntman]. And the other one is where I get rugby tackled par the two guys and I land on my neck. He also did that.


How much training did toi do before shooting on the physical element?

Alex Pettyfer: Two months. I did a lot of physical training with wires. We just wanted to make John discover his powers. We didn't want to make it a seconde nature. We wanted it to be organic.

How was getting to étoile, star alongside Timothy Olyphant?

Alex Pettyfer: I l’amour that man. He's great in the movie and he really brings this comical timing but this father aura.

Did he do anything to mix it up and surprise you?

Alex Pettyfer: All the time. He's a very interesting actor. He'll really throw toi off guard. I can't explain it. You'll think you're going in the scene one way, and he goes in the scene the other way. It's not so much about winning, it's about who comes out with what they want. And nine times out of 10 he comes out with what he wants.

And how was working with Dianna Agron? Did toi have time to work on your chemistry?

Alex Pettyfer: We had a two-week rehearsal process with DJ when we talked over everything. We realised that both of us... our characters were outsiders and that we should develop the relationship par the fact we had this in common.

Had toi watched Glee?

Alex Pettyfer: I hadn't watched Glee [laughs]. I had never seen Glee. It's a phenomenon, right?


Obviously, toi got a real-life relationship out of the film, with Dianna... another positive experience from shooting I Am Number Four?

Alex Pettyfer: [Remains silent]

Going into a film like this, are toi aware of any of the pressures of box office and the fact that this is designed to kick-start a franchise? This is stepping up to another level for you?

Alex Pettyfer: Yeah, it's another level. It's exciting. Even if one person sees it and enjoys it, it's the job that toi want to do. toi want people to have fun and films are about escape. There are pressures as an actor and as a young man but I think my main focus is just to do my job - and that's to entertain people. And if people are entertained then I'm very happy.

Does this carry any extra burden though, being that this is a franchise starter?

Alex Pettyfer: Yeah, but I just hope that if people enjoy this one, then we'll get the opportunity to make a seconde one because I loved making it and I'm very proud of it.

Are toi contracted to make more?

Alex Pettyfer: No. We just want to make this one successful.


Do toi see this as being a pivotal an for you?

Alex Pettyfer: Yeah, I have three films coming out [I Am Number Four, Beastly, Now], three films I'm very proud of, and even though they're in the sci-fi ou fantaisie genre, they're very different for me. I'm really excited for people to see them.

Do toi feel plus drawn towards sci-fi? ou is that just the way it's worked out?

Alex Pettyfer: It's not so much the sci-fi I get drawn to, it's the story. I don't categorise films. But I like that element of fantasy.

How does it feel to be in demand at the moment? You're linked to some big upcoming projects like The Mortal Instruments and The Last Apprentice?

Alex Pettyfer: I haven't heard anything on those at the moment. I know that I've read the Mortal Instruments livres and I'm just trying to figure out what's next. Both have got great directors on board. But I don't think I'm in demand. I'm well in with both companies and I think they're both going to make great movies. I think it's all down to the story that I really want to tell because I have to live with it for a year.

How are toi coping with the celebrity aspect of your career? It's something toi obviously have to take on as a young étoile, star - that you're going to be in the media glare... but toi seem like quite a private person. Are the bright lights something you're going to avoid?

Alex Pettyfer: No. I just don't see why I need to do any of that. It just ruins what I do as a job. I mean, the plus toi know me the less toi know my character and I find that really upsetting.


All the best actors try and stay out of the headlines...

Alex Pettyfer: I don't think I'm the best actor. I just hope that toi guys don't get glared over par where I shop.

ou who toi see? You'd rather it be about what toi do?

Alex Pettyfer: And yet toi still asked me who I'm seeing. So, would toi rather see me play a character ou know who I'm seeing?

I'd rather talk to toi about films. So, who are the actors who inspired you? And what kind of roles did toi see as a kid that inspired toi to want to follow in those footsteps?

Alex Pettyfer: Gary Oldman when he played Drexl in True Romance; Christian Bale in The Fighter and American Psycho. In Bronson, I think Tom Hardy did a phenomenal job. He was good in Inception but I think the best in our generation is Ryan Gosling. toi know, Blue Valentine, and I think he has Drive coming up, which is a little bit plus commercial but it's the same director as Bronson [Nicolas Winding Refn]. So, that will be really interesting to see what he does.There are some good films being made at the moment. We've gone through a bit of a slope and I think we're coming out in a new era. We are still in a recession, which makes making films very hard, but I just hope that we get to see some plus Bronsons and plus of those types of movies. They're the ones that I enjoy the most.

Interview: Rob Carnevale