Who invited the elephant? Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon upstaged by wrinkly star at Sydney premiere

By GEORGINA LITTLEJOHN

I don't want to! Robert Pattinson starts laughing as Reese Witherspoon hands him some biscuits to feed their elephant friend at a photocall for Water For Elephants in Sydney this morning


This morning they hosted a press conference at the city's Luna Park, an amusement park next to the harbour.

It's a commonly used adage in showbusiness that you should never work with children or animals.

But we bet that Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon would have preferred a few unruly kids to the elephant that managed to upstage them yesterday.

The pair are in Sydney where tonight they will attend the premiere for their new film Water For Elephants.


A little upstaged? Witherspoon and Pattinson smile for the cameras next to the elephant before looking at it in bemusement


Pattinson, dressed casually in jeans and a brown shirt, and Witherspoon, who wrapped up in skinny jeans and a thick woollen polo neck jumper, were joined by the film's director Francis Lawrence but were then surprised as they were joined by a mystery guest - an Indian elephant.

Their new friend left them in giggles as she had a little accident on the pavement.


You do it: Witherspoon gives Pattinson some more biscuits to keep the elephant happy


Despite working with an elephant while making the film, Pattinson seemed reluctant to feed the guest star, as Witherspoon handed him some biscuits.

And despite shying away, the Twilight star claimed that working with animals was one of the main reasons he took the role in the film, which is based on the book by Sara Gruen.

Speaking at the press conference he said: 'Francis Lawrence said he wanted to have a meeting and he took me out to the elephant sanctuary where Tai [who plays Rosie the elephant] lives and I saw her doing a handstand and stayed there for about four hours playing catch with her.


You're at the wrong end: Witherspoon and onlookers laugh as Pattinson gets a surprise


'I would literally throw a ball and she would catch it in her trunk and throw it back to me, and I was like, "OK, even if this movie is the worst movie ever made, I get to work with this elephant for three or four months. I'm definitely doing it".'

Witherspoon also spoke about her 'incredible experience' preparing for her role in the film in which she plays circus performer Marlena.

She said: 'I got to train with Ty the elephant for three months. I went to circus school to learn how to do trapeze and acrobatics. It was a unique experience but it was also daunting and scary.'


Chic and simple: Reese looked casual but glamorous in skinny blue jeans, Louboutin heels and a black polo neck jumper


The pair flew straight to Sydney from London where they had attended the premiere in Westfield Shopping Centre in west London.

They also found time to make an appearance on the Graham Norton Show where they both admitted they had fallen in love with Ty.

Witherspoon said: 'She is amazing, thoughtful and communicative', while Pattinson added: 'I genuinely thought we had a real bond, a little something going on.'


A giggle with Graham: Witherspoon and Pattinson burst out laughing as they were interviewed by Norton for his weekly chat show


source: dailymail