Taylor Lautner on the two ‘Snow Whites’ in his life

Taylor Lautner and Lily Collins. AFP file photo

LOS ANGELES – Next year, two of Taylor Lautner’s friends will figure in a battle of two Snow Whites: Kristen Stewart and Lily Collins.

Taylor’s “Twilight” costar and friend Kristen topbills a version titled “Snow White and the Hunstman.” Lily, the actor’s leading lady in “Abduction” and reportedly his girlfriend (until they split about a week and half before this interview), stars in an untitled project. It will also be a case of dueling Evil Queens – Charlize Theron is Kristen’s nemesis while Julia Roberts is Lily’s.

“I’m excited for them both,” Taylor said in our interview. “Their films will be different from each other. Kristen’s is dark, edgy, more action-y while Lily’s has a lot of action as well, but it’s more in tune with ‘Enchanted.’ I feel like I don’t have to choose a side because the two movies are so different. I can’t wait to see them both.”

Taylor heaped praise on singer Phil Collins’ lovely daughter, who is a rising star: “Lily and I are great friends. I always could tell she was a great person and very talented. We all knew it would be just a matter of time before Lily was discovered. She’s fantastic in this movie.”

Friends

Taylor may have broken off with Lily but they remain friends, just like he is with another ex, Taylor Swift. After all, he claimed that “my parents taught me to respect women. I hope that if you were to ask any woman that I’ve dated or am friends with, they would say that.”

Taylor said of his younger sister, Makena: “I am definitely starting to get a little protective over her. She just turned 13. It’s terrible. She’s starting to talk about boys and it’s a little frightening for an older brother.”

Taylor revealed that he recently conquered a couple of his fears. “My biggest fears are sharks,” he shared. “I was just in Australia promoting this movie. I conquered my fear there. I went swimming with sharks. I was not in a cage or anything. That was a lot of fun. I like conquering my fears.”

He added, “I am also not a big reptile fan. So again, while I was in Australia, I put this gigantic snake around my neck.”

In “Abduction,” an action thriller directed by John Singleton, Taylor’s other costars are such tested thespians as Sigourney Weaver, Maria Bello, Jason Isaacs and Alfred Molina.

Different

Taylor volunteered that it was a unique experience not to be working with Kristen or Robert Pattinson. “It was definitely different because, for the past four years or so, I spent my life with them,” he said. “When we were not filming, we were promoting. We definitely are a team so it was very different not to be with them.

“But at the same time, it’s very exciting to be doing something different on my own, something that’s very challenging. This was a dream project of mine.”

Asked if he lives in fear of the paparazzi, who continue to hound him, the 19-year-old gave an answer which reflects his maturity: “You can’t because that’s another thing that comes with the job. They’re not going to hurt you or anything. It’s frustrating but you can’t live in fear. You can’t change who you are. You have to stay true to yourself and do things that you love to do, no matter what.”

He said that his “parents, family and friends” are the ones who keep him “normal.” “The biggest thing that helps you stay grounded is keeping that life you had before,” Taylor declared. “When people get into trouble, it’s because they change who they are. I’m extremely thankful that I still have the same life I always had.

“When I go home, I do the same things I always do. I still love sports. I have the same friends I’ve always had and my parents and family are a huge part of that as well.”

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