Buff Michigan-born actor and martial arts expert Taylor Lautner was born in 1992 and plays native American werewolf Jacob Black in the Twilight series.
Taylor took up karate at the age of six and by the time he was 11 was ranked number one in the world for NASKA's Black Belt Open Forms, Musical Weapons, Traditional Weapons and Traditional Forms and, at the age of 12 won the Junior World Championships.
He first turned to acting in 2001 when he appeared in made for TV movie Shadow Fury. Other TV credits include US drama series Summerland, Damon Wayan's ABC sitcom My Wife and Kids as well as appearing as himself in America’s Most Talented Kids where he showed off his martial arts skills.
Taylor has also enjoyed a successful voice-over career most notably as Youngblood in Nickelodeon cartoon series Danny Phantom about a teenage half -ghost boy.
He got his big break aged 13 in 2005 when he landed the role of Shark Boy in Robert Rodriguez movie The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D, which showcased his martial arts skills.
That was followed by Steve Martin sequel Cheaper By The Dozen 2, He then went on to star as Christian Slaters’ son in short-lived 2008 TV series My Own Worst Enemy before landing the part of Jacob in Twilight.
Twilight producers had considered replacing him for New Moon due to the physcial change his character undergoes between the first and second film, but the 17-year-old hunk undertook a strict fitness regime in order to beef himself himself up for the role, gaining 30 pounds in the process.
Forthcoming projects include Garry Marshall rom-com Valentine’s Day about 10 different couples in LA, Taylor starring alongside a stellar ensemble cast that includes Jamie Foxx, Taylor Swift, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Ashton Kutchner and Jennifer Garner.
Like Robert Pattinson, Taylor has been romantcially linked with co-star Kristen Stewart. In New Moon Stewart's Bella finds her heart torn between heroic vamp Edward Cullen (Pattinson) and her increasing feelings for her friend Jacob (Lautner), who turns out to be a werewolf - meaning she is also caught up in a feud between the rival monster clans. Life imitating art perhaps?
