A DOOR swings open and, for just the briefest of moments, the silhouette of Robert Pattinson can be made out standing against a window. Slouching with his hands in his pockets and his head lowered, it’s a glimpse of Hollywood’s hottest property and the object of desire for millions of hormone-fuelled fans across the globe.

Even the jaded journalists that have assembled for the press conference are straining to get a look at “R-Patz”, as he’s fondly known, before the door closes.

This fervent adoration is due to Pattinson’s role as vampire Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga, a movie franchise based on the books by Stephanie Meyer. Mirroring the success of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Meyer has already sold 70m books in 45 languages and there are still another two films to be made after the release of the second instalment, New Moon.

The Twilight series follows the shy Bella Swan, played by Kristen Stewart, who arrives in the town of Forks, Washington, and promptly falls in love with the “impossibly beautiful” Edward, a vampire destined to be 17-years-old for eternity.

The self-effacing Pattinson believes it’s his character fans have fallen for, not him. “I think a lot of people want to hold up the Edward and Bella relationship as being an ideal relationship. It’s about total commitment, but there’s always that sense of danger there as well.”

A dangerous vampire he may be but he’s also charming, cultured and romantic..

Even before the first Twilight movie was released last October, Pattinson was the reluctant recipient of relentless attention from paparazzi and ardent fans alike. Now even a quick nip to the corner shop results in pandemonium.

Not bad going for a 23-year-old bloke from Barnes, in London, who was an unemployed actor when the call came.

There’s been much talk of an off-screen romance between Pattinson and Stewart, 19, something that neither party will confirm or deny despite recent photos of the pair holding hands in Paris – but we were reminded that “inappropriate questions” would result in our ejection from the press conference.

Having agreed to behave ourselves, the introduction is finally made and the man of the moment ambles into the room with a nervous, if endearing, smile on his face.

Polite applause breaks out, but as Pattinson ambles into the room, he looks as uncomfortable as he does when facing the hormonal force and glass-shattering decibels of thousands of screaming fans.