14 DAY TRIAL // Taylor Lautner, aka the walking set of ripped abs known as Jacob Black in “The Twilight Saga,” was recently in London, where he attended the Wireless Music Festival. Photos of him with what looked like a professional camera, shooting Nicki Minaj’s performance, emerged online and sparked a frenzy on social media.
The tone was set, as expected, by the tabloids: Lautner had watched his acting career die and was now looking into other possible jobs to keep afloat. Being a professional photographer was apparently one of them.
Taylor isn’t done yet, don’t worry
The rumor was fueled partly by the knowledge that Lautner’s career didn’t take off as expected after “Twilight.” In other words, with the projects he picked after those films, he proved that he was just what his critics had said he was: a pretty face with a gorgeous body that had very little acting talent and zero ability to carry a movie on his own.
Lautner did work after “Twilight” and he continues to work today, don’t get us wrong. However, for a guy who was everywhere back when he was in the “Twilight” movies, he gets very little media attention these days - and exactly zero love from the critics.
So when the first rumor was dropped online, that he wanted a career change because acting wasn’t working for him anymore, it fell on good soil and caught roots immediately.
Still, TMZ assures fans they have nothing to worry: Taylor lists photography only as hobby for now, and it was a coincidence that he ended up in the press area at the concert.
The surprising photos, explained
“He was being swarmed by fans in the VIP area and security thought it would be safer for him to hang in the press area,” the report notes. “As for the gear, a photog lent it to him.”
Taylor isn’t switching careers because he’s getting enough work. He might not be regarded as an A-lister as he was back when “Twilight” was still happening, but he’s doing great.
Right now, he’s starring on the BBC show “Cuckoo,” and he will have “Run the Tide” out this year, followed by 2 projects in 2015: “Tracers” and “The Ridiculous 6,” that controversial Adam Sandler comedy.
Even if his career never goes bigger than what it is now or even if it flops altogether, he will still not have to work for the rest of his life, as a professional photographer or something else. His net worth is estimated at $40 million (€36.2 million), so if he wants, he can spend the rest of his days shirtless, sipping Mojitos and still not feel the pinch.