Taylor Lautner covers July GQ: I won't go shirtless for just any role (photos)

Taylor Lautner, who spends much of Twilight: Eclipse shirtless, won't peel
off his shirt for just any role. It has to be part of the storyline. (Photos/GQ)

Taylor Lautner, whose ripped physique put him on the map in Hollywood, says he won't randomly strip off his shirt for just any role; it has to be part of his character's storyline.

When Lautner, 18, was asked to go shirtless for a small role as a high school athlete in comedy Valentine's Day, he balked.

'I DONT WANNA BE A
FLEETING CURIOSITY'

Taylor says in the July 2010 issue of GQ: "The script said we were walking into school and [my character] Willy takes off his shirt. I said, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa. Time out. He's gonna take off his shirt in the middle of school? No, no, no. The reason I took off my shirt for New Moon is because it's written in the book that way, and there's reasons behind it."

While some may question Lautner's reluctance to play up his beefcake image, he's concerned about being taken seriously as an actor and doesn’t want to be a “fleeting curiosity.”

Taylor, who famously gained 30 pounds of muscle for the Twilight saga, had to be mentally and physically tough to go through months of grueling daily workouts and non-stop eating.

'I GAVE MYSELF PEP TALKS'

At the gym, Lautner kept motivated by giving himself pep talks, repeating: “I want this role. I love this role. I’m not gonna lose it. I’m gonna know it better than anybody, and I’m gonna do that extra rep, because I’m gonna be Jacob Black.” [see slideshow below]

Lautner, who almost was fired from New Moon after a change in directors, even had to re-audition for the role he played in the original Twilight film. “After I finished filming Twilight and read all the books, I realized that if I wanted to continue being part of the cast, I had to change my diet, my build, and beef up."

He adds: "I did 5 days a week of weight-lifting and avoided aerobic exercise (otherwise you can’t put on weight). And although my trainer put me on the Michael Phelps’ diet (eating every 2 hours), it was really hard to gain weight. But in the end between the gym and protein smoothies, I gained 18 kilos [almost 40 lbs]."

TAYLOR IS NOW ONE OF THE HIGHEST PAID YOUNG ACTORS

All his efforts have paid off, since Taylor has emerged as a major Hollywood heartthrob. In fact, he recently signed a $7.5 million deal to play Stretch Armstrong in an upcoming action film, making him one of the highest-paid young actors today.

Lautner's athletic good looks and winning personality blew away the film's screenwriter, Nicholas Stoller (who directed Get Him to the Greek, Forgetting Sarah Marshall).

"I had my first meeting with him, and let me tell you: That dude is handsome," recalled Stoller. "That is one good-looking man. Like, he is — I get it. I get it! Anyone -- it doesn't matter who you are, would want to see [him shirtless]."

'I STILL TAKE OUT THE GARBAGE'

The soft-spoken Taylor stays grounded by living at home with his parents and sister and keeping up a normal family routine.

When asked whether he has thought about moving out into his own place, Taylor replies, "Um, you know, not so much. There's really no point. I'm so busy. I really haven't thought about it."

He adds: “The thing I love is that my home life hasn’t changed. I still help out with the garbage. I still help out with the lawn.”

Eclipse, which co-stars Robert Pattinson, Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed and Kristen Stewart, comes out June 30.

See more on the Twilight stars below:

• Robert Pattinson: I've been so lucky I fear I'll die at 30
  
• Taylor Lautner: Staying ripped is hard! I lose weight so easily (photos + video)
  
• I'm not gay and I want to see Taylor Lautner shirtless! gushes director (pics)
• Kellan Lutz, Taylor Lautner & Rob Pattinson had a 'workout rivalry' (photos)
• Eclipse hottie Ashley Greene flaunts sexy bikini body in Women's Health
• Eclipse star Kellan Lutz: How I got my rock-hard abs (photos)
• Taylor Lautner: I'm embarrassed by the attention I get for my body (photos)
• New Moon star Kellan Lutz works out in Vancouver
  
• Sexy Taylor Lautner is undisputed breakout star of New Moon
  
• Taylor Lautner: I was an insecure kid who was bullied
  
• More shirtless Taylor Lautner pics from New Moon
  
• Ashley Greene sizzles in sexy nude ad (photos + video)
  
• Is Rob Pattinson's six pack in New Moon fake? Who cares?