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Robert Pattinson, the star of “Water for Elephants’ has revealed that a clown died during his only childhood outing to a British circus.

Speaking on the “The Today Show” in New York on Monday the “Twilight” star revealed: “the first time I went to a circus somebody died, one of the clowns died.”

When presenter Matt Lauer asked if Pattinson had ever wanted to run away and join the circus as a kid, the British actor revealed that his first experience was a rather traumatic one.

Pattinson explained “His little car exploded…his joke car exploded on him.

“Everyone ran out, it was terrifying and that was the only time I have ever been to the circus.”

Pattinson arrived to hundreds of screaming fans for yesterday morning’s edition of “The Today Show” in New York.

The “Twilight” star was in town promoting his new film “Water for Elephants”.

Pattinson plays the lead role of Jacob, a veterinarian student at Cornell University in 1929. When his parents die suddenly in a car crash and he can’t finance his way through college, he decides to join a travelling circus.

Reese Witherspoon, plays the British actor’s love interest in the film. A married woman, their relationship is thwarted with difficulty from the offset.

Pattinson played Witherspoon’s son in a previous production and he admitted that it is strange five years later to be playing her lover.

“It is very bizarre,” he admitted.

Speaking about working with animals, Pattinson revealed it was one aspect if the film that he really enjoyed.

“The more unpredictable elements you can put into a scene, the more I like it,” he said, revealing: “the zebra’s are the ones to watch out for, always avoid zebras. If you see a zebra on the street run!” the actor joked.”

After finally wrapping up filming on the “Twilight” series, the 24-year-old admitted that he was happy the production had finally come to an end.

 “Yesterday morning, we finished. It was a long process, eight months, so it was a relief to finally get the contacts out of my eyes, I was just about ready to kill someone!”

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