Anne the Elephant’s big screen cousin: Reese Witherspoon on bonding with her Water For Elephants co-star, Rosie

By Lisa Sewards for MailOnline
Updated:

After Anne, Britain’s oldest circus elephant, was — with the Mail’s help — recently rescued from brutal mistreatment, it’s a poignant time for the UK release of a film based on Sarah Gruen’s bestselling novel Water For Elephants.

The film tells the story of Jacob Jankowski, who joins a travelling circus trying to survive during the Great Depression and is tasked with recruiting a new and untrainable star — an elephant called Rosie.

For actors Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson, it meant bonding with the film’s biggest performer, Tai, a 43-year-old Asian elephant who plays Rosie.

Scroll down to watch the trailer

First look: The official trailer for the new Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon film Water For Elephants has been released

Rescued: Britain’s oldest circus elephant, Tai was - with the Mail’s help - rescued from brutal mistreatment

Heartthrob: Robert Pattinson plays 23-year-old veterinary student Jacob Jankowski

Heartthrob: Robert Pattinson stars the UK release of a film based on the best-selling novel Water For Elephants

Witherspoon confesses she was anxious. ‘One of my first questions was: “Will she listen to me?” The answer was “No”. Then I said: “Will she do anything I tell her to?” — and again it was “No” ‘So I trained for three months with her, and would go twice a week to the ranch where she lives with six other elephants.’

Reese rode horses as a child, but says: ‘Riding an elephant is not like any other experience, and I fell off a lot, or would be hanging on the side of her.

‘But I learned to love and respect my new friend. The whole crew was amazed by the experience of building this nonverbal relationship with another creature. It was incredible.’

Tragedy: The storyline hints at 'the most famous circus disaster of all time'

Gruelling: Reese Witherspoon had to train with Tai for three months and would go twice a week to the ranch where she lived with six other elephants


From mother to lover: The pair worked together on Reese's 2004 film Vanity Fair, when Rob played her son

Close encounters: Robert Pattinson wooed Tai the elephant with boiled sweets

Pattinson, 24, who plays Jacob, agrees: ‘There was a moment when we first saw the whole herd of elephants together, and Tai’s trainer said ‘Sit’ like he was talking to a dog, and she sat. 

‘I hadn’t read the script but that’s the moment I decided to make the movie. It’s very powerful thinking that you can have a relationship with these huge beasts.

 OUT TAKE

In 2004's Vanity Fair Reese Witherspoon played Robert Pattinson's mother, but his role didn't make the final cut. Now she plays his love interest.

‘Mind you, I think my relationship with Tai was based purely on sweets. I didn’t tell anyone what I was doing, but I’d suck mints then stick them to my body. Tai would be constantly sniffing me, and I’d say: “She just really likes me. It’s crazy.” In fact, she was just sniffing around for the treats.’

Sara Gruen, the Canadian-born author of Water For Elephants, based her novel on some real tales of circus characters.

‘One elephant used to steal the lemonade,’ laughs Gruen. ‘She pulled her stake out of the ground to go and drink the lemonade, then went back, stuck the stake back in the ground and looked so innocent that the circus roustabouts were always blamed.’

Water For Elephants is released on May 4.

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