‘Water for Elephants’ premiere

Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon at the London premiere of “Water for Elephants.” The fan (and paparazzi) favorites play romantic partners in this period drama about the circus world that’s based on Sara Gruen’s historical novel. The film, which opened in the U.S. on April 22, will begin showing in the U.K. on May 4. (Max Nash / AFP / Getty Images)

May 9, 2011 8:46 AM PT

Reese Witherspoon plays Marlena, a beautiful but emotionally damaged circus performer stuck in a loveless marriage to an ill-tempered man, in this historical drama. (Max Nash / AFP / Getty Images)

Christoph Waltz plays Reese Witherspoon‘s character’s villainous husband August in this drama set in a Depression-era circus. (Max Nash / AFP / Getty Images)

“Water for Elephants” director Francis Lawrence. (Ian Gavan / Getty Images)

Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon at the New York premiere of “Water for Elephants.” (Jason Kempin / Getty Images)

Robert Pattinson -- whose fans know him best as Edward Cullen, the vampire lead in the “Twilight” movie series, plays Jacob Jankowski in “Water for Elephants.” In this role, he is an Ivy League-trained veterinary student who joins the circus during the Great Depression. (Jason Kempin / Getty Images)

The recently wedded Reese Witherspoon plays Marlena, the circus star and an equestrian expert, in “Water for Elephants.” Marlena is also trapped in an unhappy marriage to animal trainer August Rosenbluth (played by Christoph Waltz). (Jason Kempin / Getty Images)

Christoph Waltz plays August Rosenbluth, an animal trainer and brutish husband to Reese Witherspoon‘s Marlena. (Jason Kempin / Getty Images)

Theater and film actor Hal Holbrook plays the older version of Robert Pattinson’s Jacob. (Jason Kempin / Getty Images)

Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon, right, stand with Sara Gruen, who wrote the novel from which the film “Water for Elephants” is based. (Jason Kempin / Getty Images)