Robert Pattinson a "p***y" for running from zebra

Robert Pattinson has admitted that he was teased for being cowardly when he ran from a zebra on the set of Water for Elephants.

Speaking on BBC One's The Graham Norton Show, the actor recalled how the animal had charged at the cast - prompting him to move out of its way, forgetting about his co-star Reese Witherspoon.

"Zebras are impossible to tame," he said. "One of them pulled away and ran towards me and I got out of the way.

"Afterwards everyone thought I was a p*ssy getting out of the way, and apparently Christoph Waltz had got in front of Reese and other actresses and protected them."

However, the Twilight Saga star confessed that he was so annoyed by the taunts that he went to watch back tapes of the incident.

He added: "I watched the playback and Reese just literally grabbed Christoph as a shield."

Earlier this week Pattinson and Witherspoon attended the UK premiere of Water for Elephants in London.

> Robert Pattinson 'cried for elephant co-star'

Watch the Water for Elephants trailer below: