"I think a good story's a good story and a good character's a good character," Sheen said. "There are things that I've done . . . especially, 'The Queen' and 'Frost/Nixon,' they just happen to be in the world of politics. The thing that draws me to them is they're compelling stories. . . It doesn't matter to me if they're in the world of politics or in the 'Twilight' world of vampires."

Sheen said he was first introduced to that world of "Twilight" through his daughter, a devoted reader of Meyer's bestselling series. A fan of science fiction and fantasy, Sheen found the opportunity to don Aro's robes particularly appealing. "I thought it would be exciting to play a vampire instead of a werewolf, go across to the other side of the tracks," he said with a red-lipped grin. "I've never played a character who delights in his own evil before."

When filming breaks for lunch, the actor, clutching a copy of "New Moon," says he understands just how important it is to get every detail of his performance right. He doesn't want to disappoint Meyer's legions of fans.

"People have such passionate feelings about the books as I know through my daughter -- there's nothing more terrifying in some ways than the passions of teenage girls," he said, adding that it will be impossible for him to embody every reader's notions about Aro. "I remember my daughter said, 'Aro is bald.' Clearly he's not, but that's her picture of him. Maybe she was thinking of Nosferatu."