Robert Pattinson has admitted he struggles to maintain relationships with women because he always “messes up”.

The 23-year-old actor compared his situation to that of his character Edward Cullen in The Twilight Saga.

Cullen falls in love with schoolgirl Bella Swan in the first film but abandons her in the second movie, New Moon, when he struggles to come to terms with their relationship.

In an interview with the New Zealand Herald, Pattinson said he found it “easy” to shoot New Moon because he could relate to his character's problems.

"I think it's because I always connected more to the second book, than the first,” he said.

“I just understood the story and his motivations a lot more, because there are all these emotions in it that I can relate to in my own life, like when he feels himself making the wrong decision about leaving Bella behind, but he does it anyway.”

The actor added: "I think you do that a lot, as a guy, in relationships. It's like you're compelled to mess it up.

"I can understand him doing that, because I'm always messing up. It's real life - it's what happens!"

New Moon, which also stars Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, is released in cinemas worldwide on November 20.

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