Twilight stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart have a “nervous attraction” to each other, director Catherine Hardwicke has said.

Hardwicke, who directed the first Twilight movie, fuelled speculation of a real-life romance between the pair during an interview with Vanity Fair.

"What Rob and Kristen had is a multitude of feelings for each other,” she said.

“Complex feelings for each other. It was what we needed. Complete, intense fascination.”

Hardwicke added that the pair had a “nervous attraction” and revealed Pattinson often spent time entertaining his co-stars in his hotel room after filming.

But in the same interview both Pattinson and Stewart played down the reports.

“It’s so retarded. We’re characters in this comic book,” Stewart said.

Both stars are currently on promotional duties for The Twilight Saga: New Moon, with Pattinson showcasing the film in Japan and Stewart in Brazil.

New Moon goes on general release worldwide from November 20.

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart