ET Behind the Scenes video with Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson

Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon find forbidden love under the big top in their new period drama 'Water for Elephants,' and Reese says the film is "full of peril and drama and danger and love and romance."

"It's that kind of romance that is about second chances," explains Reese. "Sometimes you can be in your life and sort of trapped in a circumstance that you just can't get out of, and one day someone comes along and throws you a rope and you have an opportunity at a new life."

Based on the best-selling novel by Sara Gruen, 'Water for Elephants' follows an elderly man (Hal Holbrook) reminiscing about his days working as an animal caretaker at a circus. A young veterinary school student (Robert) witnessing the beauty and brutality of life under the big top, he falls for Marlena (Reese), the captivating star performer, and suffers the wrath of her charismatic but dangerous husband, August (Christoph Waltz).

"He falls in love with her at first sight," says Robert of his character. "She just seems kind of magical to him, and she doesn't see herself as that at all. She sees herself as just like a work horse, that's it, and thinks there's no fantasy in life and all, and he just refuses to see her as anything else other than this complete fantasy figure."

Watch the sparks fly when 'Water for Elephants' comes to town April 22, 2011.

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