Robert Pattinson is probably used to seeing members of the opposite sex swoon. The pulchritudinous star of teen-vampire-romance Twilight was recently voted 2008's sexiest male, by readers of Hello magazine's website. But according to E! News, Pattinson's female co-stars may be reeling for another reason: he stinks.

The 22-year-old Londoner has apparently fallen foul of colleagues on the set of New Moon, the forthcoming sequel to last year's blockbusting adaptation of Stephenie Meyers' novel, for failing to look after his personal hygiene. "It's awful. He never showers, and it drives people on the set crazy," a source tells the entertainment site. "He completely reeks," an unidentified crew member adds, for good measure.

Pattinson is by no means the first well-known thespian who might benefit from a spritz of deodorant or trip to the dentist. Halitosis was a serious problem on set in Hollywood's golden era, when smoking, drinking and poor diet, all contributing factors, were more widespread. Clark Gable's famous line: "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn," might well have served to outline his attitude to his co-stars, who frequently complained about his bad breath. "Kissing Clark Gable in Gone with the Wind was not that exciting," Vivian Leigh once said. "His dentures smelled something awful."

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