Brit actors hit On The Road premiere, but refuse to talk about Kristen Stewart

The British stars of the long-awaited movie version of the cult novel On the Road hit the red carpet last night – but without Twilight’s Kristen Stewart and the rest of the American cast.

But her protective co-star and director closed ranks on their “friends” Stewart and Robert Pattinson, who have separated after she got involved with married British director Rupert Sanders.

Sam Riley, the Control star who plays the character based on Jack Kerouac who wrote the autobiographical 1957 novel, said Stewart’s personal life was “none of my business”.

Tom Sturridge, who has been a friend of Pattinson since they were at Harrodian School in London together, said: “I don’t talk about my friends behind their back.”

Stewart, 22, has shunned the limelight since the scandal broke. After pulling out of last night’s premiere at Somerset House, it was also reported today she has now ruled out appearing at the MTV Awards in Los Angeles next month where organisers had hoped she would present honours jointly with Pattinson.

But her absence did not deter a crowd of 2,000 who turned out last night to see the adaptation that many have tried unsuccessfully to make before.

Sam Riley, 32, said there was a burden of responsibility in playing such famous characters – but he had done it before when he played Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis in Control.

Sturridge, 26, added: “The danger and the beautiful thing about a film made out of a successful cult book is that everyone who comes to see it has already made the film in their heads.”

The actor, whose partner Sienna Miller has just had their first child, read all Ginsberg’s early writings to prepare – and said it was possible to trace incidents in On the Road in his diaries.

London actor Danny Morgan, 29, has played a string of small roles on film and television but gets his big break in the movie where he plays another of the Kerouac/Ginsberg gang.

Morgan, who grew up in West Drayton but now lives in Ealing, said: “When the email came through saying, ‘ You’re going to audition for a film with Sam Riley and Kristen Stewart produced by Francis Ford Coppola,’ I showed it to my mum and she laughed because it was so ridiculous,” he added.

The premiere was the opening night of the popular Film4 season of outdoor film screenings.

On the Road is released in the UK on October 12.