Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart Photo by: Summit Entertainment
Taylor and Kristen: BFFs Onscreen and Off | Taylor Lautner
In The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart's characters are best friends – and almost more.

In real life, the two costars are as close as their onscreen counterparts. "We have a similar relationship to Jacob and Bella's," Lautner, 17, told PEOPLE Thursday at the Cinema Society and Dolce & Gabbana screening in New York City. "We were very open and honest with each other. So it definitely made [filming] a lot easier."

So what does Lauter, who has been romantically linked to country star Taylor Swift, look for in a woman? "It's pretty simple," says the heartthrob. "Somebody who can be themselves and not put on a show."

Asked about his real life romantic history, the star recalls that his first kiss "wasn't as steamy" as Stewart and Robert Pattinson's passionate smooches in New Moon.

Also attending Thursday's special screening of the film were costars Ashley Greene, Elizabeth Reaser, Kellan Lutz and Peter Facinelli.

As for whether vampires or werewolves are sexier, the super buff Lautner – who is shirtless for much of the movie – says, "That's a hard question. They are sexy in different ways. But I'll say werewolf. I have to be true to the pack."

New Moon is out in theaters now.