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Miles Teller opens up about the scars, physical and emotional, that haunt him as the Fantastic Four star broods in series of black and white photos for Esquire

Published: 15:03 EST, 5 August 2015 | Updated: 17:26 EST, 5 August 2015

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Miles Teller exudes moodiness in a series of black and white images for the September issue of Esquire in a cover shoot that harks back to the 'rough around the edges' charisma of iconic movie stars such as Marlon Brando or a young Paul Newman.

The 28-year-old Whiplash star has come a long way since his breakthrough role in 2010's Rabbit Hole opposite Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart.

But he's marked by experiences on his journey from high school to Hollywood including visual and mental scars he still carries from a near-fatal car cash in 2007.

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Moody: Miles Teller is featured in a black and white photo shoot for the new issue of Esquire magazine

Teller has a prominent indentation on his chin plus marks on his left cheek and neck that are the results of injuries he sustained when he was thrown 30 feet from a speeding car on the way back from a music festival.

'I got a lot of laser surgery on my face, like what they use for getting rid of tattoos. Like, very painful,' he told Esquire.

The car he was a passenger in was being driven by his junior-year roommate at New York University but, he says, it was an accident and he never blamed his friend for what happened.

Chiseled: The black and white photos emphasize the actor's physique and a certain 'rough around the edges' quality that harks back to movie stars such as Marlon Brando and Paul Newman in their youth

Scarred: In the accompanying interview, the 28-year-old reveals he still bears the scars from a near-fatal car crash in 2007

Cover shot: Teller, who found fame with independent features Rabbit Hole and Whiplash, plays Reed Richards in the Fantastic Four reboot opening Friday

The friendship ultimately didn't survive the incident, though.

'I was racking up all these medical bills, so we had to sue his insurance because he was driving. It's not like we're suing HIM; we're suing his insurance,' the actor recounted.

The guy ended their friendship because the claim led to an increase in his parents' insurance premiums.

Teller says he brooded over it for 24 hours then moved on.

In 2008, Teller lost two of his best friends in car accidents, five weeks apart.

'I was in the hospital when they pulled the plug on my one friend. I knew what it felt like to hug a mother the day she lost her son,' he said.

Painful recovery: Scars from the 2007 car accident are clearly visible on Teller's left cheek, chin and neck. He told Esquire he had 'very painful' laser surgery to treat his facial injuries. He's seen here August 3 in New York

After graduating from NYU in 2009, where he studied method acting, he was cast in Rabbit Hole and director John Cameron Mitchell told him to draw on that hospital experience for a scene with Kidman where he apologizes for killing her child.

Teller was paid $5,000 for Rabbit Hole, $7,000 for the 2013 romantic comedy The Spectacular Now and $8,000 for Whiplash which won his co-star J.K. Simmons an Academy Award.

He says Whiplash director Damien Chazelle offered him the lead role in his follow up La La Land before Whiplash became an acclaimed indie hit.

He says he almost turned down the chance to star with Jonah Hill in Arms And The Dudes in order to be able to do Chazelle's project but then the studio called to tell him the director no longer wanted him for the part.

Happy together: Teller has been dating girlfriend Keleigh Sperry for three years. On Wednesday, the couple were seen enjoying a musical performance in Washington Square Park in New York

Holding on tight: The actor's galpal rested her head on his shoulder and cuddled up to the rising star

Deep in thought: At one point, Teller seemed to be in a more somber mood as Sperry put her arms around his neck

Sunny afternoon: The couple kept a low profile wearing shades and sipping on iced drinks

The development goaded Teller into thinking more about producing projects for himself to star in and take more creative control over his career.

So far he's earmarked two movies he wants to produce - The Life And Times Of The Stopwatch Gang and Home Is Burning.

And with his role as Reed Richards in the Fantastic Four reboot that opens Friday, his star power is likely only to continue skywards.

Meanwhile, he's happily dating girlfriend of three years Keleigh Sperry.

On Wednesday, following Tuesday night's premiere of Fantastic Four in New York City, the loved up couple were seen relaxing in a Manhattan park.

The pair sat on a bench at Washington Square Park while they listened to a band perform music.

Miles Teller & Keleigh Sperry at Fantastic Four NY premiere

Hollywood lifestyle: The Pennsylvania native and his longtime girlfriend got dressed up for the red carpet premiere of Fantastic Four in NYC on Tuesday