In 2005, Twilight came out. At the time, many people didn’t know what the movie was about or who the main characters were, but once the story broke, it became a phenomenon. The movie introduced the world to Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, and today, ten years later, they’re still among the most popular onscreen couple of all time. Who were these stars of Twilight before the movie came out? Let’s take a look back at their filmography to find out.
Early Life And Education
Kristen Stewart was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Joan, a nurse, and Dick, an industrial designer. She has an older sister named Grace. Growing up in a family that encouraged her creative side, Stewart developed an interest in arts and crafts from an early age. When she was ten years old, she started taking acting classes and would eventually graduate high school with honors. She subsequently attended New York University, where she majored in film and theater. While at NYU, she met Robert Pattinson, and the two became inseparable friends. During their time at NYU, the two reportedly worked on projects related to their favorite films, Midnight Cowboy and Once Upon a Time in America. In 2007, the couple graduated from NYU and began working on their acting careers. Before long, they were signed to play supporting roles in the upcoming movie, On the Road. In addition to acting, the two are also active in the arts community, participating in different philanthropic projects. For example, in 2012, they joined forces with designer Kate Spade to create a capsule collection for the charity Fashion for Peace, benefiting the victims of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. The couple has also been active in supporting the Trevor Project, an organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth.
Before Fame
Before she became the gorgeous and talented star she is today, Stewart struggled with her looks. Since her mother is Irish, Stewart has dark hair and green eyes. Many fashion publications referred to her as the “it” girl when she was a teenager, and she has since embraced the nickname. Before Twilight, Stewart starred in several smaller movies, including the indie comedy-drama Take Me Out and the short films Life During Wartime and The Inevitable. She also modeled in several high-profile fashion magazines, such as Italian and French Vogue. In 2013, Vanity Fair famously reported that Stewart’s then-boyfriend, director Rupert Sanders, called her “the most difficult actress to work with” and “a nightmare to deal with.” While Sanders did not respond to Vanity Fair’s inquiry about the veracity of these comments, he has since said they are true. In retrospect, it may not be surprising that Stewart struggled with her acting career before Twilight. After all, she was only 20 years old when she made that movie – and looking back, she admitted that it was not the best choice for her personal or professional life. “I had just turned 20. [Twilight] was the first movie I did when I was 20, and it definitely wasn’t the best movie to start my career with. I think I kind of lost a bit of myself in that character. I don’t regret anything, but I also don’t look at [Twilight] as being the best representation of me.”
Stewart’s Career
After making Twilight, Stewart decided to take a step back from acting. In an interview with Vanity Fair in 2012, she said she needed a “break” from Hollywood and wanted to explore other possibilities. She subsequently decided to move to New York City, where she could continue her education and expand her professional network.
Since moving to New York, Stewart has primarily worked as a fashion model. In the years since Twilight, she has walked the catwalk for notable designers, including Marc Jacobs and Ralph Lauren. She has appeared in advertisements for Burberry, Marc Jacobs, and Tory Burch, and has been photographed for Vogue and others. In addition to modeling, Stewart has also had some acting opportunities, such as a role in the web series The Giggle Factor and guest appearances on series including The Mindy Project and Mr. Robot.
Pattinson’s Career
As for Robert Pattinson, he continued acting after Twilight, appearing in the films Suburbicon, High Life, and The Rover. In 2013, he starred in the internationally-acclaimed movie The Great Gatsby as Nick Carraway, where he portrayed a legendary American billionaire. Since then, Pattinson has appeared in numerous films, including Midnight Sun and The Battle of the Sexes, as well as several popular television series, including The Good Place and The Crown.
Pattinson was born in England and raised in Scotland. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a first-class honors degree in art history. During his time at university, Pattinson began performing in both theatre and stand-up comedy, eventually leading to his role in the movie The Rover. He subsequently moved to Los Angeles, where he began dating Stewart. While in L.A., he appeared in the TV show Entourage and then later played a supporting role in Water for Elephants as Mr. Bridge, a love interest for Meryl Streep’s character.
Working With The Two Of Them
There are numerous examples of the power of Twilight’s influence on Stewart’s and Pattinson’s careers. Take, for example, Lost in Translation. The movie, which also starred Bill Murray, had its origin in a short story by Salomé Abercrombie about a lost Japanese language learner who befriends an American filmmaker. The two travel to Italy and end up finding themselves in the Taormina Film Festivals, where they meet up with Annie Lee, the Japanese girl who inspired the story. The resulting movie is an affectionate send-up of Old Hollywood meeting New Hollywood, with Kozintsev’s art decorating the set and Sofia Coppola’s costume design. It was during the making of Lost in Translation that Stewart and Pattinson met with Kate Spade and reunited with Sanders, who directed both Lost in Translation and The Rover. The two also collaborated on the script for The Rover. Let’s not forget about The Spectacular Now. The young adult drama, which also starred Joel Edgerton and Kirsten Dunst, had its genesis in a short story by Stephen Millennium Campbell about a college dropout who returns to his hometown only to discover that it’s been rebuilt around him. The writing and directing duo James Franco and Sam Raimi (the former of Evil Dead fame) adapted Campbell’s story for the big screen. In the process, they developed a deep friendship with Stewart and Pattinson.
To date, Stewart and Pattinson have remained close friends with Sanders, and after Twilight, the pair continued working with Spade on the fashion line Kate Spade New York. It was also during this time that they began to speak out about sexuality and gender identity, which led to them taking a stand against bullying and harassment. In 2015, Spade established the Love What Matters campaign with Pattinson and Stewart, dedicating the campaign to LGBTQ youth. The two have also been quite active in supporting gender fluid and affirming queer issues in film, advocating for increased transgender representation in media and asking studios to release more gay characters.
On the Road, Let Life Be, and Sisters are among the other noteworthy films that the two appeared in together. Besides working with Spade on Kate Spade New York, the two have remained close with Sanders and occasionally reunite with him on set. In 2016, they made their directorial debut with a short film, On the Road, which was based on the Jack Kerouac novel and followed the traveling phylosophy of the author.