'Twilight' Cast: Catch Up With the Charismatic Stars of the Ultimate Angsty Vampire Movies

The Twilight book series and subsequent film adaptations defined a generation with their dreamy mix of old-fashioned romance and gothic vampires. Filled with attractive actors and epic drama and cliffhangers, the Twilight franchise remains incredibly popular years after it first hit screens.

Based on the best-selling books by Stephenie Meyer, Twilight follows the shy and serious Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) as she moves in with her dad in the small, rainy town of Forks, Washington. During her time there, she meets the handsome, mysterious Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and falls in love. But there's just one catch — he's a vampire. Bella must then overcome her fears and learn a lot about the undead — and herself.

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The five movies in the Twilight series appealed to a passionate fanbase, brought in big money at the box office and established a new generation of talented young stars. Here's a look at the Twilight cast then and now.

Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan

Kristen Stewart starred as Bella Swan in all five Twilight films. While Bella made her a household name, it wasn't her first starring role.

Stewart began as a child actress, and had her first major role playing Jodie Foster's daughter in the 2002 thriller Panic Room. She was in movie like Catch That Kid (2004), Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005) and Into the Wild (2007).

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After leaving the vampire world behind, Stewart continued to take Hollywood by storm, starring in movies like Still Alice (2014), Charlie's Angels (2019) and Happiest Season (2020). She also established herself as an in-demand actress in independent films, and earned critical acclaim for her roles in Clouds of Sils Maria (2014), Personal Shopper (2016) and Crimes of the Future (2022).

In 2022, she played Princess Diana in Spencer, an intimate, artistic look at the struggles the Princess faced, and earned an Oscar nomination for the role. Now 34, she most recently starred as a gay gym employee in the '80s in the 2024 thriller Love Lies Bleeding.

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Looking back at Bella and Edward earlier this year, Stewart had some decidedly mixed feelings, saying, "I would have broken up with him immediately."

Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen: Twilight cast

The dreamy vampire Edward Cullen could only be played by British actor Robert Pattinson.

Pattinson came into the Twilight franchise relatively unknown, having only a few credits to his name beforehand, most notably playing Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005).

In between the Twilight movies, he could be found in the heartbreaking film Remember Me (2010) and the adaptation of the popular novel Water for Elephants (2011).

After the franchise ended, Pattinson, like Stewart, starred in quite a few indie films, among them Cosmopolis (2012), Maps to the Stars (2014), Good Time (2017), High Life (2018) and The Lighthouse (2019), and earned critical praise for his daring roles.

Pattinson had one of his biggest parts to date in 2022, when he played the titular superhero in the blockbuster film The Batman.

Now 37, he and his partner, the actress and singer Suki Waterhouse, had their first child this year.

Pattinson has often criticized the Twilight movies over the years, saying that "A lot of the stuff in the Twilight world doesn’t make any sense" — this may be true, but it certainly didn't stop audiences from falling in love!

Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black

Taylor Lautner rounded out the Twilight love triangle, playing the frequently shirtless werewolf Jacob Black.

Lautner was a child actor, with roles in The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D (2005) and Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005).

After Twilight, Lautner acted in movies like Tracers (2015), Run the Tide (2016) and Home Team (2022) and shows like Cuckoo (2014 — 2018) and Scream Queens (2016).

Now 32, Lautner married influencer Taylor Dome in 2022 (yes, she now also goes by Taylor Lautner!) and in 2023, he starred in Taylor Swift's music video for "I Can See You."

In a 2023 interview, Lautner admitted that being shirtless so often in the Twilight series was tricky for his body image, but in the years since, his view of himself has gotten "Much better, but certainly not perfect."

Billy Burke as Charlie Swan: Twilight cast

Billy Burke played Bella's dad, Charlie Swan.

He began acting in the '90s, and appeared in shows like 24 (2002 — 2003), Gilmore Girls (2003) and Law & Order (2007) among others.

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Twilight remains his best known film role, but he's continued to have an impressive resume in TV. He's starred in shows like Major Crimes (2015 — 2018), Zoo (2015 — 2017) and Maid (2021).

Now 57, he can currently be seen in the shows 9-1-1: Lone Star and Fire Country. Burke is also a musician and has released two albums.

Asked what he initially thought of Twilight, Burke said, "I didn’t really pay attention to the whole vampire aspect, actually. It was a really nice love story, and a really great relationship between a father and his daughter. I didn’t really have a clue that the movie would have that much success, but I had an idea that it would do something."

Ashley Greene as Alice Cullen

Ashley Greene played Edward's adopted sister, Alice Cullen.

Twilight was her first big role, and it remains the one she's best known for today. Since then, she's been in movies like CBGB (2013), Bombshell (2019) and Aftermath (2021).

Now 37, Greene most recently appeared in the 2023 thriller Some Other Woman.

Looking back on Twilight in a 2023 Hollywood Reporter interview, she said she was "obsessed with this book, like many people were, and just really wanted to do anything possible to be a part of the film."

Nikki Reed as Rosalie Hale: Twilight cast

Nikki Reed played the standoffish vampire Rosalie Hale, another one of Edward Cullen's adopted sisters.

As a teenager, Reed made her screen debut in the 2003 indie film Thirteen, a harrowing story of adolescent rebellion. Reed also co-wrote the film, and the writer and director, Catherine Hardwicke went on to direct Twilight and cast Reed again.

Since then, she's appeared in movies like Empire State (2013) and Jack Goes Home (2016). She's also been in TV shows like The O.C. (2006), Sleepy Hollow (2015 — 2016) and V-Wars (2019).

Now 35, Reed married fellow actor Ian Somerhalder (who also played a vampire, in the series The Vampire Diaries!) in 2015. They have two children. She also has her own jewelry line, BaYou With Love.

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Kellan Lutz as Emmett Cullen

Kellan Lutz played the burly Emmett Cullen, Edward's adopted brother.

Before got his fangs, his work included movies like Stick It (2006), Accepted (2006) and Prom Night (2008).

After Twilight, Lutz appeared in action movies like The Expendables 3 (2014), The Legend of Hercules (2014) and Extraction (2015). Now 39, he most recently appeared in the 2023 film Due Justice.

In a 2018 Screen Rant interview, Lutz reflected on the filming of Twilight, saying, "I just love all the fighting scenes. The wedding scene was really fun because I felt like there was so much build up to it, and also the baseball scene because we were just so innocent and pure. There were no security guards for each actor at that point, so we were just able to be."

Jackson Rathbone as Jasper Hale: Twilight cast

Jackson Rathbone played another vampire in the Cullen clan, Jasper Hale.

Before Twilight, he appeared in the shows Beautiful People (2005) and The O.C. (2006).

After Twilight, he could be seen in movies like Live at the Foxes Den (2013), Samson (2018) and Mixtape (2021). He most recently appeared in the 2024 film Books & Drinks.

Now 39, Rathbone was also in the band 100 Monkeys from 2008 to 2012.

Talking about Twilight in 2023, he said, "It was a film that spoke to a lot of people... and it made people feel things, and so it's it's cool to have been a part of something so momentous. Yeah, I look back at those years with a lot of fondness, and I love my cast, and I love the stories we were able to tell."

Peter Facinelli as Dr. Carlisle Cullen

Peter Facinelli played Carlisle Cullen, Edward's surprisingly compassionate adoptive father.

Facinelli began acting in the '90s, and appeared in a number of TV movies. He also acted in the teen movie Can't Hardly Wait (1998) and starred in the show Fastlane from 2002 to 2003. From 2009 to 2015, he was in the cast of Nurse Jackie.

Since Twilight, he had recurring roles in Supergirl from 2015 to 2016 and S.W.A.T. from 2017 to 2018.

Now 50, Facinelli most recently directed and starred in the 2023 movie On Fire.

In an interview, he revealed another actor was originally going to play Carlisle, and joked that he got the part because he gave the director a book about vampires on the day the original actor happened to drop out.

Elizabeth Reaser as Esme Cullen: Twilight cast

Elizabeth Reaser played the Cullen family's adoptive matriarch, Esme.

Reaser appeared in films like The Family Stone (2005) and Puccini for Beginners (2006), and had an 18-episode run on Grey's Anatomy from 2007 to 2008 before Twilight. She also frequently acted on the stage.

Since Twilight, she has been in The Good Wife (2010 — 2012), The Haunting of Hill House (2018), The Handmaid's Tale (2019) and Impeachment: American Crime Story (2021) and the movies Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016) and Embattled (2020).

Now 48, she most recently acted in the 2024 film The Uninvited.

In a 2012 interview with the New Haven Register, Reaser said Twilight can "genuinely make you feel hopeful in your heart again, and I think that's what audiences connect to. I don't think it has anything do with people taking their shirts off. Anyone can take their shirt off, anyone can make a vampire movie, but I think at the end of the day, it's really grounded in these stories, these characters and these themes."

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