Kristen: 'Twilight' Star Keeps Indie Cred

Variety.Com Kristen Stewart's been living a double life. By twilight, she stars as Bella Swan in the red-hot vampire franchise (the first two, "Twilight" and "New Moon," have grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, and "Eclipse" earned nearly $300 million domestic).

But while these global blockbusters have supercharged her career, the 20-year-old actress has also been moonlighting in such edgy indie films as "Welcome to the Rileys" (as a strung out New Orleans stripper) and "The Runaways" (where she portrayed hard-living '70s rocker Joan Jett). Both premiered at Sundance and further cemented her reputation as that Hollywood rarity, a beautiful actress more interested in substance than glamour, and with the acting chops to back it up.

The L.A. native has showbiz in her DNA -- her father's a TV producer, her Aussie mom a script supervisor -- and was discovered by a talent scout at a school Christmas play. After some small TV roles, she appeared in "The Safety of Objects" and then got her big break playing Jodie Foster's daughter in the David Fincher-directed 2002 thriller "Panic Room," mixing it up with provocative dramatic roles along the way, including a memorable turn as an underage, desert commune-dwelling seductress in Sean Penn's "Into the Wild."

Despite her new career trajectory, Stewart shows no sign of wanting to leave her indie cred in the dust. She just wrapped production on "On the Road," an adaptation of the Jack Kerouac novel directed by Walter Salles that shot in Argentina, and will play a male-to-female transsexual in "K-11," a prison drama co-written by her mother, who will also direct.

via

Great article on Kristen. This is part of their Youth Impact Report 2010: Bigscreen Kids.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love her Indie movies, she's amazing in Into The Wild and ext. I will support all her movies. Can't wait see OTR next year!!! GO GIRL

Jenn Ski said...

So that's what K-11 is about... interesting...

KrissyIlly said...

I didn't discover Twilight until after all the hype, I tend to ignore whatever's popular. I really noticed her in 'Into the Wild' and became a huge fan. I first saw her in 'Panic Room' and 'Speak' and she was great in those but ITW is one of my favorite movies ever and her short part was one of the most memorable parts in a movie I've ever seen. Me and my hubby even planned to visit slab city after seeing it. Looove her and the roles she chooses. Oh and funny thing too, I heard Rob's music before I started following him and Twilight... His music still kills me.

Anonymous said...

Yeah she is great in ITW, one of my fave movies too!

Marion said...

If anyone here hasn't seen The Cake Eaters yet,I highly recommend it. It's one of her strongest performances and for me the one that's hard to beat. Although her performance in WTTR could surprise me and top Cake Eaters.

Anonymous said...

And she's good in Adventureland too. Don't miss it~

Mon

Maka said...

@Mon, Kris is good in everything:))
With love, Maka

Malia said...

@Marion, I wholeheartedly agree w/U man! Her performance in "The CakeEaters" is incredible. Just absolutely LOVED it! Anyone here that hasn't seen it yet--you have to--it's one of her BEST! So far my list of favs is: 1)The Runaways 2)The CakeEaters 3)Into the Wild 4)Adventureland 5)Panic Room(cause of Jared Leto too,woot) & of course the best of all Twilight Saga w/our "Mr. Yummy Edward", mmmmmmmmmmmmm!!

Buffy said...

She's playing a transsexual?!?...

Anonymous said...

She is indeed a "Hollywood rarity" beautiful actress with substance AND glamour (she is ALL that!) and of course "with the acting chops to back it up".

Love the Stew.

Anonymous said...

I never knew that was K-11 was about!!! WOW! big one. Her mom's directing???that's too cool..i feel like Kristen's mom is kickass just like her! all sounds intriguing.

Mary

Twilola said...

For someone who did not go to acting classes, Kristen proves that her talent is innate and genuine. In spite of her relative youth, she has the rare ability to own and personalize all the characters she has played. As she continues to play more and more edgy indie parts, that Oscar nod keeps getting closer and closer for her to reach.

Keep shining, Kristen!!!

CHERRY said...

What I hate about indie is they not gonna show in some countries like in my place that's why im kinda sad about all her movies now, I should wait for the DVD or wherever I can watch it. :( but I'm still going to support her whatever she does, an indie movies and everything but I really do hope she'll do a not indie film :) I LOVE HER!

Jane said...

That's the problem with indie films. They either are not shown in very many theaters, like WTTR which is not showing anywhere near me) or the film goes straight to DVD. That's why I like that Kristen is getting recognized with the Twilight Saga. BTW, Eclipse has made over $300M domestically.