The Twilight franchise first stole our hearts through the books and then on the big screen with Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson as the co-protagonists. It’s been 13 years since its premiere in 2008, and that’s why we decided to learn about the lives of the actors who appeared in it and how they look today after putting aside their vampire costumes.
1. Kristen Stewart — Bella Swan
Although Kristen began acting as a child — at the age of 12 she was Jodie Foster’s daughter in Panic Room, and its success opened doors for her in Hollywood — it was her starring role in the Twilight Saga that undoubtedly made her worldwide famous. During the filming of the saga, Kristen participated in another film: Snow White and the Huntsman, where she played the naive princess. Some of her latest works are the films Crimes of the Future and Spencer.
2. Robert Pattinson — Edward Cullen
Without a doubt, his starring role in the Twilight saga brought Pattinson to stardom. However, the English actor was already known at the time. At the age of 15, he started acting in the London theater club, and, some time later, he was chosen to play Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. In 2022, he incarnated a new Bruce Wayne in The Batman, a film in which he stars alongside Zoë Kravitz.
3. Billy Burke — Charlie Swan
Before becoming an actor, Burke was a musician; at the age of fifteen he played music in bands and it was a record label deal that drove him to move to Los Angeles. He became known for participating in the television series 24 and for acting in Gilmore Girls and Fringe, a science fiction series. His most recent work is Fire Country where he gives life to Vince Leone.
4. Sarah Clarke — Renée
Before playing Renée, Bella Swan’s immature mother, Clarke worked alongside Billy Burke in the series 24. But her screen debut was in the world of advertising, in a Volkswagen commercial called Synchronicity. While the Twilight saga was being filmed, she ventured into crime and espionage as the CIA agent Lena Smith in the series Secret Affairs. Her last appearance was in the film Alchemy of the Spirit.
5. Justin Chon — Eric Yorkie
In the saga, Chon played Eric Yorkie, Bella’s classmate. But Chon has explored different terrain beyond the world of acting. Since 2015, he has been writing and directing — one of his films, Gook, received several awards, one of them for best director —, he has a YouTube channel and is a member of BgA, a group that parodies K-pop, a popular South Korean genre. Nevertheless, he has never left the screen and can be seen in his latest series The Casagrandes.
6. Michael Welch — Mike Newton
Before becoming Mike Newton, the friend in love with Bella, Michael Welch was known for his role as Luke Girardi in the series Joan of Arcadia. He has appeared in very famous series such as CSI: Las Vegas, Bones, and Criminal Minds. In 2022 he acted in the film Hot Seat and in the series Quantum Leap.
7. Anna Kendrick — Jessica
Contrary to most of Kendrick’s colleagues in the saga, her role as Jessica, one of the main character’s friends, is far from being the most important in her career. Anna has shared the screen with celebrities such as George Clooney, Meryl Streep, and Ben Affleck. She has even written an autobiographical book, Scrappy Little Nobody. Her last work was in the film Alice, Darling.
8. Christian Serratos — Ángela Weber
Apart from the role of Bella’s best human friend, her most important role was undoubtedly that of Rosita Espinosa in The Walking Dead. Then she played Selena Quintanilla in the Netflix series Selena, based on the life of the popular singer. In her personal life, the actress promotes a vegan lifestyle and is in a relationship with David Boyd, the lead singer of the Danish rock band New Politics, with whom she has a son named Wolfgang.
9. Nikki Reed — Rosalie
Nikki Reed became known in 2003 for playing one of the lead roles in the movie Thirteen. She co-wrote the screenplay with Catherine Hardwicke, who also directed the first movie of the Twilight saga. The film is based on Reed’s own life and earned her the award for best debut and several other nominations. The actress had her first child with another vampire, actor Ian Somerhalder— star of The Vampire Diaries —, whom she married in April 2015.
10. Kellan Lutz — Emmet
After the famous saga, he played very well-known (and strong) characters. He was Poseidon in Immortals, he was the voice of Tarzan in the animated film Tarzan, and was Hercules in The Legend of Hercules. His most recent work is in The Guardians of Justice series playing King Tsunami.
11. Ashley Greene — Alice
Before getting the role, she was not known in the movie industry. While the saga was being made, she starred in suspense and horror films, such as Summer’s Blood and, in 2012, The Apparition. In 2022, she appeared in two other movies: Wrong Place, where she plays Chloé, and The Immaculate Room in which she is Simone.
12. Jackson Rathbone — Jasper
Jackson’s career is divided between the world of movies and series and that of music. On the screen, he can be seen in films such as The Guardians of Justice and Until We Meet Again. In the music business, the actor was part of the band 100 Monkeys. As a solo artist, he released the album American Spirits Blues, where he shows his skills with different instruments, such as guitar, harmonica, banjo, and mandolin.
What is your favorite movie in the Twilight saga? And your favorite character?
Although she behaved like usual, everyone she met mocked her
Jacqueline Adan, a 29-year-old woman from California, has an incredibly inspiring story that serves as a reminder that no dream is too far out of reach when you have determination and the will to succeed. Her journey is proof that with persistence, anything is possible—even when the goal feels impossible at first.
Jacqueline shared her incredible weight loss story on her blog, and it quickly resonated with millions of people, earning her a wide and dedicated following.
Here’s her story in her own words:
“I’m Jacqueline Adan, 29 years old, from California, and I’ve struggled with my weight my entire life.
From a young age, I battled with body image issues and hated the way I looked. As my self-esteem plummeted, my eating habits worsened. I became trapped in a cycle of overeating, feeling guilty afterward, but not knowing how to break free. No matter what diets I tried, I always gained the weight back, often with extra pounds added on.
I was constantly preoccupied with food and my body, and I was tired of living that way. In college, I completely gave up on dieting. I just wanted to experience a “normal” college life, so I ate whatever everyone else ate without concern.
But everything changed in 2011, just before my 25th birthday. My boyfriend, Kevin, and my sister, Jenny, suggested a trip to Disneyland, a place I’d always dreamed of visiting.
But when we arrived, my excitement quickly turned to frustration. I was so out of shape that I could barely walk through the gates without needing to rent a wheelchair. I felt humiliated and ashamed that my weight had gotten to a point where I couldn’t even enjoy the things I loved.
When I tried to go on a ride with my family, I realized I wouldn’t even fit on the turnstile. That moment was heartbreaking, and I couldn’t stop crying. But it was also a turning point. I knew then that I had to change. I was determined to get my life back.
A few weeks after that trip, in February 2012, I made a phone call to Jenny Craig. The moment I stepped on the scale and saw the number, I broke down in tears. But after wiping my eyes, I declared, ‘Okay, I can do this.’ I set a goal to lose 100 pounds, and I was determined to see it through. This time, I knew I couldn’t let anything stop me.
With the help of Jenny Craig, my family, and my friends, I lost 100 pounds in just one year. It was hard, but the results were incredible.
My next trip to Disneyland was different. I could fit on every ride. By 2013, I had lost 200 pounds, and I felt unstoppable.
But even though I had made great progress, I still faced challenges. I struggled to get enough calories, which made my migraines worse, and the weight loss was still hard. But I refused to give up. I started experimenting with new meals and learned to remind myself that eating wouldn’t undo my progress. Over time, I turned things around.
In January 2015, I joined a boot camp at “Fit For Life Solutions,” and I absolutely loved it!
Though I currently weigh around 350 pounds, I’m still working hard to maintain my health. This journey hasn’t been without its struggles, including issues with rashes, neck and back pain, and headaches from excess skin. I’m recovering from my first skin removal surgery, but I’m staying positive and focused on the future.
I still have a long way to go, but I’m proud of the progress I’ve made. I no longer feel ashamed of my body. I no longer need a wheelchair to enjoy places like Disneyland, and I no longer worry about fitting on rides.
In fact, my family jokingly says that I’ll have a destination wedding where I’ll skip the bridal gown and exchange vows in a white designer bikini instead.
As Disney says, ‘Anything is possible; all you need is a little bit of confidence, trust, and fairy dust.’ With determination and belief in ourselves, there’s no limit to what we can achieve.”
Jacqueline’s story is a powerful reminder that with the right mindset and support, we can overcome any obstacle.
Let’s celebrate her success by sharing this inspiring story with our family and friends!
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