Photo: Kimberley French/Summit; Presley Ann/Getty
When the movie adaptation ofStephenie Meyer’s 2005 vampire teen romance novelTwilighthit the big screen on Nov. 21, 2008, its fanfare didn’t just spawn a generation of Twihards — it broughtup-and-coming and established talentalong for the journey. (EvenTaylor Swiftauditioned for the movie!)
ButKristen Stewart,Robert PattinsonandTaylor Lautnerweren’t the only stars ofThe Twilight Saga.
The franchise — comprised ofTwilight(2008),The Twilight Saga: New Moon(2009), The Twilight Saga: Eclipse(2010),The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1(2011) andThe Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2(2012) — contains plenty of appearances from actors you likely forgot starred in one or more of the movies.
Is your memory as good as Edward Cullen’s? Read on to see how many of these actors you remember from the hit teen franchise.
01of 08Anna Kendrick as Jessica StanleySummit Entertainment; Randy Shropshire/GettyAnna Kendrickplayed Jessica, one of the first students at Forks High School whom Bella (Stewart) befriends. She took on the part a year before earning a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for 2009’sUp in the Air— just one of the performances she’s become most known for.Don’t feel too bad if you missed she was ever in the hit franchise — she did too! In 2018, theA Simple Favoractress admitted forgetting she was inTwilight— just a few days after the film’s 10-year anniversary. “Holy s—. I just remembered I was inTwilight,” Kendrickwrote on X(formerly Twitter).The actress appeared in four of the franchise’s five films:Twilight,New Moon, EclipseandBreaking Dawn — Part 1. Since the saga’s conclusion, Kendrick has developed a knack for cinching franchise roles, appearing in both thePitch PerfectandTrollsmovie series. She made herdirectorial debutwith 2023’sWoman of the Hour, in which she also stars as Cheryl Bradshaw — the woman who appeared onThe Dating Gamewithserial killer Rodney Alcala as a contestant.
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Anna Kendrick as Jessica Stanley
Summit Entertainment; Randy Shropshire/Getty
Anna Kendrickplayed Jessica, one of the first students at Forks High School whom Bella (Stewart) befriends. She took on the part a year before earning a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for 2009’sUp in the Air— just one of the performances she’s become most known for.
Don’t feel too bad if you missed she was ever in the hit franchise — she did too! In 2018, theA Simple Favoractress admitted forgetting she was inTwilight— just a few days after the film’s 10-year anniversary. “Holy s—. I just remembered I was inTwilight,” Kendrickwrote on X(formerly Twitter).
The actress appeared in four of the franchise’s five films:Twilight,New Moon, EclipseandBreaking Dawn — Part 1. Since the saga’s conclusion, Kendrick has developed a knack for cinching franchise roles, appearing in both thePitch PerfectandTrollsmovie series. She made herdirectorial debutwith 2023’sWoman of the Hour, in which she also stars as Cheryl Bradshaw — the woman who appeared onThe Dating Gamewithserial killer Rodney Alcala as a contestant.
02of 08Dakota Fanning as JaneKimberley French/Summit; Presley Ann/GettyDakota Fanningstarred in three of theTwilightmovies as Jane, one of the sinister members of the Volturi — the guard that rules over vampires.A then-15-year-old Fanning first appeared inNew Moonbefore reprising her role inEclipseandBreaking Dawn — Part 2. It was also one of the first times the former child actress had crossed over to the dark side for a role.“This is a character that really takes pleasure in causing people pain,” shetoldEntertainment Weeklyin 2009. “And that’s kind of a fascinating character to get to play. So that was definitely one of the reasons that I wanted to do it.“Fanning has remained busy since theTwilightmovies, starring onThe Alienistand landing roles in critically acclaimed films likeOcean’s 8(2018) andOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood(2019) as well as the action-packedThe Equalizer 3(2023).
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Dakota Fanning as Jane
Kimberley French/Summit; Presley Ann/Getty
Dakota Fanningstarred in three of theTwilightmovies as Jane, one of the sinister members of the Volturi — the guard that rules over vampires.
A then-15-year-old Fanning first appeared inNew Moonbefore reprising her role inEclipseandBreaking Dawn — Part 2. It was also one of the first times the former child actress had crossed over to the dark side for a role.
“This is a character that really takes pleasure in causing people pain,” shetoldEntertainment Weeklyin 2009. “And that’s kind of a fascinating character to get to play. So that was definitely one of the reasons that I wanted to do it.”
Fanning has remained busy since theTwilightmovies, starring onThe Alienistand landing roles in critically acclaimed films likeOcean’s 8(2018) andOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood(2019) as well as the action-packedThe Equalizer 3(2023).
03of 08Rami Malek as BenjaminSummit Entertainment; GettyBefore becoming a household name onMr. Robotand winning the Best Actor Oscar forBohemian Rhapsodyin 2019,Rami Malekappeared as the gifted vampire Benjamin inBreaking Dawn — Part 2.In the franchise’s final installment, Malek plays an Egyptian vampire who helps Bella and Edward (Pattinson) when the Volturi come knocking. It’s one of the few times the actor has played a character with his same ethnicity. Even so, Malek admitted he wasn’t entirely sold on the role initially.“I remember [my agent] sayingTwilight, and I said, ‘Ummm, not my cup of tea,’ " he told theSeattle Post-Intelligencer,per Elite Daily. “They said, ‘You should probably take this.’ I said, ‘OK,’ and went in for the audition. When I got the job, I remember getting really excited, thinking it was cool. I wanted to be a part of something that was historic in a way. Now I’m really glad I did it.“Malek has continued to make his mark in the industry as a serious actor, with acting credits in blockbusters likeNo Time to Die(2021),Amsterdam(2022) andOppenheimer(2023).
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Rami Malek as Benjamin
Summit Entertainment; Getty
Before becoming a household name onMr. Robotand winning the Best Actor Oscar forBohemian Rhapsodyin 2019,Rami Malekappeared as the gifted vampire Benjamin inBreaking Dawn — Part 2.
In the franchise’s final installment, Malek plays an Egyptian vampire who helps Bella and Edward (Pattinson) when the Volturi come knocking. It’s one of the few times the actor has played a character with his same ethnicity. Even so, Malek admitted he wasn’t entirely sold on the role initially.
“I remember [my agent] sayingTwilight, and I said, ‘Ummm, not my cup of tea,’ " he told theSeattle Post-Intelligencer,per Elite Daily. “They said, ‘You should probably take this.’ I said, ‘OK,’ and went in for the audition. When I got the job, I remember getting really excited, thinking it was cool. I wanted to be a part of something that was historic in a way. Now I’m really glad I did it.”
Malek has continued to make his mark in the industry as a serious actor, with acting credits in blockbusters likeNo Time to Die(2021),Amsterdam(2022) andOppenheimer(2023).
04of 08Michael Sheen as AroSipa; Slaven Vlasic/GettyMichael Sheenplayed the all-powerful Aro, who led the villainous Volturi clan in their control of all vampires.The veteran Welsh actor is also memorably part of the iconicBreaking Dawn — Part 2scene that briefly showed every favorite character’s demise before it was revealed to be a vision that hadn’t yet come to pass.Speaking to Colliderin 2012 about playing the character, Sheen said: “I enjoyed it! It was hard work because we spent a long time on that set, in the snow and the forest, but it was great. It was probably the most enjoyable one to do, and I think it’s certainly the most enjoyable one to watch. I really enjoyed it. And it’s the end of the story, as well, which gives it a lot more of a bittersweet quality.“Sheen has acted in plenty of big projects since leaving his Volturi red eyes behind, starring on shows likeGood OmensandStagedand appearing in such films asNocturnal Animals(2016),Dolittle(2020) andLast Train to Christmas(2021).
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Michael Sheen as Aro
Sipa; Slaven Vlasic/Getty
Michael Sheenplayed the all-powerful Aro, who led the villainous Volturi clan in their control of all vampires.
The veteran Welsh actor is also memorably part of the iconicBreaking Dawn — Part 2scene that briefly showed every favorite character’s demise before it was revealed to be a vision that hadn’t yet come to pass.
Speaking to Colliderin 2012 about playing the character, Sheen said: “I enjoyed it! It was hard work because we spent a long time on that set, in the snow and the forest, but it was great. It was probably the most enjoyable one to do, and I think it’s certainly the most enjoyable one to watch. I really enjoyed it. And it’s the end of the story, as well, which gives it a lot more of a bittersweet quality.“Sheen has acted in plenty of big projects since leaving his Volturi red eyes behind, starring on shows likeGood OmensandStagedand appearing in such films asNocturnal Animals(2016),Dolittle(2020) andLast Train to Christmas(2021).
05of 08Jamie Campbell Bower as CaiusKimberley French/Summit; Dave Benett/GettyJamie Campbell Bower is no stranger to book adaptations. Though he starred as part of the vicious Volturi coven inNew Moonand bothBreaking Dawnmovies, he also had roles inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1as a young version of Gellert Grindelwald (a role he reprised in 2018’sFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald) and 2013’sThe Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.Fun fact: Bower, a self-proclaimed Twihard, originally tried for a different part.“I was originally auditioning for the role of Demetri inNew Moon, and then they said, ‘We think you’d be more fitting as Caius,’ ” hetold EWin 2009. “And I said, ‘Well, that’s very kind of you; I’d love to come along and play him.’ And I was aware of the character, I was aware very much of the particularly strong presence the Volturi have inBreaking Dawn.“Since the series ended, Bower has found even more stardom on television, scoring the major role of the ominous Henry Creel (a.k.a.Vecna) on season 4 ofStranger Things.
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Jamie Campbell Bower as Caius
Kimberley French/Summit; Dave Benett/Getty
Jamie Campbell Bower is no stranger to book adaptations. Though he starred as part of the vicious Volturi coven inNew Moonand bothBreaking Dawnmovies, he also had roles inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 1as a young version of Gellert Grindelwald (a role he reprised in 2018’sFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald) and 2013’sThe Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.
Fun fact: Bower, a self-proclaimed Twihard, originally tried for a different part.
“I was originally auditioning for the role of Demetri inNew Moon, and then they said, ‘We think you’d be more fitting as Caius,’ ” hetold EWin 2009. “And I said, ‘Well, that’s very kind of you; I’d love to come along and play him.’ And I was aware of the character, I was aware very much of the particularly strong presence the Volturi have inBreaking Dawn.”
Since the series ended, Bower has found even more stardom on television, scoring the major role of the ominous Henry Creel (a.k.a.Vecna) on season 4 ofStranger Things.
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Bryce Dallas Howard as Victoria
Summit Entertainment; Frazer Harrison/Getty
Brought in for the third film in the saga,Eclipse, to replace Rachelle Lefevre (who originated the vengeful vampire Victoria inTwilightandNew Moon),Bryce Dallas Howardwent on to reprise her role inBreaking Dawn — Part 2.
AfterTwilight, Howard went on to star in 2011’s critically acclaimedThe Helpbefore landing her breakout part as Claire Dearing inJurassic World(2015),Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom(2018) andJurassic World Dominion(2022).
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Lee Pace as Garrett
Summit Entertainment; Kevin Mazur/MG21/Getty
A former nomadic vampire,Lee Pace’s Garrett brings an air of levity to the final installment in theTwilightfranchise,Breaking Dawn — Part 2.
08of 08Christian Serratos as Angela WeberSummit Entertainment; Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/GettyAfter her turn as Bella’s shy and nerdy friend Angela,Christian Serratos— who appeared in the first four movies — went on to book parts onAmerican Horror Story: Murder HouseandThe Secret Life of the American Teenagerbefore landing a starring role onThe Walking Deadas Rosita Espinosa from 2014 to 2022.The actress returned to the spotlight again in 2020 with her portrayal of the late singerSelena Quintanillaon Netflix’sSelena: The Series.
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Christian Serratos as Angela Weber
Summit Entertainment; Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty
After her turn as Bella’s shy and nerdy friend Angela,Christian Serratos— who appeared in the first four movies — went on to book parts onAmerican Horror Story: Murder HouseandThe Secret Life of the American Teenagerbefore landing a starring role onThe Walking Deadas Rosita Espinosa from 2014 to 2022.
The actress returned to the spotlight again in 2020 with her portrayal of the late singerSelena Quintanillaon Netflix’sSelena: The Series.
source: people.com
