scorecardHow old the stars of 'Twilight' were compared to their characters' ages
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How old the stars of 'Twilight' were compared to their characters' ages

Olivia Singh   

How old the stars of 'Twilight' were compared to their characters' ages
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in "Twilight."Summit Entertainment
  • "Twilight" was released in November 2008, starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson.
  • The movie is centered on 17-year-old Bella Swan falling in love with a vampire named Edward Cullen.

Kristen Stewart, then 18, starred as 17-year-old Bella Swan.

Kristen Stewart, then 18, starred as 17-year-old Bella Swan.
Left: Kristen Stewart as Bella in "Twilight." Right: Stewart at the LA premiere of "Twilight" in November 2008.      Summit Entertainment; Kevin Winter/Getty Images

"Twilight" begins with Bella moving from Phoenix, Arizona to Forks, Washington to live with her dad.

Stewart was already an established actor when she landed the role of the "Twilight" protagonist, having starred in movies like "Panic Room" and "Into the Wild."

Robert Pattinson played Edward Cullen, who was turned into a vampire when he was 17 years old. The British actor was 22 at the time.

Robert Pattinson played Edward Cullen, who was turned into a vampire when he was 17 years old. The British actor was 22 at the time.
Left: Robert Pattinson as Edward in "Twilight." Right: Pattinson at the LA premiere of "Twilight" in November 2008.      Summit Entertainment; Steve Granitz/WireImage

Technically, Edward was more than 100 years old. He was turned into a vampire in 1918 as he was on the verge of dying from Spanish influenza.

Before playing a brooding vampire in "Twilight," Pattinson starred as Cedric Diggory in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."

At 16 years old, Taylor Lautner was close in age to his character Jacob Black, Bella's friend who had a crush on her.

At 16 years old, Taylor Lautner was close in age to his character Jacob Black, Bella
Left: Taylor Lautner as Jacob in "Twilight." Right: Lautner at the LA premiere of "Twilight" in November 2008.      Summit Entertainment; Chris Polk/FilmMagic

Jacob was 15 in the first movie. Jacob became part of a love triangle with Bella and Edward as the franchise went on.

At the time, Lautner was known for roles in "The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D" and "Cheaper by the Dozen 2."

Billy Burke, then 41 years old, played Charlie Swan, Bella's dad.

Billy Burke, then 41 years old, played Charlie Swan, Bella
Left: Billy Burke as Charlie in "Twilight." Right: Burke at the LA premiere of "Twilight" in November 2008.      Summit Entertainment; Chris Polk/FilmMagic

He was a police chief in Forks and had an affinity for steaks. Charlie's age wasn't specified in "Twilight."

Before starring in the "Twilight" franchise, Burke had roles on TV shows like "Gilmore Girls," "Law & Order," and "24."

Gil Birmingham, 55, portrayed Billy Black, Jacob's dad.

Gil Birmingham, 55, portrayed Billy Black, Jacob
Left: Gil Birmingham as Billy Black in "Twilight." Right: Birmingham at the LA premiere of "Twilight" in November 2008.      Summit Entertainment; Steve Granitz/WireImage

He was best friends with Charlie and his age was unclear. Billy and Jacob were part of the Quileute tribe.

Before "Twilight," Birmingham guest-starred on shows like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Charmed," and "Veronica Mars."

Peter Facinelli, 34, starred as Dr. Carlisle Cullen.

Peter Facinelli, 34, starred as Dr. Carlisle Cullen.
Left: Peter Facinelli as Carlisle Cullen in "Twilight." Right: Facinelli at the LA premiere of "Twilight" in November 2008.      Summit Entertainment; Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Carlisle and the Cullen family distinguished themselves from other vampires because they hunted animals, not humans.

Before "Twilight," Facinelli starred in the '90s movie "Can't Hardly Wait" and the drama series "Fastlane."

Elizabeth Reaser, then 33, portrayed Esme Cullen, Carlisle's wife.

Elizabeth Reaser, then 33, portrayed Esme Cullen, Carlisle
Left: Elizabeth Reaser as Esme in "Twilight." Right: Reaser at the LA premiere of "Twilight" in November 2008.      Summit Entertainment; Matt Sayles/AP

Carlisle and Esme moved from town to town every couple of years with their adoptive children to avoid suspicions about their unchanging physical appearances.

Outside of "Twilight," Reaser guest-starred on shows like "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "The Sopranos," and "Grey's Anatomy."

Ashley Greene was 21 when she played Alice Cullen, a vampire who posed as a high-school student.

Ashley Greene was 21 when she played Alice Cullen, a vampire who posed as a high-school student.
Left: Ashley Greene as Alice Cullen in "Twilight." Right: Greene at the LA premiere of "Twilight" in November 2008.      Summit Entertainment; Matt Sayles/AP

Alice could see the future through visions.

Greene had only been acting professionally a couple of years before she landed the role of Alice.

Jackson Rathbone was 24 when he played Jasper Hale, the most recent addition to the Cullen family.

Jackson Rathbone was 24 when he played Jasper Hale, the most recent addition to the Cullen family.
Left: Jackson Rathbone as Jasper Hale in "Twilight." Right: Rathbone at the LA premiere of "Twilight" in November 2008.      Summit Entertainment; Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Jasper, also pretending to be a high schooler, could feel and manipulate people's emotions.

Nikki Reed, 20, played Rosalie Hale.

Nikki Reed, 20, played Rosalie Hale.
Left: Nikki Reed as Rosalie Hale in "Twilight." Right: Reed at the LA premiere of "Twilight" in November 2008.      Summit Entertainment; Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Rosalie was far less welcoming toward Bella than the rest of her family when they first met.

At the time, Reed was known for starring in the film "Thirteen." She cowrote the script with director Catherine Hardwicke, who also helmed "Twilight."

Kellan Lutz was 23 when he starred as Emmett Cullen, the most athletic member of the family who also pretended to be high-school age.

Kellan Lutz was 23 when he starred as Emmett Cullen, the most athletic member of the family who also pretended to be high-school age.
Left: Kellan Lutz as Emmett Cullen in "Twilight." Right: Lutz at the LA premiere of "Twilight" in November 2008.      Summit Entertainment; Lester Cohen/WireImage

The running joke among the Cullen clan was that they accumulated a plethora of graduation caps because they repeated high school so often.

Before "Twilight" fame, Lutz guest-starred on "The Bold and the Beautiful," "CSI: NY," "Heroes," and "Generation Kill."

Cam Gigandet, 26, portrayed the villain, James.

Cam Gigandet, 26, portrayed the villain, James.
Left: Cam Gigandet as James in "Twilight." Right: Gigandet at the LA premiere of "Twilight" in November 2008.      Summit Entertainment; Kevin Winter/Getty Images

James was a vampire who was a skilled tracker. Once he caught Bella's scent, he was determined to hunt her down. His age wasn't specified.

Before "Twilight," Gigandet played an antagonist on the hit drama series "The O.C."

Rachelle Lefevre, then 29 years old, played Victoria, another nomadic vampire from James' coven.

Rachelle Lefevre, then 29 years old, played Victoria, another nomadic vampire from James
Left: Rachelle Lefevre as Victoria in "Twilight." Right: Lefevre at the LA premiere of "Twilight" in November 2008.      Summit Entertainment; Steve Granitz/WireImage

After Edward and the Cullens murdered James, Victoria became fixated on getting revenge by killing Bella.

Before starring in the franchise, Lefevre had roles on shows like "How I Met Your Mother," "Bones," and "Veronica Mars."

Edi Gathegi, 29, played another nomadic vampire named Laurent.

Edi Gathegi, 29, played another nomadic vampire named Laurent.
Left: Edi Gathegi as Laurent in "Twilight." Right: Gathegi at the LA premiere of "Twilight" in November 2008.      Summit Entertainment; Lester Cohen/WireImage

He was 300 years old.

Gathegi started acting professionally a few years before "Twilight," landing parts on "Veronica Mars," "House," and more series.

Anna Kendrick was 23 when she portrayed Jessica, Bella's self-centered friend at Forks High School.

Anna Kendrick was 23 when she portrayed Jessica, Bella
Left: Anna Kendrick as Jessica in "Twilight." Right: Kendrick at the LA premiere of "Twilight" in November 2008.      Summit Entertainment; Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Jessica was in the same grade as Bella, making her approximately 17 years old.

Kendrick was already a Tony Award nominee at the time, thanks to her supporting performance in the Broadway musical "High Society."

Michael Welch, 21, played Mike, another junior at Forks High School.

Michael Welch, 21, played Mike, another junior at Forks High School.
Left: Michael Welch as Mike in "Twilight." Right: Welch at the LA premiere of "Twilight" in November 2008.      Summit Entertainment; Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Mike had a crush on Bella ever since her first day of school in Forks.

Welch had been acting since the '90s, with roles on TV shows like "Frasier," "Walker, Texas Ranger," and "7th Heaven." He also played Artim in the 1998 movie "Star Trek: Insurrection."

At 27, Justin Chon (Eric) was the oldest of the actors who played Bella's human friends.

At 27, Justin Chon (Eric) was the oldest of the actors who played Bella
Left: Justin Chon as Eric in "Twilight." Right: Chon at the LA premiere of "Twilight" in November 2008.      Summit Entertainment; Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Eric considered himself the "eyes and ears" of Forks High School.

Before "Twilight," Chon appeared on a season three episode of "The O.C." and starred alongside Brenda Song in the 2006 DCOM "Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior."

Christian Serratos, 18, portrayed Angela, a shy student at Forks High School.

Christian Serratos, 18, portrayed Angela, a shy student at Forks High School.
Left: Christian Serratos as Angela in "Twilight." Right: Serratos at the LA premiere of "Twilight" in November 2008.      Summit Entertainment; Kevin Winter/Getty Images

She was also a junior, making her around 17 years old.

At the time, Serratos was also known for her recurring role as Suzie Crabgrass on the Nickelodeon show "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide."

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