Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart may have moved on from “Twilight” years ago, but the former co-stars still agree on one thing about making the vampire romance: They took it very seriously.
Stewart, 36, reflected on playing Bella Swan during the August 14 episode of the “In Your Dreams With Owen Thiele” podcast. While poking fun at her teenage self, Stewart recalled how she and Pattinson approached the first “Twilight” movie with complete sincerity.
Her comments closely echoed what Pattinson, 40, said about the movie just four months earlier.
“It was so, so serious,” Stewart said on the podcast. “Me and Rob were like, ‘Yeah, this is like (expletive) epic, like, let’s try and, like, elevate this (expletive).’ And it’s like, just be exactly what age you are, and like say the words.”
Kristen Stewart Admits She & Robert Pattinson Took ‘Twilight’ Very Seriously
Stewart was 17 when she filmed the first “Twilight” movie, which Catherine Hardwicke directed and released in 2008.
Looking back, Stewart described herself as a “pretentious little loser” and acknowledged that she and Pattinson brought a distinctly teenage attitude to their performances.
“It was always like, ‘Oh my God, embarrassing. God, I just wanted to be like (expletive) real and it’s, like, impossible. Everyone’s like making it (expletive) impossible for it to be like (expletive) real,’” Stewart said. “And then you look at it, and you’re like, it was (expletive) real.”
Despite joking about how seriously she approached Bella, Stewart said she isn’t bothered that people continue asking about “Twilight” nearly two decades after the first movie premiered. She also said she would be open to doing another film.
Pattinson made a remarkably similar observation about the franchise during an April interview with Vogue.
“I really love that movie,” Pattinson said. “I think I would have done it exactly the same — to be honest, I don’t even think I’d be able to do the performance now. Everybody was approaching it so earnestly and took it really, really, really seriously.”
Pattinson said that sincerity helped define the movie.
“There was no kind of tongue-in-cheek element. No one’s winking at the audience,” he continued. “It’s like it’s very real, which is strange for a movie about a vampire romance.”
‘Twilight’ Director Reveals Robert Pattinson Almost Didn’t Get Edward Cullen Role
While Pattinson and Stewart now agree about the seriousness they brought to “Twilight,” Hardwicke previously revealed that the studio initially needed convincing that the “Harry Potter” star was right for Edward Cullen.
During an appearance on the “Watchalong” podcast, Hardwicke recalled Pattinson auditioning with Stewart at her home.
“When he came over to my house, he had black bangs, hair with dyed black bangs. He was kind of out of shape ’cause he was hanging out at the pub all the time and stuff,” Hardwicke said.
The director became convinced after reviewing footage from the audition.
“After we did the fun auditions [with Kristen] at my house for a couple hours … The next morning, I looked at all the footage I shot and had recorded, and I thought, it works not just in person but it works on screen,” she said. “I had to be sure ’cause in person, I got carried away, but you have to be sure: Does it really translate [to the screen]?”
Summit Entertainment executives weren’t immediately convinced.
“They called me back and go, ‘Do you think you can make this guy look good?’” Hardwicke recalled. “I’m like, ‘Yeah, I do. Did you see his cheekbone? Here’s a photograph. We’re doing a makeover on the hair. … He’s gonna start working out, and he’s gonna be gorgeous.’ But they didn’t believe it at first. He walked over there, I think, with a stained shirt.”
Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart Have Reunited Years After Their Split
Pattinson and Stewart’s relationship eventually extended beyond the movie screen. The two dated from 2009 until 2013 after meeting while making “Twilight.”
Hardwicke also revealed on the podcast that she has since reunited with both actors socially.
“Strangely enough, I went to Rob’s birthday party recently,” Hardwicke said. “I crashed with my friend Toni Collette, [who] had just done a movie with him. Rob’s like, ‘Yeah, bring Catherine!’ We had a fun thing, and then Kristen crashed it too!”
Hardwicke said the unexpected reunion brought back memories of their time together.
“It was like, oh my god. Everybody, we all hugged each other,” she said. “It’s like, this is so crazy and cool.”
Stewart has also moved into a new chapter personally. She married writer and director Dylan Meyer in April 2025. Meyer directed Stewart in the upcoming comedy “The Wrong Girls,” which also stars Alia Shawkat.
