How Kristen Stewart Really Feels About The Twilight Saga

Love it or hate, "The Twilight Saga" was a cultural phenomenon that dominated both the publishing and cinematic worlds for several years. Stephenie Meyer's four-book series made her the bestselling author in the U.S. for both 2008 and 2009 (via Forbes). According to CheatSheet, the five films based on her novels earned over $3.3 billion at the box office, and propelled relative unknowns Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson into megastardom.

It's been 13 years since Stewart first played Bella Swan, the moody high school teen who falls in love with a brooding vampiric classmate played by Pattinson. In the years since, the actor has had a variety of roles, though none as big as her "Twilight" years. Only 17 years old when she was cast in the role, Stewart could not have imagined the fame and attention she'd receive playing Bella. With her time as Bella ending in 2012 with "Breaking Dawn — Part Two," Stewart has had some time to look back on those years.

Not long after "The Twilight Saga" ended, Kristen Stewart had a conversation with famed singer-songwriter Patti Smith for the pages of Interview. Reflecting on her breakthrough role, Stewart said she remains incredibly proud of her work on "Twilight." She understands that the films are not everyone's cup of tea, but for her, "the memory of it felt, still feels, really good." In 2017, Stewart told Elle that she felt "lucky to have had that experience."

Of course, with superstardom comes the inevitable loss of privacy. For Stewart, who was dating co-star Robert Pattinson, the scrutiny was even more intense. Typically shy and introverted, Stewart found herself in the uneasy position of being pop culture's center of attention. Speaking to Elle in 2019, the actor said people often misunderstood her introversion, instead believing her to be moody and contrarian. She also said the spotlight caused her to have panic attacks and stomachaches, which is why, after "The Twilight Saga" ended, she focused more on smaller independent films. According to Stewart, those projects allowed her to be looked at as an actor, and not "the girl from 'Twilight.'"