page_title: Kristen Stewart
section_title: 2008–2012: The Twilight Saga and worldwide recognition
hierarchical_section_title: Kristen Stewart / Career / 2008–2012: The Twilight Saga and worldwide recognition
caption_attribution_description: English: American actress Kristen Stewart at the UK film premiere of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2, Empire Cinema, Leicester Square, London, on 14 November 2012.
context_page_description: Kristen Jaymes Stewart is an American actress and filmmaker. The world's highest-paid actress in 2010 and 2012, she is the recipient of several accolades, including a BAFTA Award and a César Award, which she was the first American actress to win.
  Born and raised in Los Angeles to an American father and Australian mother, both of whom work in show business, Stewart first gained notice at age 12 for her role as the daughter of Jodie Foster's character in David Fincher's thriller Panic Room, which earned her a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Feature Film. She subsequently starred in Speak, Catch That Kid, Zathura: A Space Adventure, and Into the Wild. In 2010, she was awarded the BAFTA Rising Star Award. Stewart went on to gain worldwide recognition for her role as Bella Swan in The Twilight Saga film series, which collectively grossed over $3.3 billion worldwide.
  After starring in the fantasy film Snow White and the Huntsman, Stewart eschewed roles in big-budget films in favor of independent productions for the next few years. She took on roles in the dramas Camp X-Ray and Still Alice, and the science fiction romance Equals.
context_section_description: On November 16, 2007, Summit Entertainment announced that Stewart would play main character Isabella "Bella" Swan in the film Twilight, based on Stephenie Meyer's bestselling vampire romance novel of the same name. Stewart was on the set of Adventureland when director Catherine Hardwicke visited her for an informal screen test, which "captivated" the director. She starred alongside Robert Pattinson, who plays Edward Cullen, her vampire boyfriend. The film began production in February 2008 and finished filming in May 2008.
  Twilight was released domestically on November 21, 2008. Stewart's performance garnered mixed reviews with some critics describing her as "the ideal casting choice" and praising her for conveying "Bella's detachment, as well as her need to bust through it;" others criticized her acting for being "wooden" and lacking variety in her facial expressions, which they described as "blank".
  She was nominated four times, three consecutive years (2003–2005) and in 2008 for the Young Artist Award.
  She received praise for her role in Adventureland (2009), a comedy-drama film written and directed by Greg Mottola, and co-starring Jesse Eisenberg. Critic James Berardinelli said, "Stewart is more than merely appealing in this role – she makes Em a fully realized woman, and some of the most intricate development results from what the camera observes in Stewart's eyes." Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times said Stewart was "beautiful, enigmatic and very experienced". and MSN Movies' James Rocchi stated, "Stewart's vulnerable, spooky power is used to nice effect."  
  Stewart reappeared as Bella in the Twilight's sequel, New Moon, once again receiving mixed reviews for her performance. Jordan Mintzer from Variety called Stewart "the heart and soul of the film" and praised her for giving "both weight and depth to dialogue...she makes Bella's psychological wounds seem like the real deal." On the other hand, Manohla Dargis from The New York Times said Stewart's "lonely-girl blues soon grow wearisome," and Bill Goodykoontz from The Arizona Republic stated "Stewart is a huge disappointment... She sucks the energy right out of the film". She reprised this role in the third Twilight film, Eclipse.
  At the 82nd Academy Awards, Stewart and Twilight co-star Taylor Lautner presented a tribute in honor of the horror film genre.
  In 2009, Stewart starred in The Yellow Handkerchief, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival and was released into theaters in 2010 by Samuel Goldwyn Films. She also starred alongside James Gandolfini in Welcome to the Rileys, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2010.
  In 2010, Stewart portrayed rock star Joan Jett in The Runaways, a biographical film of the titular band from writer-director Floria Sigismondi. Stewart met with Jett over the 2008–2009 New Year to prepare for the role; she prerecorded songs in a studio for the film. She received praise for her performance: the Metro Times wrote, "It turns out that Stewart is actually really good at capturing Jett's icy, tough-but-cool girl swagger, adding the needed touches of vulnerability that transform it into a pretty terrific performance... Stewart is a genuine rock star here." Also, A. O. Scott of The New York Times noted "Ms. Stewart, watchful and unassuming, gives the movie its spine and soul." The same year, Stewart was listed as the highest-earning actress in Vanity Fair's "2010's Top Hollywood Top Earners List", with an estimated earning of $28.5 million for her film roles in 2010. She won the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2010 and was awarded the Milan International Film Festival Award for Best Actress in 2011 for Welcome to the Rileys (2010).
  She was named "Stonette of the Year" by High Times in 2010.
  The fourth Twilight film, Breaking Dawn – Part 1, was released on November 18, 2011. Despite the film receiving mixed to negative reviews, Stewart's performance was praised. Gabriel Chong called Stewart's work "mesmerising" and said that she "makes [Bella's] every emotion keenly felt that runs the gamut from joy, trepidation, anxiet
caption: Stewart at the UK premiere of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 in November 2012
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