‘Twilight’: In True Bella Fashion, Kristen Stewart Broke a Bone the First Day She Did Action Shots
It’s impossible to think about Twilight without also thinking about Kristen Stewart. The actor was the very first person cast in the popular franchise as Isabella “Bella” Swan, the mortal whose life changes irrevocably after she falls in love with vampire, Edward Cullen. Stewart’s Bella is characterized by clumsiness, awkwardness, vulnerability, and resoluteness that’s grounded in strength. But, many of those qualities fall away once she transforms into a vampire herself.
For the first four movies in the franchise: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn – Part 1, Stewart portrays the human version of Bella. This meant that she was often on the sidelines as her fellow castmates got to shoot some of the more physical action shots. But it wasn’t until the final movie, Breaking Dawn – Part 2, when Bella is transformed into a member of the undead herself, that she was really able to do some of the more physically demanding scenes.
Kristen Stewart loved playing both versions of Bella Swan
But what was it like for Stewart to dive into a different version of her character? In an interview with Collider, the Twilight star opened up about the experience. “I was really lucky to have played human Bella for so long. The best aspects of every vampire, with all of their gifts, what makes them really special is just an enhanced version of what they were when they were human,” Stewart shared. “So, I really did get to play a really well-rounded version because I actually got to take those steps for real. If you were to take the fact that she becomes a vampire completely away, it’s just a more realized version of who she’s been the entire time.”
Stewart continued on to share that playing the vampire version of Bella was extremely pleasurable for her. After not having a hand in the action for years, she was ready to hit the ground running the second she could. “It’s really satisfying,” the Twilight alum revealed. “It’s like breaking her in, like a car. How fast does it go? It was fun.”
Stewart broke a bone while filming the last ‘Twilight’ movie
But, Stewart’s exuberance didn’t come without consequences. During one of the very first times she got to shoot an action shot as vampiric Bella, she ended up sustaining an injury. But, despite the injury, Stewart really enjoyed herself. “I broke my thumb the first or second day of our really intense, action-y type stuff,” Stewart admitted about filming the last movie in The Twilight Saga. “That was really frustrating. But, it was fun.”
Of course, Breaking Dawn – Part 2 wasn’t the only time Stewart has an opportunity to do action in The Twilight Saga. In New Moon, she got to run across a fountain in an effort to save Edward’s life. She really enjoyed the physical aspect of that scene and was excited for another opportunity to show that she could pull off action scenes. It was that built up excitement, Stewart said, that likely led to her injury.
The ‘Twilight’ star shares how important action was to the movies
“I got a little taste of it when we were in Italy,” the Twilight star shared. “The physicality was so important then, and it finally became important again. I don’t know. I’d been on the sidelines for so long, just itching. I thought, ‘I could do that pretty well. I think I could do that pretty well.’ I was bursting to do it. I think that’s why I broke my thumb.” It’s great that Stewart was committed to every aspect of her role. And while she may have sustained an injury, at least she had fun doing it.
