Born and raised inLos Angeles to parents who both worked in the entertainment industry, Stewart's film breakthrough came at age 12 for her role as the daughter ofJodie Foster's character inDavid Fincher's thrillerPanic Room (2002). As a young actress, she gained further recognition for her performances inSpeak (2004),Into the Wild (2007),Adventureland (2009), andThe Runaways (2010).
Stewart has also ventured into directing, beginning with music videos and the short filmCome Swim (2017). She later made her feature film debut withThe Chronology of Water (2025).
Early life
Stewart was born in Los Angeles,California on April 9, 1990.[1] Her father, John Stewart, is a stage manager and television producer. Her mother,[2][3] Jules Mann-Stewart, is a script supervisor and filmmaker.[1][4] Jules, an Australian native fromMaroochydore, Queensland, had studied at theUniversity of Sydney before moving to Hollywood at the age of 16.[5]
Jules had been adopted by aJewish couple, Norma and Ben Urman, in 1953 in California. In a November 2019 interview, Stewart said that a DNA test had shown that one of her biological maternal grandparents wasAshkenazi Jewish.[6][better source needed]
Stewart has an older brother, Cameron B. Stewart, and two adopted brothers, Dana and Taylor.[7] In 2012, Stewart's mother filed for divorce from John after 27 years of marriage.[4]
Stewart grew up in theSan Fernando Valley.[1] She attended local schools until the seventh grade.
As she became more involved in acting, she continued hereducation by distance until graduating from high school.[8][9] Since she was raised in a family who work as non-actors in the entertainment industry, Stewart thought she would become a screenwriter or a director, but never considered being an actor. She said: "I never wanted to be the center of attention—I wasn't that 'I want to be famous, I want to be an actor' kid. I never sought out acting, but I always practiced my autograph because I love pens. I'd write my name on everything."[10]
Career
Career beginnings and breakthrough (2000s)
Stewart in 2007
Stewart began acting at age eight, after an agent saw her perform in her elementary school's Christmas play.[11] After auditioning for a year, she got her first role with a small, nonspeaking part in theDisney Channel television filmThe Thirteenth Year.[12] Her next film wasThe Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, where she played the "ring toss girl".[12] She also appeared in the independent filmThe Safety of Objects (2001), as thetomboy daughter of a troubled single mother (Patricia Clarkson). Stewart also played the tomboy,diabetic daughter of a divorced mother (Jodie Foster) in the thriller filmPanic Room (2002), directed byDavid Fincher. She was nominated for aYoung Artist Award for her performance.[13] Following the success ofPanic Room, Stewart was cast in another thriller,Cold Creek Manor (2003), playing the daughter ofDennis Quaid andSharon Stone's characters and receiving a Young Artist Award nomination for her performance.[13] at 13, she dropped out of school and switched tohomeschooling.[14]
At age fourteen, Stewart had her first starring role in the children's action-comedyCatch That Kid (2004), oppositeMax Thieriot andCorbin Bleu. That year, Stewart also played the role of Lila in the thriller,Undertow (2004). Stewart starred in theLifetime/Showtime television filmSpeak (2004), based onthe novel by the same name byLaurie Halse Anderson. Stewart, aged thirteen at the time of filming, played Melinda Sordino, a high school freshman who nearly stops speaking after being raped. Her performance was widely praised.The New York Times said, "Ms. Stewart creates a convincing character full of pain and turmoil."[15]
Stewart appeared in the fantasy-adventure filmZathura: A Space Adventure (2005), playing the role of Lisa Budwing, the irresponsible older sister of two little boys. While playing a board game, they turn their house into a spacecraft hurtling uncontrollably in outer space. The film was praised by critics, but Stewart's performance did not draw much media attention. Her character is immobilized during most of the film.[16] The following year, she played the character Maya inFierce People (2006), directed byGriffin Dunne. After that film, she received the lead role of Jess Solomon in thesupernatural thriller filmThe Messengers.
Stewart appeared as teenager Lucy Hardwicke inIn the Land of Women (2007), a romantic drama starringMeg Ryan andAdam Brody. That same year, Stewart had a small role in theSean Penn-directed adaptationInto the Wild, portraying Tracy—a teenage singer who has a crush on young adventurerChristopher McCandless (played byEmile Hirsch). WhileStephanie Zacharek ofSalon.com considered her work a "sturdy, sensitive performance", and theChicago Tribune'sMichael Phillips noted that she did "vividly well with a sketch of a role",Variety critic Dennis Harvey said, "It's unclear whether Stewart means to be playinghippie-chick Tracy as vapid, or whether it just comes off that way."[17][18][19] The film receivedScreen Actors Guild nomination forOutstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. AfterInto the Wild, Stewart had a cameo appearance inJumper and also appeared inWhat Just Happened, which was released in October 2008.[20] She co-starred inThe Cake Eaters, an independent film that has been screened only at film festivals. The film received positive reviews.[21] Critic Bill Goodykoontz fromThe Arizona Republic said that Stewart "really shines.... She excels at both aspects of the performance, giving Georgia a strength that defies any sort of pity one might feel for her, without letting us forget her vulnerability".[22]
On November 16, 2007,Summit Entertainment announced that Stewart would play main characterBella Swan in the romantic fantasy filmTwilight, based onStephenie Meyer'snovel of the same name.[23] Stewart was on the set ofAdventureland when directorCatherine Hardwicke visited her for an informal screen test, which "captivated" the director.[24] She starred alongsideRobert Pattinson, who playsEdward Cullen, her vampire boyfriend. Stewart described her approach to the role as "capturing ... that first awakening, that ownership of your body and desire".[25]Twilight was released in the U.S. in November 2008.[26]Owen Gleiberman ofEntertainment Weekly described her as "the ideal casting choice" and praised her for conveying "Bella's detachment, as well as her need to bust through it", whileClaudia Puig ofUSA Today criticized her acting for being "wooden" and lacking variety in her "blank" facial expressions.[27][28]
She received praise for her role inAdventureland (2009), acomedy-drama film written and directed byGreg Mottola, and co-starringJesse Eisenberg. CriticJames 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."[29]Kenneth Turan of theLos Angeles Times said Stewart was "beautiful, enigmatic and very experienced".[30]MSN Movies' James Rocchi stated, "Stewart's vulnerable, spooky power is used to nice effect."[31] Stewart reprised the role of Bella in a sequel toTwilight, titledNew Moon. Jordan Mintzer fromVariety 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."[32] On the other hand,Manohla Dargis fromThe New York Times said Stewart's "lonely-girl blues soon grow wearisome,"[33] and Bill Goodykoontz fromThe Arizona Republic stated "Stewart is a huge disappointment... She sucks the energy right out of the film".[34] She reprised this role in a third film,Eclipse, which was released in June 2010.[35] Critics were warmer toward the film compared to its predecessors.[36]
ContinuedTwilight success and dramatic roles (2010s)
Stewart toppedForbes' list of "Hollywood's Best Actors for the Buck" in 2011.[42] She was listed as the 13th highest-earning entertainment industry figure inVanity Fair's "Hollywood's Top 40" list in the same year, with an estimated earning of $28.5 million for her film roles during the year.[43]Forbes also ranked her as the world's highest-paid actress in 2012, with total earnings of $34.5 million.[44]
The fourth installment in theTwilight film series,Breaking Dawn – Part 1, was released on November 18, 2011.The Village Voice's Dan Konis said Stewart "beautifully underplays" the role,[45] while Emma Dibdin ofTotal Film described the relationship between Stewart and Pattinson's characters as "like a sad, destructive charade" despite the actors' chemistry.[46]
On January 13, 2012, she became the face of a new unnamedBalenciaga perfume; in June, its name was promoted as "Florabotanica".[47] Stewart starred asSnow White in the filmSnow White and the Huntsman (2012).[48] Stewart appeared as Mary Lou inOn the Road, the film adaptation ofJack Kerouac'snovel of the same name.[49] She concluded the role of Bella Swan inBreaking Dawn – Part 2, released in November 2012. The film attracted a mixed critical response but found success during its box office run, grossing $830 million worldwide and becoming the81st highest-grossing film.[50][51] TheTwilight film series, dubbedThe Twilight Saga, generated $3.32 billion worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing film franchises.[52][53] According toForbes, Stewart was the world's highest-paid actress in 2012, with total earnings of $34.5 million. She earned $12.5 million each for the last two installments in theTwilight series, including royalties.[44]
On December 11, 2013,Chanel announced Stewart as their "new face" for a Western-inspired fashion collection. The campaign was shot byKarl Lagerfeld and released online in May 2014.[54] In 2014, Balenciaga released a new fragrance,Rosabotanica, with Stewart remaining the face of the brand.[55] She was ranked No. 3 onForbes' highest-paid actress in 2013, with a total earning of $22 million, #10 in 2014 with $12 million, and #9 in 2015 with $12 million.Camp X-Ray, her first film of 2014, premiered at the2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 17.[56] While it generated mixed reviews from critics, Stewart's performance as a young soldier stationed atGuantanamo Bay detention camp received praise.[57] David Rooney ofThe Hollywood Reporter called it "her best screen work to date [playing the role of] an inexperienced military guard",[58] while Xan Brooks ofThe Guardian said, "It's a role that reminds us what a fine performer she was in the likes ofInto the Wild andAdventureland.".[59] In 2014, she appeared in the music video forJenny Lewis' "Just One of the Guys", and inThe New York Times short movie9 Kisses.
Stewart next starred alongsideJuliette Binoche andChloë Grace Moretz inOlivier Assayas'Clouds of Sils Maria. The film premiered at the2014 Cannes Film Festival.[60][61] Her performance in the film was critically acclaimed.[62][63]Todd McCarthy ofThe Hollywood Reporter said that "Stewart's habitual low-keyed style, which can border on the monotone, functions as effectively underplayed contrast."[64] Peter Debruge ofVariety praised Stewart's "spontaneous, agitated energy that makes her the most compellingly watchable American actress of her generation."[65] Robbie Collin ofThe Daily Telegraph described her portrayal as "sharp and subtle, knowable and then suddenly distant" and highlighted the "brilliant lightness of touch" in her approach to the film's twist.[66] For the performance, Stewart won theCésar Award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the first American actress to receive a nomination in thirty years. She is the second American winner afterAdrien Brody, who won theCésar Award for Best Actor in 2003.[67][68] That same year, Stewart appeared alongsideJulianne Moore inStill Alice, a drama film that premiered at the2014 Toronto International Film Festival. Critics commended her performance in the film.[62]Peter Travers ofRolling Stone called her "wonderfully vibrant and contentious" and said: "Even whenStill Alice sometimes slips into sentiment, Moore and Stewart are funny, fierce and glorious.[69]
In May 2016, it was announced that Stewart would make her directorial debut with a short film for the female-focused digital publisherRefinery29. It would be part of theirShatterBox Anthology.[81] The short film, titledCome Swim, had its world premiere at the2017 Sundance Film Festival.[82] In June, Stewart appeared in a video ad campaign for Chanel.[83] In 2017, Stewart coauthored a computer science preprint about the use ofneural net techniques in the making of her short filmCome Swim.[84] That same year, Stewart hostedSaturday Night Live for the first time with musical guestAlessia Cara[85] and was invited to join theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[86]
Stewart starred as actressJean Seberg inSeberg, directed byBenedict Andrews.[97] It premiered at the76th Venice International Film Festival in August 2019.[98] While the film received mixed reviews, Stewart's performance received praise.[99]Time magazine declared her performance the 10th best performance of 2019.[100] Stewart returned to mainstream Hollywood with starring roles in the action comedy filmCharlie's Angels (2019) and the science fiction filmUnderwater (2020). Critics were mixed in their reviews of both films, but Stewart's performance in the former was well received.[101][102] Stewart wrote and directed a short film titledCrickets, as part of theanthology seriesHomemade which follows stories from 18 filmmakers from around the world during theCOVID-19 pandemic isolation. It was co-produced byPablo Larraín's production company, Fabula. The series was released onNetflix on June 30, 2020.[103] Stewart later starred oppositeMackenzie Davis inHappiest Season, an LGBT holiday romance film directed byClea DuVall, which was released on November 25, 2020.[104][105]
In June 2020, Stewart was announced as having been cast asDiana, Princess of Wales in Pablo Larraín's biographical drama filmSpencer, which chronicles Diana's decision to divorceCharles, Prince of Wales.[106] She worked with a dialect coach and studied Diana's posture for the part.[107] Describing Diana as someone who "sticks out as a sparkly house on fire", Stewart said she "felt more free and alive and able to move" in the role than she did in any of her previous projects.[108] The film premiered at the78th Venice International Film Festival in September 2021 and released in November that same year.[109][110] Critics lauded Stewart's portrayal of Diana, with Jonathan Romney ofScreen Daily describing it as "brittle, tender, sometimes playful and not a little uncanny" and Kyle Buchanan ofThe New York Times deeming her casting "a meta stroke of genius".[111] Stewart received nominations for theAcademy Award for Best Actress andGolden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for her performance.[112][113]
Filming began in February 2025 onThe Wrong Girls in which she has a starring role, and also co-wrote and produced.[119] She is set to star in the movieFlesh of the Gods.[120][121]
Stewart resides in Los Angeles.[128] In 2017, she stated that she isbisexual, saying, "You're not confused if you're bisexual. It's not confusing at all. For me, it's quite the opposite."[129] In 2019, Stewart stated that she had been advised not to be affectionate with her girlfriend in public, in order to land mainstream roles. She said: "I don't want to work with people like that."[130] Stewart identifies as afeminist.[131] She hasequinophobia, the fear of horses.[132]
Stewart datedAnton Yelchin when they were filmingFierce People; she described him as her "first heartbreak".[133] After their split, Stewart dated herSpeak co-starMichael Angarano from 2005 to early 2009.[134][135]
In mid-2009, Stewart became romantically linked to herTwilight co-starRobert Pattinson. In July 2012, Stewart was photographed with herSnow White and the Huntsman directorRupert Sanders, revealing an affair; the day the photos were released, Sanders, who was 19 years her senior and married at the time, issued a public apology for the affair, as did Stewart.[136] The media backlash from the revelation caused a large emotional toll on Stewart.[137] Stewart said the affair happened during a self-destructive moment in her life and called it "a really traumatic period in my early 20s that kick-started something in me that was a bit more feral."[138] Pattinson and Stewart split, later reconciling in October 2012. The pair eventually broke up in May 2013.[139]
In mid-2013, Stewart started dating visual effects producer Alicia Cargile.[140] She briefly dated French singerSoko in the spring of 2016, before she resumed dating Cargile in mid-2016.[141] Stewart briefly dated musicianSt. Vincent in late 2016.[142] From late 2016, she was in a relationship with New Zealand modelStella Maxwell until their breakup in late 2018.[143] Stewart has been in a relationship with screenwriterDylan Meyer since August 2019, and stated in November 2021 that she and Meyer were engaged.[144] The couple got married in an intimate ceremony in Los Angeles on April 20, 2025.[145]
Charity work
In 2012, Stewart signed and donated the dress she wore to the premiere ofThe Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 to a CharityBuzz auction benefiting theRobin Hood Foundation's Sandy Relief Fund, which provides long-term support to those affected byHurricane Sandy.[146] In 2016, she participated in building a school inNicaragua through the nonprofitbuildOn, with the goal being to give children the opportunity to become educated in a safe space and to break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy.[147] The following year, she raised $500,000 for Hurricane Sandy relief by meeting with an unnamed "Middle Eastern prince" for 15 minutes.[148]
^Hopper, Dennis (October 1, 2009)."Kristen Stewart".Interview. New York City: Crystal Ball Media. Archived fromthe original on February 16, 2010. RetrievedOctober 1, 2009.
^Joshi, Bhautik; Stewart, Kristen; Shapiro, David (2017). "Bringing Impressionism to Life with Neural Style Transfer in Come Swim".arXiv:1701.04928 [cs.CV].
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