Kristen Stewart Reveals the Unintended LGBTQ+ Undertones in Twilight After 15 Years

In 2008, the teenage population was captivated by the contemporary vampire romance of Twilight, and now, 15 years later, lead actress Kristen Stewart asserts that despite the movie’s focus on a heterosexual love triangle, it subtly delves into LGBTQ+ territory.

In an interview with Variety, Stewart reflected on her role in the major movie franchise derived from Stephenie Meyer’s book series. She described Twilight as a “gay movie,” emphasizing that she didn’t believe it necessarily started out that way.

Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, the series follows Bella Swan (Stewart), an apparently average and awkward girl in the dull and rainy town of Forks, Washington. She encounters the 100+-year-old vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and the soon-to-be werewolf Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). With both men vying for Bella’s attention, a love triangle unfolds across four movies before Bella eventually marries and has children with her vampire lover.

Stewart, openly gay, expanded on her perspective by highlighting the gothic themes in the movies. She mentioned the hidden dynamics between Taylor, Rob, and herself, describing the story as “all about oppression, about wanting what’s going to destroy you” – a Gothic, gay inclination she appreciates.

While many vampire tales explore fluid sexuality, from Bram Stoker’s Dracula to Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, the absence of explicitly LGBTQ+ characters in Meyer’s story raises questions about Stewart’s observation. However, Stewart contends that, unbeknownst to her at the time, “the fact that I was there at all, it was percolating.”

Regardless, Stewart’s upcoming project, Love Lies Bleeding, leaves no room for debate as it squarely tackles LGBTQ+ themes. The sapphic bodybuilding thriller, starring Stewart and The Mandalorian’s Katy M. O’Brian, is set to hit theaters on March 8, 2024.