10 'New Moon' Faces to Get to Know Now

Nov. 24, 2009 — -- Maybe you're one of the many who helped "New Moon" break box office records and ratchet up $258.8 million in worldwide ticket sales over the past weekend. Maybe you latched onto the "Twilight" series of books and movies early, adopted it wholly, consider it not just a form of entertainment but a mindset and a way of life.

Or, maybe you're wondering what all the fuss is about.

Either way, you're probably curious to learn more about the actors and actresses turning Stephanie Meyer's trove of vampire literature into the most ubiquitous pop culture sensation this side of "Harry Potter." Below, check out ten "New Moon" stars worthy of getting to know now.

Kristin Stewart, aka Bella Swan

You've probably seen her name coupled with the one below, splashed across tabloid headlines. 19-year-old Kristin Stewart serves as the female face of the "Twilight" franchise, playing Bella Swan, a teenage girl who falls hard for a vampire. Bella's forlorn for much of "New Moon," her love having fled her side in an attempt to save her from his vampire brethren who seek to devour her. In real life, Stewart's on top of her game, reprising the role of Bella in "New Moon's" sequel, "Eclipse," and preparing to play rocker Joan Jett in "The Runaways."

Robert Pattinson, aka Edward Cullen

Robert Pattinson's soaking up fame as thirstily as his female counterpart. As Edward Cullen, he exerts power over the vampire underworld; as a 23-year-old British heartthrob, he's starting to realize his influence in the real world. Last week, Pattinson told Ellen DeGeneres that a fan "frantically started taking her clothes off" after he joked to a crowd of autograph seekers that stripping was a surefire way to get his attention. Watch what you tell the fans, Pattinson -- they covet you like vampires crave blood.

Taylor Lautner, aka Jacob Black

Taylor Lautner, 17, bulked up beyond belief to play Jacob Black, Bella's childhood friend who comforts her after Edward leaves ... and then morphs into a werewolf. Much has been made of Lautner's real-life transformation from a teen actor of average build to one of beefcake proportions. "The thing is, I love this character, I love this story, and putting on the weight and not wearing much clothing was required by the role," Lautner told Film.com this month. "A year from now, if I love a story and I love a character that requires me to lose 40 pounds, I'm ready to do it."

Charlie Bewley, aka Demetri

In "New Moon," Hollywood newcomer Charlie Bewley plays Demetri, a member of the Volturi cult of blood-suckers that runs the vampire world like Rihanna runs this town. In May, Bewley talked to the blog Twilight Lexicon about his character. "Demetri is a lethal killer with a pretense of charm," he said. "Actually, pretense is a little harsh - he genuinely is a Casanova of life, and this might be his biggest weapon."

Ashley Greene, aka Alice Cullen

If Bella has an ally, it's Ashley Greene's character Alice Cullen, Edward's adoptive sister capable of seeing visions of the future and perhaps bringing the two lovers back together. Earlier this month, the 22-year-old Florida born beauty told Us Weekly magazine how she stayed in fighting shape for the role: pilates six days a week. "I do it early in the morning. It wakes you up, and it's kind of refreshing," said Greene. "And that is basically it. Sometimes cardio. I am not a big weight person because when I do weights I build muscle mass."

Kellan Lutz, aka Emmett Cullen

Kellan Lutz plays Emmett Cullen, brother to Greene's character, Alice. In fact, the 24-year-old actor, who got his start modeling for Abercrombie & Fitch, wouldn't mind playing Alice if he were to pick another role in the "Twilight" series. "I like happy characters," Lutz recently told the San Jose Mercury News. "Life's already too depressing, so to play a depressed soul, like Edward. ... Originally my team was like, 'Read this cool script, you're going up for Edward.' I remember going back to my e-mail, seeing the role of Edward (and thinking it was) super weird. ... And then I saw Emmett and I was like, 'Who's cast as Emmett?' and no one was."

Nikki Reed, aka Rosalie Hale

Nikki Reed, 21, plays Rosalie Hale, a member of the Cullen family who despises Bella. Something the actress despised in reality? Dying her brunette hair blond to play Rosalie in the first "Twilight" installment. "My hair fell out," she told MTV in March, during the making of "New Moon." "It took 36 hours initially to make me blond, and every other day, I was bleaching my head and my skin. This time around, we are testing out different wigs and stuff."

Noot Seear, aka Heidi

Canadian model Noot Seear, 26, makes her first big break into the movie industry with "New Moon," in which she plays Heidi, a member of the Volturi who provides the cult with humans to eat. In her novels, Meyer describes Heidi as a "fisher" who seduces dinner candidates with "exceptional, unforgettable" beauty in the form of never-ending legs, lush hair and violet eyes.

Edi Gathegi, aka Laurent

With a head of snake-like dreadlocks and eyes the color of blood, Edi Gathegi's character, vampire Laurent, is one of "New Moon's" most frightening. He even managed to spook the author of the "Twilight" series. "I told Stephenie Meyer that my goal would be to scare every 14-year-old girl, and she looked at me and said 'Edi, you're so sweet and you have such a little baby face, no one is going to be scared of you at all,'" Gathegi told Radar Online in September. "Then she saw the movie and the dailies said, 'OK Edi, you scared me!' And I said 'That means a lot coming from you,' especially since she told me I wasn't even going to be able to be scary!"

Peter Facinelli, aka Carlisle Cullen

While Peter Facinelli cut his teeth in a variety of TV and movie roles, including Showtime's "Nurse Jackie" and FX's "Damages," his star quotient's skyrocketing with his role in "New Moon" as Carlisle Cullen, the leader of the Cullen family. In August, Facinelli talked to People magazine about his newfound, "Twilight"-level fame. "To be part of something like this, where you walk into a room and there are thousands of screaming fans, is something I never experienced," he said. "My wife ["Beverly Hills, 90210" star Jennie Garth] has -- she never gave me any advice about it. You just have to experience it and deal with it in your own way."

Dakota Fanning, aka Jane

Here's a "New Moon" star who shouldn't have a problem handling the bright lights: 15-year-old Dakota Fanning, who's been one of Hollywood's most promising child stars since she blew audiences away in 2001's "I Am Sam." In "New Moon," Fanning plays Jane, a member of the Volturi versed in torturing the cult's enemies. She relishes the evil role. "It's really kind of one of the first times I've played the bad character, the villain figure in a movie," Fanning told Ellen DeGeneres earlier this month. "It was just really great to get to have the red contact lenses and the vampire makeup and get to have an evil persona, a creepy persona."