Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Kristen Stewart
Discover the career path of Kristen Stewart, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Kristen Stewart is an American actress and director renowned for her work in both mainstream blockbusters and independent films. Recognized for her naturalistic acting style, she has portrayed complex characters and achieved significant commercial success. Stewart has been ranked among the world's highest-paid actors, with her films grossing over $4 billion globally. She has garnered critical acclaim, including a BAFTA and a César Award, as well as nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.
2001: Appearance in The Safety of Objects
In 2001, Kristen Stewart appeared in the independent film The Safety of Objects as the tomboy daughter of a troubled single mother.
2002: Breakthrough Role in Panic Room
In 2002, Kristen Stewart had her film breakthrough at age 12 with her role as the daughter of Jodie Foster's character in David Fincher's thriller, Panic Room.
2002: Role in Panic Room
In 2002, Kristen Stewart played the tomboy, diabetic daughter of a divorced mother in the thriller film Panic Room, directed by David Fincher, and she was nominated for a Young Artist Award for her performance.
2003: Role in Cold Creek Manor
In 2003, following the success of Panic Room, Kristen Stewart was cast in another thriller, Cold Creek Manor, playing the daughter of Dennis Quaid and Sharon Stone's characters and receiving a Young Artist Award nomination for her performance.
2004: Recognition in Speak
In 2004, Kristen Stewart gained further recognition for her performance in Speak.
2004: First Starring Role in Catch That Kid and Role in Speak
In 2004, Kristen Stewart had her first starring role in the children's action-comedy Catch That Kid and also played the role of Lila in the thriller, Undertow, and starred in the Lifetime/Showtime television film Speak, based on the novel by Laurie Halse Anderson, where she played a high school freshman who nearly stops speaking after being raped, receiving widespread praise for her performance.
2005: Zathura: A Space Adventure
In 2005, Kristen Stewart appeared in the fantasy-adventure film Zathura: A Space Adventure, playing the role of Lisa Budwing. The film was praised by critics, but Stewart's performance did not draw much media attention.
2006: Role in Fierce People and The Messengers
In 2006, Kristen Stewart played the character Maya in Fierce People and received the lead role of Jess Solomon in the supernatural thriller film The Messengers.
November 16, 2007: Casting as Bella Swan in Twilight Announced
On November 16, 2007, Summit Entertainment announced that Kristen Stewart would play Bella Swan in the film Twilight.
2007: Roles in In the Land of Women and Into the Wild
In 2007, Kristen Stewart appeared as Lucy Hardwicke in In the Land of Women and had a small role in the Sean Penn-directed adaptation Into the Wild, portraying Tracy.
2007: Performance in Into the Wild
In 2007, Kristen Stewart gained further recognition for her performance in Into the Wild.
October 2008: Appearance in What Just Happened
In October 2008, Kristen Stewart appeared in What Just Happened.
November 2008: Twilight Released in the US
In November 2008, Twilight was released in the U.S.
2008: International Stardom with Twilight Saga
In 2008, Kristen Stewart achieved international stardom for starring as Bella Swan in The Twilight Saga film series.
2009: Role in Adventureland
In 2009, Kristen Stewart gained further recognition for her performance in Adventureland.
2009: The Yellow Handkerchief Debuted
In 2009, Kristen Stewart starred in The Yellow Handkerchief, which debuted at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.
June 2010: Eclipse Released
In June 2010, Kristen Stewart reprised the role of Bella in Eclipse. Critics were warmer toward the film compared to its predecessors.
2010: Starred in The Runaways
In 2010, Kristen Stewart gained further recognition for her performance in The Runaways.
November 18, 2011: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 Released
On November 18, 2011, the fourth installment in the Twilight film series, Breaking Dawn – Part 1, was released.
2011: Topped Forbes' List and Listed in Vanity Fair's 'Hollywood's Top 40'
In 2011, Kristen Stewart topped Forbes' list of "Hollywood's Best Actors for the Buck" and was listed as the 13th highest-earning entertainment industry figure in Vanity Fair's "Hollywood's Top 40" list.
January 13, 2012: Became the Face of Balenciaga Perfume
On January 13, 2012, Kristen Stewart became the face of a new unnamed Balenciaga perfume.
November 2012: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 Released
In November 2012, Kristen Stewart concluded the role of Bella Swan in Breaking Dawn – Part 2.
2012: Charity Auction for Hurricane Sandy Relief
In 2012, Kristen Stewart signed and donated the dress she wore to the premiere of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 to a CharityBuzz auction benefiting the Robin Hood Foundation's Sandy Relief Fund, which provides long-term support to those affected by Hurricane Sandy.
2012: Starred in Snow White and the Huntsman
In 2012, Kristen Stewart starred in mainstream films such as Snow White and the Huntsman.
December 11, 2013: Named the Face of Chanel
On December 11, 2013, Chanel announced Kristen Stewart as their "new face" for a Western-inspired fashion collection.
May 2014: Chanel Campaign Released Online
In May 2014, the Chanel campaign featuring Kristen Stewart was released online.
2014: Premiere of Clouds of Sils Maria and Still Alice
In 2014, Clouds of Sils Maria, starring Kristen Stewart, Juliette Binoche, and Chloë Grace Moretz, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, receiving critical acclaim for Stewart's performance. That same year, Still Alice, also starring Stewart alongside Julianne Moore, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where Stewart's performance was again commended by critics.
2014: Critical Acclaim in Camp X-Ray and Clouds of Sils Maria
In 2014, Kristen Stewart earned critical acclaim for her performances in Camp X-Ray and Clouds of Sils Maria.
2015: American Ultra and Once and Forever Release
In 2015, Kristen Stewart starred in American Ultra with Jesse Eisenberg and Once and Forever, directed by Karl Lagerfeld. She was also confirmed to be in Kelly Reichardt's film Certain Women.
January 8, 2016: Release of Anesthesia
On January 8, 2016, Anesthesia, an indie drama featuring Kristen Stewart, was released by IFC Films.
May 2016: Directorial Debut Announcement
In May 2016, it was announced that Kristen Stewart would make her directorial debut with a short film for Refinery29's ShatterBox Anthology.
July 15, 2016: Release of Equals
On July 15, 2016, Equals, a futuristic love story co-starring Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult, was released.
July 2016: Release of Café Society
In July 2016, Café Society, a Woody Allen film starring Kristen Stewart, Steve Carell, and Jesse Eisenberg, was released, garnering mixed reviews.
October 14, 2016: Release of Certain Women
On October 14, 2016, Certain Women, a film Kristen Stewart joined in 2015, was released.
November 11, 2016: Release of Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
On November 11, 2016, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, a war drama co-starring Kristen Stewart, was released.
December 2016: Appearance in Rolling Stones' Music Video
In December 2016, Kristen Stewart appeared in the official music video for The Rolling Stones' single, "Ride 'Em on Down".
2016: Honoree at New York Film Festival and Elle's Women in Hollywood Awards
In 2016, Kristen Stewart became the youngest actress to be an honoree at the New York Film Festival. In the same year, Stewart was also an honoree at Elle's Women in Hollywood Awards alongside Amy Adams, Felicity Jones, Anna Kendrick, Aja Naomi King, Helen Mirren, and Lupita Nyong'o.
2016: Critical Acclaim in Personal Shopper
In 2016, Kristen Stewart earned critical acclaim for her performance in Personal Shopper.
2016: buildOn School Construction in Nicaragua
In 2016, Kristen Stewart participated in building a school in Nicaragua through the nonprofit buildOn, 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.
2017: Directed Come Swim
In 2017, Kristen Stewart's early directing credits included the short film Come Swim.
2017: Come Swim Premiere, Chanel Campaign, and Saturday Night Live Hosting
In 2017, Kristen Stewart's short film, Come Swim, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. She appeared in a video ad campaign for Chanel and co-authored a computer science preprint about neural net techniques used in Come Swim. Kristen Stewart also hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time, with Alessia Cara as the musical guest, and was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2017.
September 14, 2018: Release of Lizzie
On September 14, 2018, Lizzie, starring Kristen Stewart and Chloë Sevigny, was released by Saban Films and Roadside Attractions after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival earlier that year.
August 2019: Premiere of Seberg
In August 2019, Seberg, starring Kristen Stewart as Jean Seberg, premiered at the Venice International Film Festival.
2019: Critical Acclaim in Seberg
In 2019, Kristen Stewart earned critical acclaim for her performance in Seberg.
2019: Starred in Charlie's Angels
In 2019, Kristen Stewart starred in mainstream films such as Charlie's Angels.
June 2020: Casting as Princess Diana in Spencer
In June 2020, Kristen Stewart was announced as having been cast as Diana, Princess of Wales, in the biographical drama film Spencer.
June 30, 2020: Release of Homemade
On June 30, 2020, the anthology series Homemade, including a short film titled Crickets written and directed by Kristen Stewart, was released on Netflix.
November 25, 2020: Release of Happiest Season
On November 25, 2020, Happiest Season, an LGBT holiday romance film starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis, was released.
2020: Starred in Happiest Season
In 2020, Kristen Stewart starred in mainstream films such as Happiest Season.
September 2021: Premiere of Spencer at Venice International Film Festival
In September 2021, Spencer, starring Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana, premiered at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, receiving critical acclaim for her performance.
2021: Academy Award Nomination for Spencer
In 2021, Kristen Stewart received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Diana, Princess of Wales in Pablo Larraín's biographical drama Spencer.
2022: Premiere of Crimes of the Future
In 2022, Crimes of the Future, starring Kristen Stewart as an investigator, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
2023: Jury President at Berlin International Film Festival
In 2023, Kristen Stewart was selected as Jury President for the competition section of the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival held in February.
2024: Love Lies Bleeding and Sacramento Star Roles
In 2024, Kristen Stewart starred in Rose Glass's romantic thriller Love Lies Bleeding, and in Michael Angarano's road film Sacramento alongside Michael Angarano and Michael Cera.
February 2025: Filming Begins on The Wrong Girls
In February 2025, filming began on The Wrong Girls, in which Kristen Stewart has a starring role, and also co-wrote and produced. She is also set to star in the movie Flesh of the Gods.
May 16, 2025: The Chronology of Water Premiered at Cannes Film Festival
On May 16, 2025, Kristen Stewart's film debut as a director, The Chronology of Water, premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival and received largely positive reviews from critics.
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