Nikki Reed stars in the Twilight films as vampire Rosalie Hale. In the latest film, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, audiences find out more about Rosalie’s life and why she was turned into a vampire. Nikki was recently in London, where she spoke about her character’s backstory as well as chasing after Robert Pattinson, her physically demanding exercise regime and her wish for super strength.
Nikki, you have a backstory in Eclipse where we find out a lot more about Rosalie. When you’re doing the first two movies and you know this is going to come up, is it frustrating thinking I’ve still got a while to go before people can actually find out about my character?
Nikki Reed (NR): Well, I was hopeful when we made the first movie that we would get to the third, otherwise I’d feel like I couldn’t really justify my behaviour. Also, Stephenie wrote these really complex, dynamic characters and sometimes I think all of us can agree – as the Cullen family – that you don’t really have the opportunity to show that. So, you want to make the most out of every moment that you have and you’re and like over-thinking everything: every glance, every smile, or, in my case, every nasty look. So, I was really happy to have that opportunity... and really nervous.
You’ve been able to travel all over the world as part of the Twilight franchise. So, what’s your favourite city? And why?
NR: I’ve done a lot of independent travelling, which hasn’t been the best career choice, but it’s been a really great life choice. I lived in Russia for a bit and I spent all of last year in Athens and in Switzerland. I went to Africa for a few weeks of adventure. I can’t choose which is my favourite, but I’m going to Brazil I think next.
Do you have a favourite book in the series?
NR: I’ve read all the books and I love them all for a number of reasons. I remember when we were shooting the first Twilight, when we were in rehearsals, I was making my way through the series and I was almost done with New Moon and I remember panicking that I couldn’t find Edward. I remember running around set going: “Where’s Rob? I just want to see Rob for two seconds because it’s going to feel really comforting to know that Edward is still around!” Regardless of what your original idea is of the books, everyone gets so sucked into the series... they’re just like magnetic.
What kind of diet and physical regime to did you have?
NR: It was very physically demanding. I remember getting off the plane and looking at my schedule and it said, “I hope the cast brought sneakers... tomorrow you’ll be picked up for training.” No one told us about this and we weren’t prepared for this [laughs]. Every single day, if we weren’t shooting, we were in training for two or three hours a day, and then we were in personal training. Luckily, I had actually quit smoking about three of four weeks before we began rehearsing! I don’t know what I would have done otherwise because we literally felt like athletes. It was like sleep, train, eat, sleep again. And that was the day. But it introduced me to a whole new lifestyle because, to this day, I still work out all the time.
If you could have a special power, what would it be?
NR: I don’t know. I don’t want any powers. I’m powerless. I wouldn’t want to see into the future, I wouldn’t want to know what anyone was thinking, ever! And I don’t want to relive my past. Kellan and I talk about this a lot... but his power is strength. I enjoy feeling physically strong, so maybe I’d like to be able to lift a building and launch it at someone.