Kristen Stewart reflects on 'Eclipse' and looks forward to a more detailed 'Breaking Dawn'

Kristen Stewart has come a long way from the nervous and little known indie actress on the verge of stardom promoting the first "Twilight" film.  It took the 18-year-old quite awhile to adjust to being the central figure in the vampire movie phenomenon, but since last November's "New Moon" she's seemed more confident and at ease with not only discussing her work, but her life and opinions. 

After having to portray a heartbroken Bella Swan in "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," the third installment of the series finds our heroine also more at peace, but having to juggle competing interests from her true love Edward (Robert Pattinson) and non-vampire admirer Jacob (Taylor Lautner).  Speaking about "Eclipse" this past weekend, Stewart told HitFix Bella basically had to experience enough life lessons to really justify the choice she makes in the movie.

"This is the point where she should actually become equipped enough to make all these decisions," Stewart says. "And I know she's done that in every movie she's been like, 'No, I know what I want,' but I dunno I feel like she has to go through the things she's gone through to sound like she knows what she's talking about. She needs to grow up a bit. The fog, the haze that Edward creates around her [in 'New Moon'] fades in 'Eclipse' and I think it's really important for her to realize she's choosing to be with him and that she doesn't have to be with him."

But, Stewart adds, "It was exciting to play with Taylor, just because she finally sees Jacob, she finally sees what the audience sees. So there was like a lot of new things to play."

While universal reaction to "Eclipse" seems much more positive than the critically derided "New Moon," fans are already anticipating the final chapter in the series being broken out in a two-part "Breaking Dawn" picture.  HitFix asked Stewart what she thought filmmaker Bill Condon ("Dreamgirls," "Gods and Monsters") would bring to the final two installments.

"I don't know yet. I had one meeting with him and it was awesome, so cool," Stewart volunteers.  "He was talking a lot about -- because we've had to cram so much story into one time, you miss a lot of nuanced stuff for fans and readers of the book.  Just the little things have to go.  Those are the first things skimmed off the top and in this one.  And I think he's going to put it back in Bella's head [for 'Breaking Dawn']."

What concerns Stewart most, it seems, is getting more of Stephenie Meyers' writing onto the screen.  Stewart is hoping the Oscar-winning screenwriter can assist Melissa Rosenberg in making that happen in the last two films.

"A lot of people thought they felt that, like, from 'Eclipse' they thought it was a little bit more first person, like it was a little more character driven or whatever, but I think he's gonna do a really good job of letting the story filter out without slamming you over the head with it," Stewart says.  "Not that we've done that, but I feel like some of my expositional lines which are not in the book because we are telling the story, we're not gonna have to do any of that because we have more time.  I can't wait to get some of the details back in, y'know what I mean?

You can watch the video of our interview embedded above the copy on this page.  Stewart also talks about her first LA "Twilight" convention, working with Billy Burke and goes into intricate detail on how blonde her hair will really be for Walter Salles' "On the Road."  And yes fans, it will be blonde.

What do you think about Kristen's thoughts?

"The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" opens nationwide and in IMAX on June 30.

To recap HitFix's live blog of Kristen Stewart's "Eclipse" press conference, click here.

For a slew of "Twilight: Eclipse" photos, click here