Having already spoken to three of the stars of Twilight, we thought it was about time to talk to some of the other on screen talent who make the series tick. Joining newcomers Booboo Stewart and Xavier Samuel were fan favourites Alex Meraz, Nikki Reed,  Kellan Lutz and (swoon) Ashley Greene.

Booboo Stewart
Q. How did you get involved in Eclipse?
Booboo Stewart: I was actually involved with the Walt Disney Group a long time ago and had some friends from that. A friend called me and said there was thing on MySpace about the casting of the character Seth in the next book, so we talked about it a bit. Luckily, I got in for an audition and I was the last to be seen in the country for the callbacks. So, thank God I got the part. Everyone always asks if I had to act like a wolf, but I didn’t. I don’t think I would have gotten the part if I did.

Q. Do you have a favourite book in the series?
Booboo Stewart: Yeah, right when I thought I might have an audition I started reading them so I’d know the story. But my favourite book is Eclipse, because it has the most action.

Q. What’s the craziest fan experience you’ve had?
Booboo Stewart: This one fan came up to me, when I was doing a promo, and she was like 40-years-old and she turned to me and asked if I wanted to make out. It was one of the most weird things that has ever happened to me in my life.
 
Xavier Samuel
Q. How did you get involved in Eclipse?
Xavier Samuel: Well, I auditioned from Sydney, actually. And then I flew myself to Vancouver to meet our fine director, David Slade, and had the privilege of meeting with him. Then I had a call-back in Los Angeles again, and I think I had enough time to rush back to Sydney, grab some clothes and then we started shooting. It was all very quickly.

Q. Did you get to read the new Twilight book, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, as you were preparing for the role of Riley?

Xavier Samuel: I did. It was actually under lock and key and handed to me in person by David Slade. It was kind of water-marked with my name on every page, which was kind of intimidating. If I’d lost it, I’d have been in big trouble. But it was wonderful, because it really informed the world as it’s particularly concerned with the relationship between Victoria, Riley and Bree. Riley isn’t as present in the Eclipse book, so it was kind of a goldmine of information and actually really violent as well.
 
Alex Meraz
Q. Can you tell us a little bit about the training you went through for the fight scenes in Eclipse?
Alex Meraz: We did what’s now called wolf camp. We did muscle confusion...

Q. Muscle confusion?

Alex Meraz: Yeah, it’s confusing! It’s like circuit training. But more than anything, what it helped to do was just bond us. We got really comfortable around each other and there are scenes when we’re just goofing off the whole time. We couldn’t tell when the camera started and when it was called “cut”. So, we were always having a great time. But it was a fun experience. But the workouts at wolf camp were kind of forgettable, I guess. I had been working out a bit before because my background is in martial arts and dance. So, it was a pretty organic process to go in there and taking my shirt off.

Q. What is it about this series that audiences love about vampires, mysticism and the undead?
Alex Meraz: I think you said it, love. At the root of every great story is a love story. There’s definitely elements of fantasy within the werewolves, shape-shifters and vampires, but at the end of the day it’s grounded in reality and there’s the love story. I think everyone can relate to that. They know how it is to feel unrequited love, jealousy, revenge, loyalty, having to make choices... I think this film definitely covers all that.

Q. What’s the craziest fan experience you’ve had?
Alex Meraz: I think it was last year, when we were promoting New Moon, we did this big Q&A in Los Angeles and the whole cast was behind this cage and all the fans were there. Everyone else was sort of turned away from the fans, and I was the only one doing the whole prom thing and waving. And then I saw this fan with a bouquet of flowers and a teddy bear, and she was like: “Come here!” In my mind, I was thinking: “Oh, she shouldn’t have...” So, I go up to her and she was like: “Give it to Kellan!”  
 
 
Ashley Greene
Q. Can you believe, looking back to the first film, that this franchise has become what it’s now become?
Ashley Greene: No, I don’t think any of could have predicted how big this would become. I certainly understand why it has, because the book series is incredible, and it kind of takes you into this while other world. But I think at the time we were doing Twilight, it really had this independent feel to it and we were just really happy to be working on a project. I think each time we’re very pleasantly surprise at just how passionate the fans are and how excited they get over this.

Q. You’ve been able to travel all over the world as part of the Twilight franchise. So, what’s your favourite city? And why?
Ashley Greene: I think at this point I really enjoyed being in Montepulciano in Tuscany. It was just absolutely breathtaking waking up every morning and being able to look out. The way of life there is very different to anything I’ve ever experienced in the States. I really, really enjoyed it. But that’s coupled with the fact that I have really, really great memories there when we were filming New Moon. I have a lot of fond memories.

Q. Do you have a favourite book in the series?
Ashley Greene: I think my favourite book to read was probably Twilight; my favourite book to film was Eclipse, though. I think I had more fun on that set than I have on the previous ones. The action packed stunt fight training was really nice. It’s always nice whenever we get to inter-act and be playful with each other because a lot of the time you see us with pained looks on our faces, so it was really nice to be able to have a lot of inter-action with everyone.

Q. What kind of diet and exercise regime did you have?
Ashley Greene: There was lots of circuit training, lots of competitions. We did some really fun competitions, too... like we tried to see who could do the circuit in the least amount of time. It was tonnes and tonnes of fight training, which was actually fun because it kept us in shape. But it was very cool as well because we had to learn different choreography and stuff. And then, at that point, you could eat whatever you wanted because we were working out so much.

Q. If you could switch roles, who would you choose and why?
Ashley Greene: I think I would choose Victoria. She’s such a departure from Alice, who’s so sweet and has this innocence about her. I think it would be really fun to play the evil character.

Q. If you could have a special power, what would it be?
Ashley Greene: I think immunity. I think not being able to be affected by anyone would be pretty cool.
Q. Do you get chance to socialise much off-set?

Ashley Greene: Yeah, we do. Surprisingly enough we all like each other. So, we have cast dinners and play the telephone game. One cast member calls three people and someone else calls three people... we do a lot of game nights. A lot of the cast members are also musically inclined, so we have jam sessions and just kind of hang.
 
Kellan Lutz
Q. Can you believe, looking back to the first film, that this franchise has become what it’s now become?
Kellan Lutz: You tend to fall in love with your characters, which is very unique. For myself, I love Emmett and I love playing him, and its going to be sad when you close the chapter to each book because it’s been a huge part of our lives. We’re like a family and have built this semi unit on and off set. But it’s really a blessing to be part of a franchise that allows you to continue on to do the sequel and to make the third book into a movie. Eclipse was my favourite book to read out of the series. I’m really impressed with the action and the mix between the love stories. I haven’t seen the movie yet and I can’t wait to see it tonight, but it’s really exciting to finish something off like this.

Q. You’ve been able to travel all over the world as part of the Twilight franchise. So, what’s your favourite city? And why?
Kellan Lutz: Mine would be the Dominican Republic - the people there, the dancing, the food... just the culture itself. A lot of people don’t have much there and they’re so thankful. When I went there, I found this inner happiness within myself that I’d kind of lost. You kind of lose it when you’re in the States and you have so much opportunity. But then also the nature there... I’ve never see dragonflies this big and the waterfalls so pristine. It’s a very romantic, beautiful place.

Q. Do you have a favourite memory from shooting Eclipse?
Kellan Lutz: For myself, it involves Jackson Rathbone and myself... We had some fun times with our fight scenes and our little oopsy daisy moments when I hit him and knocked him out a little bit! But he was a true trooper. He got up and started gurgling his words and mumbling... but then also off set, he’d just finished The Last Airbender, so he’s become a mischievous little Jackson lately. He thinks he can just take the world on, so we’d get into trouble off-set and there were some really great times doing that.
Q. If you could switch roles who would you choose and why?

Kellan Lutz: I think James from the first book. I think that would be a really fun role to tap into. I’d grow my hair out.
Q. If you could have a special power, what would it be?
Kellan Lutz: What I enjoy about my character is not only his strength but the fearlessness that comes with it. When you view life and the world on such a fearless level, you kind of just live a happy life. So, that’s what I enjoy about Emmett. So, for a power that would be great.

Q. You’re so involved with the franchise, do you still feel you can enjoy the films in the same way as everyone else?
Kellan Lutz: I think that’s the fun of it. We know the secrets when we shoot scenes and you know what happens behind that fake set, or if that really wasn’t where it was. The memories come back. I know when I watch something that I’m a part of, or stuff that I see my other cast mates in, you just get that little hint of something extra, which is really kinds of dear.  

Q. What’s the craziest fan experience you’ve had?
Kellan Lutz: It’s really unique for the fans and what the go through. I remember one fan... we were doing autograph signings because we have amazing fans who want our autographs, which is quite a unique place to be in. But she asked for an autograph and asked if she could take me home. So, I was like: “Yeah, yeah, what’s your name?” But then she yanks out this big old pair of handcuffs. I was like: “Hey!” And she was sneering. I shared that story right after Twilight came out and then when I was doing the circuit for New Moon, another fan was like: “Hey, remember that story you said?” I was like: “Yeah...” And she pulled out these fuzzy ones and then she said: “I have something for you!” And then she undid her jacket and had a real nice number on. I was like: “Hey!” It was really cute. But they’re cute... there’s no other way to explain this love that they have for this franchise.

Nikki Reed
Q. Nikki, you have a back story 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: 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 m y 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.

Q. You’ve been able to travel all over the world as part of the Twilight franchise. So, what’s your favourite city? And why?
Nikki Reed: 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.

Q. Do you have a favourite book in the series?
Nikki Reed: 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 you’re original idea is of the books, everyone gets so sucked into the series... they’re just like magnetic.

Q. What kind of diet and physical regime to did you have?
Nikki Reed: 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.

Q. If you could have a special power, what would it be?