Kristen Jaymes Stewart (born April 9, 1990)^[1] is an American actress who is best known for playing Bella Swan in The Twilight Saga and for her prolific work in independent films. She has also starred in films such as Panic Room (2002), Speak (2004), Zathura (2005), The Messengers (2007), Adventureland (2009), The Runaways (2010), Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), and On the Road (2012). She will star in Clouds of Sils Maria (2014) and in Camp X-Ray (2014).

Stewart was born and raised in Los Angeles, California.^[2][3][4] Her father, John Stewart, is a stage manager and television producer who has worked for Fox.^[5] Her mother, Jules Mann-Stewart, is a script supervisor originally from Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia, who has also directed a film.^[4][6][7][8] She has an older brother, Cameron B. Stewart, and two adopted brothers, Dana and Taylor.^[9][10] Stewart attended school until the seventh grade and then continued her education by correspondence^[4] until completing high school.