Movies

The Twilight Curse: Why Ashley Greene's Career Hasn't Been as Successful as Her Co-Stars

The Twilight Curse: Why Ashley Greene's Career Hasn't Been as Successful as Her Co-Stars
Image credit: Summit Entertainment

Alice Cullen, played by Ashley Greene, was one of the more likeable characters in the Twilight series.

Unlike the overly dramatic Bella or the eccentric Edward, Alice's sweet and strong personality was a breath of fresh air. But despite delivering a perfect performance as Alice, Ashley Greene's career took a nosedive after Twilight. So what gives?

Many people hate on the Twilight saga, but it has to be said the movies became iconic for an entire generation. Critics insisted that the story about a teenage girl falling in love with an ancient vampire should never even have been published as a book series, let alone adapted for the big screen.

But the millions of fans who lined up at movie theatres and purchased Edward and Jacob posters are living proof there is something to it.

Some researchers even attribute the surge in weddings across America during the early 2000s to the on-screen nuptials of Bella and Edward in the Twilight saga.

Despite the franchise's commercial success, the lead actors didn't necessarily enjoy playing in the movies. Robert Pattinson, who played Edward, even talked about being embarrassed about his character.

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Interestingly, Pattinson and his co-star Kristen Stewart became global superstars post-Twilight, while Ashley Greene, who actually enjoyed playing Alice and had aspirations for greater stardom, seems to have fallen through the cracks.

Since the conclusion of the Twilight saga, Ashley Greene has struggled to secure meaningful roles. She appeared in the horror film The Apparition before turning to television for new opportunities.

To make things worse, Greene's portrayal of Alice earned her a nomination for Worst Supporting Actress, which hardly boosted her career. There was a risk that Greene would be typecast for life, an outcome that Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter, was acutely aware of and dreaded during his time as the famous wizard.

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But Radcliffe worked tirelessly to demonstrate that he could play serious, dramatic characters. He actively sought out opportunities, knocking on studio doors and attending auditions.

His efforts ultimately paid off, and he began to appear in films that showcased his range and talent as a character actor, earning him critical acclaim and the respect of his fans.

In this sense, appearing in a horror movie shortly after Twilight may not have been the best move on Ashley's part, seeing how it was far from being the best project in which to show audiences and critics that she had far more range than what people had seen in the Twilight movies.

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People also still remember the scandal that erupted on the set of Twilight before filming the final instalment, Breaking Dawn. Ashley and several of her co-stars demanded higher pay from the producers, citing their newfound fame and success.

It's rumoured that Greene asked for a staggering $4 million, prompting the director to warn her that she would be replaced without hesitation and that he wouldn't think twice about doing so even though they were filming the last part of the series.

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Ultimately, Ashley Greene settled for $2 million, but the altercation earned her a bad reputation in Hollywood. Some began to accuse Greene of being entitled and requiring special treatment, while others claimed that the actress was risk-averse and reluctant to take on complex roles.

Regardless of what the case may have been, the fact remains that after the Twilight saga concluded, the enchanting vampire Alice failed to land a million-dollar contract, leaving her to watch her Twilight co-stars bask in the limelight from the sidelines.