Michelle Trachtenberg. If you're anything like me, you know the name, you can picture her face, but you're not really sure how you know her. Kristen Stewart, on the other hand, we know close to everything about her -- her age, her relationship status, how well she and her mom get along, and her entire filmography is ingrained in our minds. But! It could've been oh so different. It's hard to imagine Twilight any other way, but Michelle recently told Us Weekly that she could easily have been Bella. Well now. That changes everything.
Michelle joked that she was up for a role in Twilight because "there are only so few pale girls in Hollywood" (ha!), but it sounds to me like she had a viable shot at starring in the movie.
She and Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke go back a few -- they worked on the movie Thirteen together and Michelle explains that because of her schedule, she was never able to commit to being in the vampire saga that's changed our lives.
Maybe it's because I don't like change, but I cannot for the life of me picture anyone other than KStew as Bella. Her permanent grimace, her vulnerability yet strength is something Kristen really brings to life in Bella. I can't say Michelle wouldn't have done an amazing job, but I think the casting directors made the right choice.
If Michelle had gotten the role, do you think she would be dating Robert Pattinson? No, right? I can't tell. This is kind of like when I read that Jessica Biel almost got the role that Rachel McAdams got in The Notebook and I couldn't sleep for two weeks. Would Jessica be dating Ryan Gosling? Would I then be dating Justin Timberlake? It's all so complicated.
Even though I wasn't consulted on these casting decisions, I'm glad that the right woman was chosen for both roles. Sounds like Michelle isn't bitter, either. She's got a great part on Gossip Girl and having starred in Buffy, she'd "already done the vampire thing." I can't speak for Jessica Biel, but she's got JTimbs. And I think she's done some movies? Not sure.
Do you think Michelle Trachtenberg would've made a good Bella Swan?
Photo via Michael N. Todaro/Getty
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Comments 83
I could see it! Plus she is a waayyy better actress then KStew. Shoot KStew didn't even have to act in Twilight, it's how she is all the time. But KStew's personality is pretty close to Bella's so...
Michelle Trachtenburg wasn't even in Thirteen.
Give K-Stew a break. So far every role she's had have been angsty teenaged girls. She was dead on Joan Jett in the Runaways.
Yes, it would be difficult for me to picture her not being Bella (Kristen), but then again, I read "Twilight" before there was even a movie in casting/production... Kristen did not portray Bella the way I felt the book wanted had her portrayed (not that she was some awesome heroine in the story..she was actually a bit annoying), but she brought herself into the role, and it seems to have worked for the series. I think she is a good actress, but I've seen her in other roles as well.
Michelle on the other hand, I never even thought about her as being Bella! She could totally have pulled that role off...but....would the series be as successful? Would we even know who K Stewart is? If I were Michelle, I would have put my other jobs on hold. When I first heard that they were making the Twilight books into films, I knew it would be a cash cow. Not that Michelle's career is dead or anything, but this could really have "vamped" it up to a whole new level. I think girls are more in love with the male lead than the female lead anyway. lol.
Michelle would've done incredible as Bella. The movies would've been good had she been chosen for the role.
And, no, I think Michelle has higher standards than dating Robert Pattinson.
Kristen Stewart is a terrible, terrible actress. I am still wondering when the world will realize this as a whole. >.>
Michelle has become such a better actress since she was on Buffy, she really grew up. I think she would have done a great job as Bella, as Kristen seems so bland in all of her scenes. Plus Michelle did a great job playing a pregnant girl once, she would have done a much better job carrying out the Breaking Dawn part 1 scenes. Its too bad we will never know... who knows... maybe they will make a new set with Renesmee and Michelle can play the grown up her.