For the first solo celebrity tribute of this year's SBIFF, Kristen Stewart's "this is your life" style evening at the Arlington last night seemed both an inspired choice and one with incidental local resonance. The actress most widely known as a vampire lover in Twilight put in a striking, Oscar-nominated performance as Diana, Princess of Wales, in Spencer. And now, one of Diana's sons, Prince Harry, calls Montecito home with his family.
Variety's Anne Thompson guided the evening's tour through the 20-year career of this 31-year-old actress. What emerged was a portrait of an artist of surprising versatility. The child of entertainment industry parents, Stewart grew up in the San Fernando Valley and played opposite Jodie Foster in Panic Room as a 12-year-old. Since then, she has portrayed a variety of real-life characters, including Jean Seberg and Joan Jett.
After achieving star status through her work in the Twilight series, Stewart became choosier in her roles, including such arthouse fare as Personal Shopper and Clouds of Sils Maria, which screened at the 2015 SBIFF. "I love making movies," she enthused at the Arlington. But she also admitted, "I take pride in being a little spastic, restless, and instinctive."