Kristen Stewart
An actress who transformed from a global teen phenomenon into a daring, critically-adored artist with a fiercely independent cinematic voice.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American actress and director·Birthday: April 9·Millennials
Biography
Kristen Stewart's relationship with the camera began in childhood, but it was her casting as Bella Swan in the 'Twilight' saga that launched her into an unprecedented stratosphere of fame. Rather than embrace the Hollywood machine, she visibly chafed against its glare, her candid discomfort with celebrity becoming part of her public persona. In the aftermath, she deliberately dismantled that image, choosing roles in challenging films by directors like Olivier Assayas, Kelly Reichardt, and David Cronenberg. Her performance as Princess Diana in 'Spencer' was a career pinnacle, a raw and nervy portrayal that earned her an Oscar nomination and silenced any remaining skeptics. Now also a director, with her debut 'The Chronology of Water' adapting Lidia Yuknavitch's memoir, Stewart has forged a path defined by artistic risk and a palpable authenticity that resonates deeply with a new generation of filmgoers.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Kristen was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kristen Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Kristen's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first American actress to win a César Award, France's highest film honor, for her role in 'Clouds of Sils Maria'.
- Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her transformative performance in 'Spencer' (2021).
- Served as the first female president of the Cannes Film Festival jury in 2024.
- Directed the short film 'Come Swim', which was selected for the Sundance Film Festival and the Cannes Directors' Fortnight.
Did You Know?
She wrote the foreword for the re-issued edition of Jean Genet's controversial novel 'The Thief's Journal'.
She is openly gay and has spoken about how her relationship with now-wife Dylan Meyer began with a script Meyer wrote for her.
She turned down a role in 'The Social Network' to film 'The Runaways'.
Her directorial debut feature, 'The Chronology of Water', is an adaptation of a memoir she has described as profoundly influential.
“The more you let yourself be who you are, the less you need to prove.”
