Skip over navigation

Nikki Reed

Nikki Reed
Early life
Reed was born in West Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Cheryl Houston, a beautician, and Seth Reed, a set designer. She has an older brother, Nathan. Reed's father is Jewish and her mother is of Cherokee and Italian descent; Reed was raised without religion, though she grew up around Judaism (her brother had a Bar Mitzvah).
Reed has described her home life as "complicated." Her parents divorced when she was two, and she grew up with her mother. She describes herself as having been "shy and a bookworm," but at the age of 12, while attending Palms Middle School, she became rebellious and emotionally volatile. The relationship between Reed and her mother became strained when Reed experimented with drugs, alcohol, and sex. At the age of 14, Reed was emancipated; she then moved out and began living on her own. She had no specific desire to become an actress.

Career
Reed and director Catherine Hardwicke finished the script for the semi-autobiographical film Thirteen in six days, a relatively short time for a Hollywood script to be written. Producers asked Reed to play a role in the film because they had trouble casting it, considering it an "uncomfortable" role for most young actresses. The film, starring Evan Rachel Wood, was released in 2003 to glowing reviews, giving Reed recognition in Hollywood as both an actress and a screenwriter. Following the film's release, Reed also appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and hosted a number of award shows, including the Young Hollywood Awards (2003) and the Independent Spirit Awards Nomination Show, followed by the West Independent Spirits Awards, both in 2004.
Reed has continued to portray sexually promiscuous teenagers, including her character in Lords Of Dogtown, also directed by Hardwicke. In early 2006, she appeared on the series The O.C., playing Sadie, a new love interest for the character Ryan Atwood. Reed noted she disagreed with the "trendy and shallow things" that The O.C. promoted, and that she appeared in the series only on the advice of her agents.
One of her most distinctive roles was in Mini's First Time, which received a limited release in the United States on July 14, 2006. In the film, Reed played a teenager who, through seduction, involves her stepfather in a plot to murder her mother. Reed has noted that her character does not "understand the weight of consequence," and that she enjoyed playing someone who she describes as "crass" and having a "trucker's mouth." Reed's character participates in explicit sex scenes, which had to be filmed from the point of view of Reed's back, as she was 16 at the time and thus legally unable to film her scenes in a more explicit manner.
Reed wrote another script set in New Zealand between the 1960s and the 1980s. Reed has noted that she feels she is a versatile actress, but feels typecast in roles of "sexy bad girls," noting that producers often tell her that she is too "sexy" for a particular part.
On February 12, 2008, it was announced that Reed would portray Rosalie Hale in the movie version of Twilight, which was directed by Catherine Hardwicke. In June 2008, Reed wrote a letter to her fans, thanking them for supporting her through the controversy that surrounded her, a brunette, being cast as Rosalie (described as a blonde).
During a radio interview with Big O and Dukes of WJFK 1067, Jason Mewes stated that he is doing a movie called K-11 with Reed and Kristen Stewart, also of Twilight. The film, directed by Stewart's mother, takes place in a dorm of the Los Angeles County Jail, and will feature both Stewart and Reed as male characters.

Personal life
After Thirteen's success, Reed returned to her Los Angeles high school, but dropped out again after a year. She cited her experiences involving "mothers who were sneaking into the school at lunchtime to confront and harass her about the film" as the reason for her departure. Reed was subsequently home-schooled, and she eventually received her high-school diploma. Reed divides her time between New York City and Los Angeles.



News | What members say | Filmography

Nikki Reed - news / articles


  • Reed excited about Twilight reunion - 26 August 2010
    -Actress Nikki Reed can't wait to get back to work on the Twilight franchise - because she's excited about reuniting with her co-stars after a year apart.- -Reed, who plays vampire Rosalie Hale in the films, is preparing to meet up with colleagues including Robert P


  • Reed wasn't prepared for athletic Eclipse training - 7 July 2010
    -Nikki Reed was shocked when she received her work schedule for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse - because studio bosses hadn't told the cast they would be training like "athletes" for the movie's big fight scenes.- -The actress, who plays vampire Rosalie in the hit franc


  • Reed took Smith as Eclipse date - 29 June 2010
    -Nikki Reed took Jaden Smith as her 'date' to the premiere of her new Twilight movie - after the youngster's famous dad Will organised an introduction.- -The actress walked the red carpet with the 11-year-old The Karate Kid star at the launch of The Twilight Saga: E

Nikki Reed - what members say


  • Thirteen
  • Thirteen review by A customer from Manchester, England
    Rated - 4.0 stars Stunning Debut for Nikki Reed 19 October 2004
    ...Co-written by one of its 16yr old stars Nikki Reed. A harsh depiction of how one girls 'normal' life twists into a downward spiral as she aspires to be one of the popular...   Read customer review
  • Mini's First Time
  • Mini's First Time review by from Reading
    Rated - 3.0 stars Mini!! 5 February 2007
    ...A great perfomance from Nikki Reed as Mini is the best thing about this somewhat predictable film. Alec Baldwin is dependable as always. Entertaining enough film. ...   Read customer review

Nikki Reed - filmography


  • The Twilight Saga - Eclipse on DVD (2010)
    Starring: Kristen Stewart,  Robert Pattinson,  Anna Kendrick
    Director: David Slade
    Certificate: Certificate: 12
    Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant. Subscribe.
    As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob - knowing that her ..read more »
    3.5 stars out of 5 69% from 29,206 members
    Sign up Watch now (With package)
  • Chain Letter - Blu-ray (2010)
    Starring: Nikki Reed,  Keith David,  Brad Dourif
    Director: Deon Taylor
    Certificate: Certificate: 18
    A familiar urban legend gets a chilling new twist when a group of high school friends all receive a chain e-mail claiming that someone close to them will soon die if they fail to keep the message circulating. At first Jessie Campbell (Nikki Reed) thought it might just be a sick joke, but when her ..read more »
    2.5 stars out of 5 46% from 568 members
    Sign up
  • Awaken The Night on DVD (2009)
    Starring: Nikki Reed,  D J Qualls,  William Sadler
    Director: Vlad Yudin
    Certificate: Certificate: 15
    Watch now: £2.49
    This unpredictable story follows Joe who's reached his breaking point in his job and home life. Finally on the last day of summer, Joe snaps and decides to take revenge on his tormentors. But then he meets a mysterious girl who will change his life forever and send both of their lives spiralling ..read more »
    2 stars out of 5 36% from 49 members
    Sign up Watch now (£2.49)
  • Familiar Strangers (2008)
    Starring: Shawn Hatosy,  DJ Qualls,  Tom Bower
    Director: Zackary Adler
    Certificate: Certificate: TBC
    "Familiar Strangers" is an off beat--funny--heartfelt story of a family negotiating the changing relationships between parents and children, especially as those children grow into adulthood. It follows the Worthingtons through a four-day Thanksgiving gathering. Brian, who moved away and kept his ..read more »
    1.5 stars out of 5 25% from 4 members
    Currently unavailable
    Sign up
  • Cherry Crush on DVD (2007)
    Starring: Nikki Reed,  Jonathan Tucker,  Michael O'Keefe
    Director: Nicholas DiBella
    Certificate: Certificate: 15
    Privileged teenager Jordan Wells finds himself expelled from prep school after taking provocative photos of his female classmates. Now enrolled in the local high school, he becomes helplessly blinded by the beauty of Shay Bettencourt, a stunning temptress from the other side of the tracks. She is ..read more »
    2.5 stars out of 5 45% from 136 members
    Sign up
  • Mini's First Time on DVD (2006)
    Starring: Nikki Reed,  Alec Baldwin,  Carrie-Anne Moss
    Director: Nick Guthe
    Certificate: Certificate: 15
    As MINI'S FIRST TIME begins, teenaged Mini's (Nikki Reed) life with neglectful mom Diane (Carrie-Anne Moss) has reached breaking point. Fed up with Diane's insatiable appetite for sex and alcohol, Mini decides to grab life by the lapels, and ventures out to try as many new experiences as she can. ..read more »
    2.5 stars out of 5 54% from 1,968 member
    Sign up
  • Thirteen on DVD (2002)
    Starring: Holly Hunter,  Evan Rachel Wood,  Nikki Reed
    Director: Catherine Hardwicke
    Certificate: Certificate: 18
    THIRTEEN is Catherine Hardwicke's explosive portrait of teenage girls at their very worst. Mean, manipulative, conniving, and utterly out of control, these skinny, sexy, drug-addicted, 13-year-old time bombs are nothing short of terrifying. Hardwicke's movie is brilliant in its ability to portray ..read more »
    3 stars out of 5 59% from 13,146 members
    Sign up

Nikki Reed facts