Nikki Reed

Nikki Reed is an American actress, screenwriter, and entrepreneur. She is best known for playing Rosalie Hale in The Twilight Saga film series from 2008 to 2012, as well as for co-writing and starring in the 2003 psychological drama film Thirteen.

Reed was raised by her mother in Los Angeles following her parents' divorce. Her mother is Cherokee-Italian, and her father, a set designer, is Jewish. Although raised without religion, she has identified as Jewish. At age 14, Reed moved out of her mother's home to live independently. After her initial film success, she briefly attended Alexander Hamilton High School in Los Angeles before departing due to harassment from parents regarding her debut movie. She subsequently earned her high school diploma through homeschooling.

Reed began her professional career after family friend and director Catherine Hardwicke invited her to collaborate on a screenplay. They wrote the semi-autobiographical script for Thirteen in six days, and Reed was cast in a lead role. Released in 2003, the film garnered critical notice and established her in Hollywood. Following this breakthrough, Reed hosted events such as the 2003 Young Hollywood Awards and appeared in Hardwicke's 2005 film Lords of Dogtown. In 2006, she played Sadie in a recurring role on the television series The O.C. and starred in the independent film Mini's First Time.

In 2008, Reed gained widespread international recognition when she portrayed Rosalie Hale in Twilight, repeating the role across the novel series' film adaptations. Alongside her work in the Twilight franchise, she joined cast lineups for projects such as the action drama Catch .44, the indie crime thriller Pawn, and the independent sports comedy Balls Out. In 2019, she made a guest appearance in an episode of the television show Dollface.

Beyond acting, Reed has engaged in music, writing, and business ventures. She recorded music with her former husband, Paul McDonald, releasing the EP The Best Part in 2012 and contributing a song to The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 soundtrack. She directed music videos for the artist Sage in 2009 and the band Hanson in 2013. In 2017, Reed co-founded BaYou With Love, a sustainable jewelry brand that partners with Dell to create jewelry from recycled technology.

Reed's work on Thirteen earned her Best Breakthrough Performance and a nomination for Best First Screenplay at the 19th Independent Spirit Awards. In her personal life, she was married to Paul McDonald from 2011 until their divorce was finalized in 2015. She married actor Ian Somerhalder in 2015, and the couple has a daughter born in 2017 and a son born in 2023. Reed is also an animal rights advocate who received the ASPCA Compassion Award in 2014 for her contributions to animal welfare.