'New Moon' casting: Who should play Leah Clearwater?
UPDATE: Hold your horses, Leah fans. Looks like not only did Hudgens not actually audition for the role, the character of Leah didn't even make the "New Moon" cut. Well, we can still ponder who'll be playing her in "Eclipse," can't we?
Turns out "High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens auditioned for the part of frustrated werewolf Leah Clearwater in the upcoming "Twilight" sequel "New Moon." Fans already know that Leah, the only female werewolf in the tribe and Sam's former girlfriend, isn't too important at first but becomes more central in the subsequent books "Eclipse" and "Breaking Dawn." In fact, author Stephenie Meyer has said that if she continued any of the characters' stories, Leah's tale would be her first choice.
But is Vanessa the fans' first choice? Could she be too much sweetness and light? Maybe, maybe not. Click on the photo gallery above and take a look at nine other actresses we think should be contending for the role.
And then take this poll!
-- Denise Martin
Related:
Complete coverage of "Twilight."
Photo credit: Getty Images (all photos)
Jessica Szohr...she has the face and her eyes too.
Posted by: Erika | January 13, 2009 at 07:39 PM
where can we go to apply for new moon i would like to audition
Posted by: April Grayboff | January 13, 2009 at 08:47 PM
Ugh. This has probably been mentioned. But forget the Disney Stars!!
Posted by: Casey | January 13, 2009 at 09:49 PM
vanessa is incredibly hot. imagine what she'd look like after i gently lifted that dress off over her head. come to think of it, i've seen what she would look like if i gently lifted that dress off over her head.
Posted by: doghorn | January 13, 2009 at 10:55 PM
casting Vanessa Hudgens in Twilight would be the worst decision ever. She isn't a talented actress and the hype of her being in the movie will just be distracting from the story and extremely annoying...
Posted by: Lisa | January 13, 2009 at 11:03 PM
I voted for Jessica Szohr. But really, I cannot see anybody from this list portraying Leah. We want a REAL NATIVE AMERICAN for the role, please. Is it that hard to find one?
Posted by: Kim | January 13, 2009 at 11:06 PM
yep! forget the disney stars!!!they suck in acting really.....people only watch them because of their younger siblings or children....and it's in DIsNEY....vanessa hudgens????!!!
Posted by: jarina tee | January 14, 2009 at 02:34 AM
i think Michelle Rodriguez could do the job, even though she's a puertorican. She would do great.
Posted by: Kelsey | January 14, 2009 at 02:53 AM
NONE OF THE DISNEY CHARACTERS, PLEASE!
Posted by: Christine | January 14, 2009 at 04:47 AM
Vanessa is very good actress!
i dont now for this paper
maybe Vanessa is Gourges and Leah is Ugly:S
Posted by: meL | January 14, 2009 at 05:11 AM
Hmm, if any Jessica Szohr, but I think Adriana Lima would be really good. The original casting kinda screws that up, though. Because she's hotter than the vamps.. *sigh* Steven Straits..
moving on. Adriana Lima - but i have no idea of her acting ability.. NOT VANESSA. RAGH. Not that I dont like her, but she's just NOT Leah material.. Hurrumph. T___T
what do you think?
Posted by: Zhani | January 14, 2009 at 05:22 AM
Please look up SASHA GARY, perfect fit for Leah Clearwater and an unknown that can act. Also, Q'orianka Kilcher would be great-lets not turn this into another poor acted too hyped DIsney Movie, these girls in the poll are way too young and sweet to play Leah a woman/werewolf scorned. Can you possibly imagine VaneXXXa's nasal voice in Eclipse next movie as Leah?? VaneXXXa has way too much baggage.
Posted by: Erika Boccio | January 14, 2009 at 07:29 AM
it was hard between Jessica Szohr and Alice Braga
but in the end i pick Jessica Szohr.
she seems the best for leah
GET DISNEY OUT OF HERE!
no offence, but really?
Posted by: rachel TEAM SWITZERLAND | January 14, 2009 at 07:44 AM
none of those! i agree with kim, who said "We want a REAL NATIVE AMERICAN for the role, please. Is it that hard to find one?". but camilla belle or megan fox are good for leah!
Posted by: bia | January 14, 2009 at 07:54 AM
I would rather they cast an actress who is actually Native American.
Posted by: asilly | January 14, 2009 at 08:07 AM
gezz!!! i can't belive people vote for vanessa!
i'm not saying i don't like vanessa, i just can't see her as leah! i agree with Kim... a real native american would be perfect...twilight doesn't need famous people to de a success!!!
Posted by: Taty | January 14, 2009 at 08:22 AM
I can't imagine how many times we're going to have to say that the Disney stars are too cutesie for anything like New Moon. Even mentioning their names was just ridiculous and laughable. Keisha Castle-Hughes might work. She's got the look for the part. I like the idea of Jessica Szohr. She's known but not well-known enough that her star power would be distracting in the movie. The only other credible actress that I think could make the part work is Kristin Kreuk.
Posted by: Otown | January 14, 2009 at 08:33 AM
The role of Leah should be played by a native american actress. There are certain physical features and personality characteristics that an actress coming from Hollywood can not learn. Just as the cast of Twilight was pretty much unknown until the movie buzz, the same should be done with the sequal casts. This began as an indie project and should continue that way. It stands out from the other big productions by introducing new people and not by following the trends of who's in/out right now.
Posted by: Kara | January 14, 2009 at 10:04 AM
I think Jessica-but according to the Twilight Lexicon, they say melissa R. didn't even put Leah in the script!! So why are we freaking?? She's not even in the movie!
Posted by: katie | January 14, 2009 at 10:10 AM
None of the above...as previously mentioned, Leah is Native American as well as being over the average age of your listed starlets of 17. I am sure there are plenty of appropriate actors in the Native community who could do justice to the part of Leah. Twilight is/was an indie project. So should New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. These movies/stories are about Bella and Edward and their trials. Turning the glam gage up with your listed starlets is just wrong.
Posted by: Marcia | January 14, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Anyone thats not one of the Disney starts.
Whoever plays Leah has to be mean and aggressive so anyone except Miranda, Selena, Demi, or Vanessa.
Posted by: Carly | January 14, 2009 at 12:17 PM
I totally agree with everyone. Vanessa Hudgins?
Michelle Rodriguez is definitely someone I could see as Leah.
She's got the dark skin and hair and she just plays a sassy, hardcore girl way too well.
Posted by: Bobbi Jo | January 14, 2009 at 12:23 PM
uh... vanessa, demi, salena, miranda i think that would be a really bad choice. sorry but i would. i definatly pictures leah pretty but also more manly with darker skin and dark eyes.
Posted by: karisjoyy | January 14, 2009 at 12:24 PM
First, how about sharing actual "in-character" shots of actresses? Or even better, links to video shorts of their performances ?
Based solely on red carpet/glammed shots, it is difficult to judge, especially if you're not of the 18-25 target audience for works by these actresses and aren't familiar with their shows.
I only know of Keisha Castle-Hughes from "Whale Rider" and while she's a good actress, I wouldn't consider her among first choice for any role in any of the Twilight movies.
It's too bad L.A. that the reporters can't be bothered to locate actresses whose zip codes aren't in the L.A. area. THERE HAVE TO BE NATIVE ACTRESSES in the U.S. or Canada who can be found and audition for Leah, Emily and Sue.
Posted by: Bluestem | January 14, 2009 at 12:32 PM
PLEASE KEEP THE DISNEY STARS .OUT. OF OUR TWILIGHT!!!!!!!
they do NOT belong there...we don't want Robert and Kristen to start being compared to Zac and Vanessa do we?! ...NO, we don't. Not at all.
my favorite pick would be Jessica Szohr...she defineteliy looks the part (i think)
Posted by: Savannah | January 14, 2009 at 12:39 PM