'Twilight' 's Young Bloods

For millions of fans, it was love at first bite. Meet the breakout stars of the killer new vampire movie Twilight

Twilight Mania!

Forget autographs. These days girls looking for a memento have only two words for Robert Pattinson: “Bite me.” “It’s all very strange and scary,” says the heartthrob, who stars as vampire Edward Cullen in the runaway hit Twilight. Based on Stephenie Meyer’s ’05 novel about a romance between a mortal girl, Bella (Kristen Stewart), and an immortal—and impossibly hot—vampire, the blockbuster sucked in $70 million during its opening weekend. The sequel New Moon is already in the works, with Pattinson and Stewart set to reprise their roles. So the newly minted stars better get used to screaming fang-atics. “I keep chanting a mantra: ‘You’re not actually here,'” says Pattinson. But he is—and a fan will gladly bite him to prove it.

ROBERT PATTINSON & KRISTEN STEWART

HE PLAYS: Lovelorn vampire Edward Cullen

WHERE YOU’VE SEEN HIM: The Brit, 22, was the dashing yet doomed Cedric Diggory in 2005’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

ON HIS COIF: “It’s funny—you look the same for years, and no one mentions it,” says Pattinson, whose unkempt hair gets scrutinized daily on fan blogs. “Then suddenly it’s a big deal.”

SHE PLAYS: New girl in town Bella Swan

WHERE YOU’VE SEEN HER: Raised in Los Angeles, she played Jodie Foster’s daughter in Panic Room in 2002. She also appeared in 2007’s Into the Wild.

ON BONDING WITH COSTARS: “Nikki [Reed] and I became really close,” says Stewart, 18. “There are definitely videos singing and playing guitar that will never see the light of day.”

ON HER LEADING MAN: “He’s British, he’s tall, and he’s quite witty,” says Stewart. But he’s not her type: She’s dating 21-year-old actor Michael Angarano.

CAM GIGANDET

PLAYS: Villainous vampire James

WHERE YOU’VE SEEN HIM: In 2005 he joined The O.C. and infamously killed Marissa (Mischa Barton) in a car crash. “Most people thank me for that,” he says.

ON LOOKING TOUGH: To play the bloodthirsty bad boy, the Seattle native, 26, put on a long blond wig, a leather coat and a bit of a strut. “You’ve got to give a little ‘badassness,'” he says. “That’s a word my dad made up.”

ON HIS SOFTER SIDE: He’s menacing onscreen, but can he be mushy off? “I’m a Leo. I like long walks on the beach at sunset in the rain,” jokes Gigandet, who’s single. His real idea of a perfect date? “A walk around the park or the cool areas of L.A.,” he says. “I like hanging around outside.”

TAYLOR LAUTNER

PLAYS: Bella’s friend Jacob Black (inset)

WHERE YOU’VE SEEN HIM: The 16-year-old stars on NBC’s My Own Worst Enemy.

ON WHAT FREAKS HIM OUT: “There are thongs with ‘King Taylor’ on the front,” says the Michigan-bred actor, who wore an “itchy” long wig as Jacob. “I’m scared a fan might ask me to sign one!”

NIKKI REED

PLAYS: Edward’s sister Rosalie Hale (inset)

WHERE YOU’VE SEEN HER: Corrupting Evan Rachel Wood in the 2003 film Thirteen

ON BECOMING A VAMPIRE: “I was at the hair salon for 36 hours to become blonde,” says the Los Angeles native, 20. “I bleached my skin. I had the biggest transformation out of everyone.”

City of the Undead

Die-hard “Twilighters” have descended on Forks, Wash. (pop. 3,200), where the novels and the movie are set, to visit sights such as the local high school. There’s a Twilight tour, of course—and a bestselling souvenir is a sticker that boasts, “Forks Bites.”

Updated by Elaine Aradillas