The road to stardom for Ashley Greene

For years, Ashely Greene was a struggling actor trying to make her own mark in Hollywood. But after being cast as Edward spunky sister, Alice in the Twilight series, Ashley is now a bonafide star.

In an interview with USA Today, Ashley talks about being recognized and people getting excited for her projects.

“Instantly we have this fan base, instantly we have these careers and people know who we are,” says the actress, 22, who likened the rush to “instant happiness. … People now actually care about what projects I’m in.”

She also talked about her future projects, one of which is going to be featured in next year’s Sundance Film Festival.

“The fact that we’re going to Sundance is a validity factor for an actor doing something you’re passionate about.”

In Skateland, Greene stars as Michelle Birkam, a girl-next-door type who befriends a cool kid with a job at the local skate rink. It’s set in the 1980s, so “I look just like my mother,” she says. “It’s crazy!”

Greene, who filmed Skateland in between Twilight and New Moon, also has wrapped Warrior, now in post-production, which stars Twilight buddy Kellan Lutz. “I got done with Twilight and went independent-crazy,” Greene says.

Ashley also talked about her future big-budgeted movie, The Apparition, to be produced by Joel Silver.

“To be the lead in my own box-office film is just another step,” Greene says. “A couple of days before, I probably won’t be able to sleep, but I’m not even nervous about it now. … I’m just like one of those giddy girls who wants to make sure everything is perfect for the first day of school. I’ve already planned a week (before filming begins in Berlin) to turn off my cellphone and just focus.”

Lasltly, she talked about her character Alice and Eclipse director David Slade, who actress feels will bring a darker theme to the series.

“In (Twilight), you see that quality about Alice that makes her so lovable is she’s so positive and upbeat. In (New Moon), you see how she takes these uncomfortable situations and she’s sassy and she brings light to a dark scene,” Greene says. “In (Eclipse), you get to see a little bit of a darker side when her family is in danger. You get to see once again that she is an animal and she’s not human.”

“It’s so strange, because we spend months on set, and then it’s like, by the way, this is what’s been brewing while we’ve been working,” she says, referring to Twilight‘s fearlessly devoted fan base.

He is technically the most specific director that I’ve ever worked with.” Greene says fans of the franchise should expect Slade to “bring a darker element to this film. He seems to kind of specialize in that.”

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