Nikki Reed Pulls Back Curtain on Twilight Off-Screen Tensions

Nikki Reed, the unsung beauty in the “Twilight” films, hints for the first time that it wasn’t all fun and games on the set and that rivalries and petty jealousies existed among cast members that caused some to be less than “best friends.”

Among long-time female cast members, there seems to be a definite pecking order, with everyone taking a back seat to Kristen Stewart, who played the female lead as Bella Swan.

Reed was somewhat overshadowed as well by castmate Ashley Greene. While both played members of the Cullen clan, Greene as Alice, had a more prominent role in the series, especially in “Breaking Dawn.”

Reed played Rosalie Hale, who was sister of vampire Jasper Hale played by Jackson Rathbone and married to Emmett Cullen, played by Kellan Lutz.

Her character is hostile toward Bella and jealous that Edward could be attracted to her because she is human. Yet she longs to be human herself.

“Twilight” started out as a small indie film shot on a relatively meager $38 million budget, and no one really knew it would become an international phenomenon.

“In the beginning, it was innocent and fun, and we were like one big happy family – it was like being at sleepaway camp,” she told Seventeen magazine in a new interview. “And then success comes along and changes the dynamic.”

Reed revealed that not everyone will be parting friends now that filming on the last two segments in the series, “Breaking Dawn, Part 1 and Part 2″ is over.

“We’re not all best friends, and we’re not all going to hang out together after the final movie is done,” she added.

Reed declined to elaborate, but at her recent wedding Taylor Lautner was the only cast member reported to be among guests, although Reed is also close to Rathbone.

And, Reed was reported to have a falling out with Stewart in 2009 during filming of “New Moon.”

In many ways, the 23-year-old actress has more acting cred than either Stewart or Greene.

She co-wrote with Catherine Hardwicke the semi-autobiographical screenplay for the controversial, but critically acclaimed 2003 movie “Thirteen” and also co-starred in the film.

She also had a role in another Hardwicke directed film, 2005′s classic skateboard movie “Lords of Dogtown.”

The cast included a virtual who’s who of young Hollywood, including the late-Heath Ledger, America Ferrera, Sofía Vergara, Michael Angarano and Emile Hirsch.

It seems natural for Hardwicke, who directed the first “Twilight film,” to tap her for a part in the vampire saga.

Hirsch, a friend of Hardwicke’s, suggested Stewart for Bella’s role after working with her in “Into the Wild.”

Although Greene also auditioned to play Bella, Stewart already had the part by the time Reed joined the film.

Reed said it was difficult to see relationships deteriorate when the cameras stopped rolling.

“It was very, very sad. Let’s just leave it at that,” she tells Seventeen.

Breaking Dawn, Part 1 will Debut on Nov. 18. Reed joined other cast members for the LA premiere last night.