Q&A with Nikki Reed On Her Fight for Animal Rights

What new projects are you working on, and why are you excited about them?
I just launched my cruelty-free and U.S.-made bag line [which you can purchase at FreedomOfAnimals.com], I am working on a screen play—we just formed our production company—and I remain very focused on supporting ThriveMartket.com, an online marketplace that offers non-perishable and GMO-free foods.

What attracted you to playing Betsy Ross in Sleepy Hollow?
The ‘Betsy’ I play is definitely not what I envisioned when I initially thought about the woman who stitched the first American flag. Betsy has a kind of confidence and fearlessness that makes her very fun to play, because I feel she gives me a little bit of that to take home with me.

Your character oozes sex appeal. What do you do that makes you feel sexy?
I believe a woman is her sexiest when she is educated. I am still a student, currently taking college courses online. I also have a tutor, who puts together lessons for me every couple of weeks.

How would you describe yourself in a few words or in a phrase?
I am a creature of habit, I enjoy routine. I am loyal, and I am a lover of all furry things. Sunflowers make me happy, and I could spend my life on a farm growing vegetables, as long as there was a guitar, good wine and my human.

Is how you see yourself different from how others view you?
When you are in the public eye, connecting those two becomes more of a priority than it should be. I think you feel a certain responsibility to share your perspective in the hopes of inspiring people, or connecting people, but there must be a balance, because you don’t want the world living in your home with you. Only as I truly began to discover who I was did I feel more comfortable sharing parts of myself with the world. I have also found that people have a hard time separating you from the characters you play. I realized this fully after noticing the shift in the fan reaction to me, once my character, Rosalie in the Twilight films, became more likable due to her connection with Bella and her baby. Suddenly, people viewed me as maternal, and as the character was liked more, so was I.

What to you is the greatest luxury in life?
Privacy and tranquility are two things I value greatly. I have found that as I get older, I appreciate quiet moments more and more, the intimate gatherings and the understanding that some of the most powerful experiences I have had were in moments where words weren’t needed.