Rising Star: ‘Eclipse’ Wolf Pack Newcomer Julia Jones

Making a mark in the wild world of “The Twilight Saga” would be a feat for any star, but in the role of Leah Clearwater in “Eclipse,” newcomer Julia Jones instantly makes her presence known with a performance that has earned her the title of AccessHollywood.com’s Rising Star.

Julia brings some much-needed girl power to the rambunctious, male-dominated Wolf Pack in the franchise’s third big screen offering, “Eclipse,” but the star told Access that joining the group – not just getting the part – was nerve-wracking.

“I was really nervous,” she said. “The first person I had dinner with was Chaske [Spencer, who plays Sam Uley]. I didn’t know I was being screened! [That was] the real audition!”

However, Julia had nothing to worry about.

“She’s totally cool and such a sweetheart,” Chaske told Access.

Though she passed that test, her fellow wolves’ high energy – even after one 4 AM wake-up call – has kept the brunette actress on her toes.

“This is a very serious situation that we’re in!” she said of becoming part of the Wolf Pack. “This is like being in the same dorm in college for four years.”

As Leah in “Eclipse,” she faces off with Bella (Kristen Stewart) due to her telepathic sense of Jacob’s (Taylor Lautner) romantic pain.

“Mainly, Leah feels like Bella is torturing Jacob,” Julia said. “I’m having to hear Jacob’s inner monologue and all of the pain that Bella is inflicting on Jacob.”

While “Eclipse” is already turning Julia into a household name, playing Leah isn’t the actress only big role this summer. She also stars as Cassie in comic book-turned-film “Jonah Hex,” alongside Josh Brolin and Megan Fox. That film is due June 18 – a week and a half before “Eclipse’s” June 30 bow.

Before stepping into the world of summer blockbusters, Julia took a dramatic turn in a quartet of “ER” episodes as Dr. Kaya Montoya, with previous big screen appearances in films including “California Indian,” “Three Priests” and “Hell Ride.”

The gorgeous Columbia University grad has also served as a model for companies including Levi’s, The Gap, Esprit and L’Oreal.

Though her film roles have skewed serious, off-camera, Julia’s all smiles – and still in awe of how “The Twilight Saga” is changing her life.

“It’s just so surreal,” she said. “You have days where you’re like, ‘I can’t believe this is my life.’ It’s so much fun [but] there’s a lot of it that doesn’t make sense to me yet. But it’s exciting!”