Debuting as an adorable ingénue with a razor-sharp edge, actress Nikki Reed first made a major impact as the co-writer and co-star of the brutally honest teen angst film "Thirteen" (2003). The daughter of architect-turned-art director Seth Reed ("Minority Report," "Auto Focus"), the young actress' parents split at an early age, with Reed staying primarily with her mother. As she entered the sixth grade, Reed suddenly became very rebellious and emotionally volatile, and her relationship with her mother became strained as she began experimenting with sex, drugs and petty crime. Catherine Hardwicke, an art director looking to become a writer and director, had dated Reed's father for several years and remained very close to the actress after they split. Hardwicke tried to find positive creative outlets for her troubled surrogate daughter during the turbulent period, and in early 2002 she began collaborating on a screenplay with Reed, then 13.

At first creating a typical teen comedy, "Thirteen" gradually became more realistic and harrowing, drawing on many of the girl's real life experiences as a rebellious teen girl. Not only did the writing process help Reed deal with her anger and acting out, she and Hardwicke were actually able to sell it. Although the actress' lack of Hollywood acting credits prevented her from playing the lead role of Tracy—ultimately played by Evan Rachel Wood--Reed was cast as Tracy's popular but dark and troubled best friend, Evie, who leads Tracy down a destructive path. The film was embraced by critics and provided a powerful springboard for Reed's future path in Hollywood. Reed worked with Hardwicke again on both artists’ respective sophomore efforts, “Lords of Dogtown” (2005), the fictionalized rags-to-riches tale of board rats Jay Adams, Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta, who revolutionized skateboarding and elevated themselves to wanton celebrity. Playing Alva’s sister, Kathy, the young actress had little screen time compared to her male counterparts. She next signed on to appear in a four-episode stint on the popular Fox melodrama "The O.C." in its third season.