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Actor Solomon Trimble stands next to Quileute Tribal Council Secretary Anna Rose Counsell as he holds a robe that he wore in "Twilight." The actor presented the robe, made by his mother from a Pendleton blanket, to the Quileute Tribal Council. Photo by Chris Cook of Forks Forum

Meet the Native Actor in 'Twilight'

By Chris Cook of the Forks Forum

LA PUSH, Wash.—Native American actor Solomon Trimble, who played a member of the Quileute Tribe in "Twilight," the film version of Stephenie Meyer's best-selling book, was the guest of honor at the tribe's annual Quileute Days celebration held July 17-19 here.

"Twilight" fans joined in at the Quileute Day festivities, boosting numbers for the parade held at noontime on Saturday. At 2 p.m. about 200 of the fans purchased seats at the Akalat Center in La Push to view the Wolf Dance and other tribal dances put on by the Northern Star dance group from western Canada and southeast Alaska, by the Quinault Tribe and the Quileute Tribe. Trimble crouched at the center of two circles of dancers during the performance alongside a wolf pelt and a Quileute wolf mask.

Trimble is a Portland, Ore., resident who is of Mescalero Apache and Lakota heritage.  He has danced as a traditional Native American Grass Dancer since the age of 3. His aunt, Liz Sanchez, and her granddaughter Suntaya Sanchez-Butler, both of Forks, joined Trimble at La Push, as well as his father Robert Trimble and other family members from Portland.

The 25-year-old Native American actor is working on a Master's degree in statistics and holds a math degree from Portland State University. He hopes to fight against a variety of diseases suffered by Native American tribes by serving in the field of epidemiology. He made his film debut, playing character Sam Uley, in Summit Entertainment's "Twilight" movie.

What It Was Like

While taking a break between riding in a place of honor during the Quileute Days parade and taking part in the wolf dance at the Akalat Center, Trimble described for the Forks Forum what it was like to appear in the film "Twilight."

He said when called in to cast for a role he read all four "Twilight" books prior to being interviewed. "It was ambiguous" which character I would read for, Trimble said.

Having visited his aunt Liz Sanchez in Forks as a child helped him, he said, for he knew the area where "Twilight" is set. He said through their close family connection Sanchez provided him with the first inclination that the "Twilight" books were going to be a big hit.

Sanchez and Ann Penn-Charles from La Push traveled to Portland during the filming of "Twilight" in 2008, Trimble said, to help coach him and actor Taylor Lautner, who is portraying Quileute Jacob Black in the "Twilight" films.

Trimble said fluent Quileute language speaker Charlotte Kalama provided insights into the tribe's language. The actor said he wanted to make sure he represented them in an appropriate way.

These family ties led him to serve as an unofficial technical consultant on Quileute dress, culture and modern-day ways of life for the young people at La Push.

Trimble read for the role of Jacob Black, Bella's Quileute love interest, he said, adding that there was a huge turnout of Native American actors seeking the role.

"Twilight "director Catherine Hardwicke was "amazing" on the set, he said. "We had a lot of fun on the set," Trimble added.

Werewolf Discussion With Author

He said in acting before the movie cameras his lines stuck closely to the "Twilight" books as written by author Stephenie Meyer, whom he met on the set. With the author Trimble discussed details of how she would handle the "shape shifting" of her fictional Quileute werewolves in various situations he thought up. They included asking what would happen if a Quileute werewolf ate a squirrel but didn't fully digest it before he returned to human form. The author told him she thought the wolf would quickly digest the squirrel so it wouldn't be a problem.

Quileute Tribe publicist Jackie Jacobs provided a quote by author Meyer on Trimble:

"It was pretty amazing. I looked up and did a double take. 'Aren't you Sam?' I asked. Solomon laughed and agreed that he was. He had a couple of technical werewolf questions for me (ex. 'Can werewolves phase underwater?' Answer: 'Yes') and I tried to control my enthusing. Solomon was super friendly and interesting, and though he looks awesome on film, he's even more incredible in person. His features are just so stunning!"

The personable young actor, who wasn't cast for the "New Moon" film, told the Forks Forum he has a book of his "slam" poetry being published, and he promised to let the newspaper know when the book would be for sale.

Trimble has served as a cultural consultant for films produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting in association with PBS. He is also working with a Portland playwright on a stage play featuring his poetry.

This story was originally published by the Forks Forum and is used with permission.

Chris Cook is editor of the Forks Forum.