‘Twilight’s’ new blood: Meet the Denali coven from ‘Breaking Dawn’

Mia Maestro on "Alias" (ABC)

 “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” won’t reach theaters until November 2011 (with the second half due in 2012), but there’s already been some big casting news. Summit Entertainment has announced the actors who will portray the Cullen family’s allies: the Denali coven, a group of “vegetarian” vampires who live in Alaska and join the Washington-state vampire brood as they stand up to the Volturi, the ancient European bloodsucking society, and protect a certain immortal infant.  Here’s a rundown of the actors and their parts.

Christian Camargo as Eleazar Denali

Slated to play a former Volturi, Camargo fits the tall, dark-haired description. It’s up to the makeup artists to achieve that “hint of an olive tone in his chalky complexion” that Eleazar’s Spanish origin suggests. But if they can make Peter Facinelli and Nikki Reed believable as blonds, it should be a piece of cake. Where you’ve seen him: Camargo played Col. Cambridge in “The Hurt Locker” and Dexter Morgan’s murderous brother on the Showtime series “Dexter.” He’s also been in “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” “K-19: The Widowmaker” and various television crime shows.

Christian Camargo (Getty Images)

Mia Maestro as Carmen

Maestro, a dark-haired Buenos Aires native,  is set to play Carmen, Eleazar’s mate. Maestro’s character hails from Spain and commonly uses Spanish while cooing to baby Renesmee.  That isn’t a far cry for Maestro, who has starred in several Spanish-language films. She’ll have to vamp up her mothering skills to play Carmen, a warm-spirited vegetarian vampire who is one of the first of her clan to accept Bella and Edward’s immortal baby. Where you’ve seen her: “Alias,” as Sydney’s half-sister and Elena the stowaway in ”Poseidon.” 

Maggie Grace as Irina Denali

Grace, plays an original Denali sister and Laurent’s former mate. Scorned because her lover was killed by the Quileute shape-shifters, Irina keeps the Cullens at arm’s length and may not be the best person to trust. Grace is pretty great at playing the pretty-girl-you-love-to-hate and seems like a perfect fit as Irina. Where you’ve seen her: Grace played  Shannon, a spoiled trust fund baby, in “Lost.” Interesting tidbit: Ian Somerhalder, her “Lost” castmate, is also taking a bite out of the vampire genre by playing bad boy Damon on “The Vampire Diaries.”

Casey Labow as Kate Denali

Labow will portray Kate, a Denali sister whose skin gives off an electrical charge – think of her as a supernatural version of a Taser gun. She also might be one of the female vampires whose action led to the tale of the succubus.  Prepare to see Labow quite a bit because Kate  becomes a key figure working with Bella. Where you’ve seen her: A few episodes of “CSI: NY” and various films.

MyAnna Buring as Tanya Denali

Buring plays the Eastern European vampire who leads the Denali coven in Alaska. Tanya, a curly-haired strawberry blond, has always had a crush on Edward, so it will be interesting to gauge the chemistry between Buring and Robert Pattinson on the big screen. Buring’s pixie looks makes her an interesting choice because Irina, Kate and Tanya are jokingly considered the original succubi, gorgeous supernatural women who preyed on men to drink their blood. Where you’ve seen her:  She dug deep in “The Descent” and also appeared in “Vampire Killers.” This actress is sticking to the undead side of show biz.

– Nardine Saad

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