Kristen Stewart Talks James Gandolfini Death: 'Welcome to the Rileys' Co-Star's Passing 'Gutted Me', She Says (VIDEO)
Kristen Stewart issued a statement on Tuesday about the loss of her Welcome To The Rileys co-star James Gandolfini.
Stewart told Entertainment Weekly that when she learned the disheartening news, it "gutted" her.
"When I heard of James' passing I was in New Orleans, where we met shooting, and every memory flooded back and gutted me," the 23-year-old told the publication in a statement.
The actress, who shot to superstardom when she played the lead of Bella in the Twilight film series, described the Sopranos actor as "immeasurably great." She added in her statement, "I'll hold that time near to me forever. He was immeasurably great. My heart goes out to his beloved family."
The independent film Welcome To The Rileys, was released in theaters in October of 2010. Gandolfini played Doug, a married man who is mourning the loss of his child and cheats on his wife. During a business trip to New Orleans he befriends Stewart's character Mallory, a 16-year-old stripper and prostitute. The pair form a father-daughter bond after he moves into her rundown apartment.
The film also starred Academy Award-winning actress Melissa Leo (The Fighter, Frozen River, 21 Grams.) and 1980's actress Ally Sheedy.
Stewart's statement about Gandolfini joins a growing list of Hollywood stars who expressed kind words about the three-time Emmy winning 51-year-old who died on June 19 in Rome. Family spokesman Michael Kobold announced that Gandolfini died of a heart attack on June 21.
USA Today reported that Gandolfini's funeral will be held on June 27 at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in New York City at 10 a.m. EST. An HBO spokesperson shared the details on behalf of the actors' family.
Watch Stewart in a scene with Gandolfini in Welcome To The Rileys
