'Breaking Dawn' Stars Feted By Stephenie Meyer at Chinese Theatre Ceremony (Video)

Twilight fans swarmed the legendary Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Blvd Thursday morning to catch a glimpse of Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner as the actors joined the ranks of Hollywood’s elite.

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On Nov. 3 the trio had the honor of having their hand and footprints immortalized in cement outside the famed theatre, landing among the likes of John Wayne, Fred Astaire, Elizabeth Taylor, Clint Eastwood, Meryl Streep and Jennifer Aniston. Since Norma Talmadge laid the first prints in 1927, just over 250 screen legends have been offered the prestigious honor.

Jimmy Kimmel served as emcee of the brief event, while Twilight author Stephenie Meyer said a few touching words about the actors who brought her beloved characters to life.

“I’m excited for them and I’m also very proud of them,” Meyer said. “Their lives have changed a lot in the last few years and they’ve done it with such class and an amazing ability to just stay balanced and stay who they are, which I think is a really rare and amazing talent.”

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“Having spent the last year watching this last movie be filmed -- it’s amazing,” she continued. “It’s not a glamorous job, and I knew that, but to see it every day and to see the often horrible conditions, the ridiculous hours. Everything that they go through, everything they expend in the service of these characters is really touching to me. I’ll never not be grateful for what they’ve done."

Stewart appeared truly happy on this sunny L.A. day, though she grimaced a few times at the screaming photographers’ demands. Donning a short black and tan dress, the actress slipped out of her stilettos and into a pair of checkered Vans sneakers (in a matching black and tan hue) to leave her footprints. In an endearing moment -- and picture perfect photo op -- she lifted her soiled hands from the cement block and extended them to either side, locking fingers with her co-stars.

“I’ve been so enamored by this business – Hollywood – I think this is the coolest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Stewart gushed from the podium. “This is insane that I’m doing this and I think they should start talking now,” she abruptly finished with a laugh, before pushing Pattinson toward the microphone.

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It was Lautner who stepped in next, thanking fans for their support. “There are a few moments that mean so much it’s really even hard to explain,” he said. “And this is definitely one of those.”

“I forgot how hot L.A. was, I shouldn’t have worn a suit,” Pattinson joked. “Thank you guys so much, this is such an incredible honor. How young we are -- it’s kind of ridiculous and amazing at the same time.”

While legions of fans were barricaded outside the courtyard, it was a relatively small affair inside the velvet ropes, with the actors’ parents seated together in the front row. Armed with a small point-and-shoot camera to capture their son’s big moment, Pattinson’s folks were beaming.

Christina Perri, Bruno Mars and the rest of the artists featured on the Breaking Dawn – Part 1 soundtrack played through the loudspeakers before and after the ceremony. While Pattinson, Stewart and Lautner placed their hands and feet in the wet cement and posed for the cameras, fans’ adoring voices blared through the speakers as a microphone was passed through the crowd. Among the most popular sentiments were confessions of undying love for Stewart’s two leading men -- with a few Stewart admirers thrown in the mix as well.

As fans clamored for autographs from the stars, Kimmel took the mic to say goodbye: “See you at the after party at Hooters!”

Attracting as many visitors as the Taj Mahal and the Prado Museum, the Chinese Theatre draws four million people each year, ranking among the world’s most photographed tourist sites. To see more from the event, click on the videos below.