Kellan Lutz and Nikki Reed in 2012.Photo: Dave M. Benett/WireImage

Kellan Lutzis recalling an offscreen connection withNikki Reedthat may have once rivaled their onscreen one.
Onthe latest episodeofAshley Greene’sThe Twilight Effectpodcast, Lutz — who played Emmett Cullen in theTwilightfilms, opposite Reed’s Rosalie Hale — said Reed “was awesome” during filming.
“I really fell in love with her as a human being inBreaking Dawnbecause we just had so much time to talk and she’s really, really special, has such a kind heart,” added the actor, 37.
Lutz recalled feeling “so connected to” Reed, 33, admitting, “I’m actually kind of surprised her and I didn’t date throughout all this.”
Greene, 35, had a similar experience withJackson Rathbone, who played her character Alice Cullen’s husband Jasper Hale. “I feel like everyone had pretty great chemistry,” said Greene. “I had such a crush on Jackson.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.
Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed, Ashley Greene and Jackson Rathbone inTwilight(2008).Deana Newcomb/Summit

RELATED GALLERY:Twilight’s Real-Life Romances
“It’s actually really cool for me to sit back and enjoy that ride again,” said the actor. “And to tell her all the behind-the-scenes things and how stuff changed, from each director to each new book.”
While Gonzales “hasn’t read the books,” Lutz said she understandsthe franchise’s popularityafter seeing the movies: “She gets why it was such a phenomenon, because it’s a beautiful story about lovers that could never be and should never be, but are.”
In all fiveTwilightfilms, Lutz, Reed, Greene and Rathbone, 37, played vampire “siblings” in the Cullen clan, which also included Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), Carlisle Cullen (Peter Facinelli), Esme Cullen (Elizabeth Reaser) and, eventually, Bella Swan Cullen (Kristen Stewart).
Speaking to PEOPLE in February, Greene said filming the movies “wasn’t always rainbows and sunshine on set.”
“We did this for five years andthere was a lot of ups and downs, and some drama, and we were like a family, but also in our 20s, and so there were kind of tiffs here and there,” she said. “So I think, it’s one of those things where, for the most part, it was a good experience, but we were human beings, and we were in our 20s.”
Continued Greene, “So you can imagine who you were in your 20s versus who you are now.”
source: people.com