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HOLLYWOOD’S FAVORITE SIBLINGS – ALL GROWN UP
Alec and Isabelle Lightwood on their transition from their childhoods on the hit show ‘Hunters’ to gritty new projects and being adults in the industry.
A sibling pair like no other, Alec and Isabelle Lightwood have been household names for the past six years. Both talented, and undeniably stunning, the Lightwoods made their big break when they were cast as TV siblings, Matt and Em Decker, on Nickelodeon’s ‘Hunters’ in 2007. After six successful seasons, the teen comedy drama has finally come to a bittersweet close, their time playing the popular teenaged demon hunters over. Now with Alec barely twenty and Isabelle just nineteen, they’re on the path to adulthood and all that entails, including exciting new roles in upcoming projects. We here at Idris Magazine were lucky enough to sit down with this famous brother and sister and ask them all about it.
Idris Magazine : The show finale of ‘Hunters’ aired just yesterday and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. How do you two feel now that this journey has come to an end?
Isabelle Lightwood: It was bittersweet, for sure. I mean I can say for both of us that we’ll definitely miss going to set everyday. The people there have become our family. They helped raise us, made us gain confidence in our craft. At the same time though, I feel like we’re both ready for a change. I guess it kind of feels like we’re graduating high school and are going to college. You know, we’re excited but also a little nervous. Mostly excited though.
Alec Lightwood: Yeah, I agree. Izzy was right when she said it was bittersweet. I do think that this was the best time for the show to end but I’ll definitely be missing it.
IM : And were you satisfied with the ending? With where your characters ended up?
AL: Oh yeah. Our characters went through a lot over the past six seasons, lots of changes and crazy, magical adventures, but even with all that, the show has always been about family. So it felt right that it ended with Matt and Em deciding to stick together even as they go and experience the world outside of demon hunting. It was the perfect ending really; everything came full circle. And it kind of mimics reality in a way, with Izzy and I.
IL: [Smiles] You’re right about that, big brother. And Jace [Wayland] can be included in that too. I mean his character Dom only came in the third season when Matt and Em’s parents adopted him but it feels like he was there with us the entire time. I can’t imagine ‘Hunters’ without him. To me, he’s like another brother. An annoying, kind of arrogant brother, but still a brother.
AL: [Laughs] You definitely have that description right.
IL: Sorry Jace, if you hear about this, but even you have to admit it’s true.
IM : I’m sure he’ll understand. Now, I know you’ve been asked this a thousand times, but I’ve got to hear the story again. How did you both get cast for this?
IL: I’ll take this one!
AL: Oh, here we go…
IL: I had been trying to convince my parents for a long time that acting is what I really wanted to do in life, despite them pushing me towards classical music or dance. Finally, I managed to talk them into letting me audition under the condition that if I didn’t get anything within six months, I would move onto something more suitable. Anyways, as it turns out, there are lots of kids here in LA that want to act. I didn’t book anything and my months were almost up. ‘Hunters’ was my last chance. So, of course, at the audition, I was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life. I mean imagine, little eleven-year-old me about to go into what could be a life-changing audition. But, I had my lines all prepared and Alec was there with me so I kept telling myself I could do it.
AL: And then you got that jerk of an audition partner.
IL: Yeah, he was just terrible. Basically, the audition scene was one between Matt and Em, and so they decided to partner some of the kids up to make the casting process faster. Only my partner spent the entire time making fun of me and trying to get me to mess up so he would look better. It was so upsetting that even though I knew it’s what he wanted, I messed up.
AL: I still really hate that kid…
IL: So, Alec saw what was happening and basically demanded that the casting director let me try again, but with him as my partner instead. For some reason the casting director gave in, I think probably because even at twelve years old Alec was not the type of person you just say no to, especially when it comes to family. But anyways, he’d been practicing with me at home so he knew all the lines by heart and when we finally did the scene, we killed it. And they ended up offering us both the parts, despite Alec not actually wanting to audition for himself.
AL: Yeah, and I almost said no but I actually ended up enjoying the audition, so I decided to give it a try. I guess I just couldn’t give up the chance to see if this, if acting, was something I could love doing. I’m really glad now that I decided to go for it.
IL: I think we both learned a lot from that audition. Like, for me, that was a turning point. I made it my mission to never be put in a position like that again, where I would let other people dictate how I do something, even if it’s something as simple as an audition. After all, I can’t always have my over-protective big brother around.
AL: I’m not over-protective!
IL: [Laughs] Alec, you’re beyond over-protective and you know it. But it’s ok, I forgive you for it. Mostly.
AL: Gee, thank you.
IM : So, what’s next for you both? Any projects in your back pocket?
AL: Well Izzy’s already booked a movie, which we’re all really happy about. I’m really excited to see what she’ll do with this new role after seeing her play Em for so long and experiencing it first hand.
IL: I’m really, really looking forward to it. It’s a relatively small indie production but it has a gorgeous script. It’s also the first time I’m going to be playing something so serious rather than something comedy based.
AL: You’ll be great.
IL: Thanks, big brother.
AL: As for me, I’m in talks for a couple of things. Nothing’s concrete yet but hopefully I’ll know soon. Until then I’m going to spend some time with the rest of our family, maybe spend some time on our charity work.
IM: Sounds wonderful! You both seem to have everything under control. Now, I have one last question…
IL: Oh, I think I know where this is going…
IM: Anyone special in either of your lives? Word is you’ve been spending some time with Meliorn of the band Seelie Queen lately, Isabelle. Anything we should know?
IL: [Laughs] Well, I don’t know about that. All I can say is that Meliorn is an attractive man. I wouldn’t rule anything out.
AL: She’s got a thing.
IL: We all have our things, don’t we, Alec?
IM: What about you, Alec? Anyone special for you?
AL: Um, w-well, no. Not yet. But I’m sure it’ll happen. Eventually.
In the end, it didn’t happen. There was still no one ‘special’ in his life. Not yet, anyways (probably not ever, Alec lamented). Three years on and Alec remained perpetually single. Unlike speculation suggested however, that wasn’t because he was a ‘player’ or because he waiting for the right woman to come along so he could sweep her off her feet. The first definitely wasn’t true because he had zero people skills to be able to get anywhere near being a ‘player’… and the second because he wasn’t looking for a woman at all.
Not that anyone apart from Isabelle knew about that little detail. Even then, he’d never actually plucked up the courage to tell his sister; she’d just somehow known. She was good at that, really.
Luckily, Alec tended to be too busy to dwell on all this. Now at twenty-three, he was in high demand in the industry. Enough that he’d chanced a stint on Broadway for the last six months without fearing too much that his movie career would suffer for it. Even if it did in the end, the theater experience had been more than worth it. He found that, despite his discomfort in large crowds, he loved the energy of playing to an audience. There was nothing quite like standing up on stage and essentially becoming this whole other person for a couple hours at a time. It was addicting.
And then there was the added plus of having to live in New York for the duration of the play. He loved New York and its anonymity. There were some paps, sure, but nothing like in LA. It was nice to just walk around and not have to worry about some asshole jumping him and shoving his camera in his face.
Unfortunately, his six months went by in a blink and the next thing he knew he was headed back home to LA. He was startled to realize just how much he was going to miss New York and the cast he’d been with. He’d probably miss Lydia Branwell most of all. She’d played the female lead opposite him and they’d become good friends, their naturally reserved natures complimenting each other well. Alec always made sure he was on friendly terms with his cast mates and the rest of the crew, but rare was the day he made an actual friend.
Still, it wasn’t all bad. LA, despite being less his scene, was his home. Going there meant he was going to be back with Izzy and Jace, and Max as well if his parents were in town. Being away from them all had been the one downside of living in New York.
So it was with mixed feelings that he boarded the plane from JFK to LAX. Of course, seeing Izzy waiting at arrivals for him put him in a good mood, troubles forgotten. As soon as she spotted him, she was running to him. He barely had time to drop his bag before she crashed into his chest, arms squeezing him tight. He huffed a laugh but returned the embrace happily.
He and his sister had always been close, even as young kids, but their time on ‘Hunters’ only brought them closer. Seeing each other day in and day out tended to do that. She was simultaneously his toughest critic and his staunchest supporter. Always there for him, but also never giving into any of his shit. She was his most trusted confidant (hell, she probably knew more about him than he did) and he was hers (he was one of the only people that knew of the vulnerability that hid under his little sister’s confident personality). Isabelle Lightwood was self-assured, intelligent, extremely sociable, and, above all, always herself. In many ways she was the complete opposite of Alec. But despite their differences, their petty arguments and disagreements about what was most important, they were practically attached at the hip. Even when he’d been on the opposite side of the country, there hadn’t been a day when he hadn’t talked to Izzy.
Still, nothing was quite the same as the genuine article. He squeezed his sister a moment longer, before finally pulling back, not wanting to risk staying at the airport too long (the paparazzi always seemed to find him when he was here).
“I’m so happy you’re back, Alec. It’s been so weird not seeing your grumpy face everyday,” she told him as he picked up his bag again, smiling.
He rolled his eyes with faux exasperation. “Thanks, Iz. Missed you too.”
“No problem, big brother. Now let’s go, there’s still a lot to do before tonight.” She linked her arm through his and began leading him to the exit.
“Tonight? What about tonight?”
“You’ll see,” she replied, her smile mischievous.
Not sure if I want to see, he thought. He said nothing, however, knowing that it would probably be useless. No one could talk Izzy out of something she set her mind on. He could only hope it wouldn’t be too bad.
Alec was beginning to think he should stop hoping for things; they never seemed to happen the way he wanted them to.
“You should wear this! It’s perfect, not as drab as your usual but also still very you,” Izzy announced, handing him an armful of clothes.
“Izzy, I am not going to a party. It’s my first night back!” Alec tried to insist, dumping the clothes onto her guest bed. When he’d left LA he’d been renting an apartment, but upon his move to New York he’d decided to give it up and put most of his stuff in storage. He’d wanted to buy a place anyways; something he’d decided could wait until he came back. But that meant that he’d be staying with his sister for a while. He wasn’t quite sure whether that was a good or bad thing. Maybe it was a bit of both. Good because he did actually love spending time with Izzy… but bad because she wouldn’t let him sit around inside like he wanted to, and she was definitely going to needle him about his non-existent personal life. Probably do both at the same time, if anything.
“But that’s exactly why you should go to the party! Celebrate a little,” she said now, hands on her hips.
He rolled his eyes, arms crossing over his chest (as if that would help anything against her). “You know I’m not a party person.”
“You’ll like this one though, I swear,” she insisted, raising one perfect brow, clearly unimpressed by his little show.
“And why would that be?”
“Jace and Clary will be there.”
Damn. How does she always get to me? Izzy knew perfectly well that Alec hadn’t seen their pseudo-brother at all since his show’s opening night six months ago. He’d missed his best friend. Of all the people in his life, Jace was probably closest to him, bar Izzy. When the blonde had first appeared in ‘Hunters’, Alec, pre-pubescent kid that he’d been, had been absolutely smitten. Jace, like his sister, had always had an easy confidence that Alec envied. Beyond that, he had genuinely tried to be Alec’s friend, despite the older boy’s awkwardness. So yeah, he had had harbored a rather embarrassing crush on his friend. Thankfully, he’d grown out of it eventually, which was partly due to the realization that Jace really was like a brother to him and partly because the appearance of one Clary Fray in all their lives.
Oh god, Alec had hated Clary when he first met her and he’d had no compunctions with showing her either, something he regretted now. An artist and production designer in training, she’d come onto ‘Hunters’ in its final season as an intern… and promptly flipped Alec’s entire life upside down. Jace, playboy, devil-may-care Jace, had been completely infatuated. And so Alec, still uselessly crushing on the blonde, had been jealous.
Luckily, he’d eventually had his sense knocked back into him (thank you Izzy) and he and Clary had managed to work out their differences. They were quite good friends now actually, bonded through their mutual exasperation at some of Jace’s more trying traits. That and the fact they were often forced to play the more responsible counterparts to Izzy and Jace during some of their stunts.
It would be quite nice to see the couple again, Alec mused. He could already feel himself giving in. Izzy could too, by the looks of her triumphant smirk.
“I thought Jace was still on location,” he said, attempting to look like he was keeping his resolve not to go.
His sister didn’t buy it, but was kind of enough not to say anything. “Nope! He has the weekend off, so he came down to see you.”
“And where is this party?”
“Pandemonium. It’s a new club uptown. Really exclusive, I’m sure you’ll run into some people you know and actually like.” Izzy looked up at him hopefully, playing into his charade even though she knew he’d practically said yes already.
Finally, he groaned. “Ok, we’ll go.”
“Yes! Thank you!” she exclaimed, darting forward to press a kiss to his cheek.
“Yeah, yeah,” he muttered grumpily, though its effect was ruined by the small smile that broke across his face.
“Ok, I have to go get ready. But, don’t forget, wear these,” she gestured sternly to the clothes he’d discarded on the bed, before rushing out of his temporary room.
Curious, he picked up the pants, immediately noticing they were definitely not something he had bought. She’d been planning this for a while, he realized, though he was not actually surprised by this. But am I really that predictable?
He sighed to himself. Yes, yes I am. Predictable, boring Alec.
He picked up the shirt, examining it with no small amount of dread; Izzy always had weird ideas when it came to how he was apparently supposed to be dressing. Immediately, he noticed something he didn’t like.
“Izzy, this shirt is way too small!” he shouted out into the hallway.
“No it’s not!” she replied in a singsong voice, clearly not even considering that he might decide not to wear it after all.
Sadly, she wasn’t wrong. He really didn’t have anything with him to wear out to a club. So Alec allowed himself one last long-suffering sigh, before swallowing his pride and proceeding to put the damn clothes on.
Alec looked at the flashing sign of Pandemonium with apprehension. He tugged uncomfortably at his clothes. His shirt was as small as he’d feared, the hem barely reaching the top of his (exceedingly tight) black jeans. The shirt was a deep charcoal gray, its sleeves ending at his elbows, the top few buttons undone at Izzy’s insistence. Still, it was a Henley so it could be worse. And he’d been allowed to wear his trusty combat boots. Izzy, ever his opposite, looked completely at home in her tiny red dress and stilettos (how she walked in those, he had no idea). She was currently engrossed in her phone, probably texting her on-again, off-again flame Meliorn. Alec didn’t exactly approve of the guy, but after one explosive argument with his sister about him, he realized it wasn’t really his place to dictate how she went about her love life. Still, he remained cautious about the other man.
“Alec! Izzy!”
Both the Lightwood siblings turned around at the familiar shout, immediately spotting a head of fiery red hair, followed closely by a blond one. Barely a minute later, Clary was barreling into Izzy and the two girls were an entanglement of excited limbs.
“Well if it isn’t our big-shot theater actor,” Jace said in greeting, pulling Alec into a quick hug, back patting and all.
“Says the action guy,” Alec replied dryly.
“What can I say? I’m naturally talented.”
Clary sidled up to them, Isabelle not far behind. “He just takes any chance he can to be shirtless,” the redhead snorted, causing her boyfriend to let out an offended noise. She ignored it however, instead hugging Alec around the waist. “Hey big guy. You look good, I’m guessing Izzy dressed you.”
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, squeezing her gently. “Good to see you too squirt.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “Still with the squirt, really?”
“Well you said you didn’t like ‘little girl’.”
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
“Do I though?” he asked, just to get a rise out of her.
In lieu of a response, she just shoved at him. But her lips twitched, clearly suppressing a smile.
“Come on you guys. Let’s go dance,” Izzy interrupted.
“I know the owner and told him we were coming, so we’re on the list.” Clary commented, linking her arm through the other girls, leading the way to the entrance.
“Hey, you ok buddy?” Jace asked at his side when Alec didn’t follow right away.
“Just don’t really feel like going in,” he said truthfully.
“Ah, come on, it’ll be fun,” the blonde replied, patting Alec on the chest, “and who knows? Maybe you’ll find yourself a girl.” With that, he ran to catch up with the others.
“Right, o-of course, a girl,” the eldest Lightwood muttered.
This was going to be great.
The club was packed to the brim, writhing bodies at every corner. Thankfully though, Clary’s mysterious ‘connection’ allowed them to get into the slightly more spacious VIP section, and they were lucky enough to find a booth where they all squeezed in. Alec felt tense and out of place until his friends talked him into doing some shots with them. Soon enough, they were all laughing and shouting at each other to be heard through the loud music. The girls were constantly up and down, dragging them to and from the dance floor.
Pandemonium, Alec noticed through his haze, was filled with a lot of Hollywood’s young elite. He recognized many faces, both from his TV screen and from past projects. He waved at some of his former costars, but otherwise kept away. Luckily, they were all too drunk to care. (Or maybe Alec was the one who was too drunk to care? He wasn’t sure anymore. He really shouldn’t have let Izzy talk him into this.)
Starting to feel over-heated, he made his excuses to his friends, and headed the small private balcony to cool down.
On the way there, he had to squeeze through the packed crowd, thanking his lucky stars that no one seemed to give him a second glance with his head ducked down as it was. Finally at the doors that would lead to fresh air, he turned, intending to check on where his friends were at, only to have his eyes stop dead on someone else entirely.
He was quite possibly the most beautiful man Alec had ever seen. Elegant and ethereal, his slanted eyes were a gorgeous, deep brown, outlined in dark kohl and a light dusting of something sparkly. His dark hair was styled up and tipped in gold, falling slightly over his forehead in a way that made Alec want nothing more than to brush it aside. The man wore a blue dress shirt, open enough to show a tantalizing amount of bare chest, a couple necklaces jangling around his neck. His legs were encased in what were probably the tightest pants in existence and he couldn’t help but let his eyes run up and down them, landing briefly on the other man’s ass.
And god, the way he danced. In a room full people who were used to being the center of attention, Alec’s gaze was only drawn to him, just like so many of the others around him. He tracked the other man’s sensual movements almost mindlessly, like he couldn't tear away his eyes even if he wanted to.
His heart thumped a bit faster in his chest, whatever drunkenness he’d been feeling giving way to startling sobriety. Alec had thought he understood physical attraction. There were, after all, other men he’d found attractive… but this, this blew all those other experiences out the water.
He stared at the man a long time, noticing little details like the clear strength in his broad shoulders, the way his painted nails caught the flashing lights of the club. The little smirk he wore when he noticed Alec’s gaze on him–
Wait, what?
He blinked and realized that, yes, Beautiful Man had caught him staring. Alec felt himself flush, the heat in his cheeks only increasing when the other man ran his eyes over him appreciatively before sending him a suggestive wink.
So Alec did what any other mature, adult man might have done.
He whipped around and rushed out onto the balcony. It wasn't running away, he told himself; it was a tactical retreat. Never had he been so tempted to go up to another person and just… and just be near them. Be with them. Do anything at all with them. He hadn’t even spoken to the other man and yet his heart was racing.
Alec needed to calm down. He took a deep breath of the cool night air that surrounded him.
He couldn’t believe himself. Normally he was so good at suppressing all his feelings of that… nature. Yet here he was, practically swooning like a teenaged girl. But he couldn’t allow himself to give into temptation. He just couldn’t.
People can’t know, they can’t. What would they say if they found out? What would my parents say?
He swallowed harshly against the rising bile in his throat.
But then another, smaller voice, one that sounded suspiciously like Izzy, spoke. Who cares what they say? This isn’t about them, it’s about you.
Alec shook his head, trying to banish all thoughts of the man away. It wouldn’t do him any good to think of it, not when he was sure nothing was going to happen anyways. Still, he couldn’t risk being here any longer. Suddenly determined to leave Pandemonium entirely, Alec made his way back to the balcony door, keeping his eyes firmly on the ground to avoid all temptation.
Of course, as seemed a theme with today, nothing went to plan. As soon as he had wrenched the door open, another body tumbled through, clearly not expecting the door to suddenly give way.
Alec, having trained in martial arts since he could walk, something that had given him incredibly fast reflexes even when under the influence of alcohol, caught the other person before they could tumble to the ground. His hands were tight around the person’s (rather impressive, he noted vaguely) biceps whilst he simultaneously adjusted himself so they wouldn’t overbalance and both end up falling.
He was already babbling incoherently before he managed to get the other person completely upright, beyond embarrassed by the whole thing. I really, really should learn how to say no to Izzy; this night is a disaster. “Ohmygod, I’m so sorry. Are you ok? You–”
Alec’s words died in his throat when his eyes finally went to the person’s face.
It was Beautiful Man.
Of course it was.
And he was currently looking up at Alec with amusement, lips pulled up into a small smile, eyes glimmering. His hands, with painted nails and all, were currently curled around Alec’s elbows, sending goose bumps up his skin, his face mere inches away.
Realizing this, Alec’s ability to act like a normal human being seemed to just disappear, whatever he’d been thinking before vanishing in mixture of apprehension and excitement. He’s even more gorgeous up close, he couldn’t help but think, his mind a cloud of shock. It took him a second to realize that Beautiful Man was actually speaking to him.
“I’m fine. Though I suppose anyone would be with you there to catch them,” Beautiful Man said, his fingers trailing lightly up and down the bare skin of Alec’s elbows. He made no move to get away.
Alec’s flushed even more at the comment. “I uh–” He attempted to speak but it was to no avail. With shock, he realized he was still holding onto the other man’s arms and he promptly dropped his hands, wincing at his own awkwardness.
It didn’t seem to bother Beautiful Man, however. “So does my savior have a name? Or do you go by pretty boy?”
The taller of the two scrambled to answer. “Um, Alec. Is me. I’m Alec.”
Despite his complete lack of social functioning (seriously, who the hell can’t even introduce themselves?), the other man looked amused once again. “Magnus. Tell me, is Alec short for something?” Beautiful M– no, Magnus asked.
“Alexander,” Alec replied automatically. He peered at Magnus for a long moment thereafter, trying to think of something, anything to say. But then he noticed the still open door behind the other man, showing the crowd of drunken celebrities, and he was pulled back to reality. I shouldn’t be doing this, whatever this is. Immediately he took a step back from Magnus, gesturing at the club. “And um, I should head out. People waiting. I mean I have people waiting for me.”
Magnus frowned briefly, but soon he wore a dazzling smile, directed only at Alec. “Well then Alexander, it was an absolute pleasure to bump into you.”
“Oh uh, you too?” he replied, oh-so eloquently. He stood awkwardly for a moment longer. “Ok, um, bye,” he said finally, before rushing out.
Wow. You are an absolute idiot.
It was safe to say that Alec was beyond relieved to be getting out of Pandemonium. He was, however, surprised that the others had decided to join him. He guessed they had missed him too. He and Izzy were already outside, waiting for Clary and Jace who were probably still wrapped up in each other on the dance floor.
Alec had decided to make it easy on them and instead of looking for a taxi he called one up, stepping a bit further away from Izzy and the club to do so.
“Alexander!” a male voice called just as he hung up. He looked up to see the man he’d been trying to escape from approaching him, still maddeningly gorgeous. Alec thought he should probably feel a little more frustrated that his plan was foiled again, but as it was all he felt was a thrill in his chest.
“Magnus? What are you–?”
The other man reached and plucked Alec’s unlocked phone straight from his hands, standing closer than was strictly necessary. “I decided I couldn’t just let my savior go without promise of a reward,” Magnus said with a smile, his fingers tapping confidently on Alec’s phone. When he was finished with it, he handed it back but used the opportunity to lever himself up so his mouth was right by Alec’s ear, the soft puff of breath making the taller man shiver slightly. “Call me, darling.”
And suddenly he was out of Alec’s space, strolling back towards Pandemonium. Magnus didn’t enter until he threw one last wink at Alec, though.
As soon as he was gone, Izzy ran up to him, chattering excitedly in his ear, both hands clutching at one of his arms. Alec didn’t hear a word she was saying, too busy gaping. Eventually some of her words filtered through.
“Alec, oh my god, don’t you know who that was?”
“What?”
“That was Magnus Bane,” she said, all awe and excitement.
The emphasis on the last name confused him. “Hm?”
“Hello?” Izzy looked up at him, waving a hand in front of him exasperatedly. “Lead singer of Warlock? Happens to be world famous? Ringing any bells yet?”
Magnus Bane. Magnus Bane.
Holy shit, she mean that Magnus Bane. The lead singer of a band that’s probably sold more records than Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber combined. A Grammy award winning musician and successful entrepreneur, he was practically a god in Hollywood. And that wasn’t even getting into the recent acting work he’d been getting, or the clothing line, or the fact that he was always in the gossip rags.
He couldn’t believe it.
Alec had been talking to Magnus Bane, idol of millions.
Magnus Bane had flirted with him. He had Magnus Bane’s number programmed into his phone.
Magnus Bane had asked Alec to call him.
“Oh,” he finally let out.
The response didn’t seem quite adequate.