Rachelle Lefevre has apologized to Twilight fans for skipping the Los Angeles premiere of new sequel New Moon - insisting she was "too emotional" to attend after movie bosses fired her from the cast.

The redhead plays villainous vampire Victoria in the first two installations of the bloodsucking franchise but was left "stunned" and "deeply hurt" when studio executives at Summit Entertainment announced she would be replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard for the third film, Eclipse.

Producers claimed Lefevre failed to tell them in advance that she had signed up to star in independent movie Barney's Version and that shooting on the project would overlap with production on Eclipse. Still recovering from the blow, Lefevre shunned the spotlight while co-stars Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner walked the red carpet on Monday night. And now she's taken to her Twitter.com page to explain her absence.

She writes, "Being fired from Eclipse tonight was just 2 emotional 4 me & I couldn't manage it. So sorry."

Earlier this year Lefevre called in her lawyers to secure the salary she was due to receive for the third installment of the Twilight films, citing breach of contract.

She alleges her agreement with Summit Entertainment allows her to pursue small independent films while still being involved in the franchise.

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)