EXCLUSIVE: The Vampire Diaries stars tell all
By Rebecca Milne
Ask America's hottest new TV stars Nina Dobrev, Paul
Wesley and Ian Somerhalder how their show The Vampire Diaries
differs to others in its genre, and the handsome threesome will
bite your head off.
"Different relationships, different tone and different structure,"
Paul says, matter-of-factly. "There's nothing even remotely
relatable as far as the relationships and the story with any of the
other shows."
The story starts with gorgeous Nina as Elena Gilbert, a teen trying
to cope after her parents are killed in a tragic accident. As she
tries to pick up the pieces of her shattered life she is also
supporting her troubled younger brother Jeremy, played by Steven
McQueen. The action starts when, on Elena's first day back at
Mystic Falls High School, she meets a new student called Stefan
Salvatore, played by Wesley.
The two have an instant connection but Elena has no idea what she
is dealing with, while Stefan battles to control his urge for her
blood. Things get more complicated when Stefan's evil older
brother, Damon, returns to Mystic Falls to cause mayhem, and win
Elena's heart as part of a game that turns bloody.
Unlike other vampire shows, the heroine, Elena, does not aspire to
become immortal.
"I think it's important for Elena to hold her ground," Nina says.
"You don't see that many women characters portrayed in the media
that are strong, confident, stand up for their friends and their
family before their boyfriends. A lot of the characters
portrayed on television are girls that are like, 'I wanna have a
boyfriend. I want to hang out at the mall and hang out with my
friends.'
"It's not about that for her. She cares about Stefan and he's
important to her. She has this connection with him but she will put
her friends and her family, and the safety of her town before
anything else. She's not going to swoon over the fact that he's a
vampire and ask him to bite her right away and all that."
Nina is no stranger to playing a love interest that wrecks havoc
but in real life she is single. In her last show, Degrassi: The
Next Generation, her boyfriend died because he was fighting over
her. But "a lot more people die on this show because of me," she
says, laughing.
Ian puts the show's success down to complicated onscreen
relationships that intrigue and engage viewers, despite the
clichéd storyline of mortal girl meets vampire and falls in
love.
"True Blood is obviously the R-rated cable version of what we are,"
Ian explains. "A 13-year-old girl can't watch True Blood with
her mom. There's no sex in Twilight. Who wants to see
that? So that's how we're different."
If vampires did exist, Ian, Nina and Paul would befriend them
after researching for their roles. Nina believes with no time limit
on earth, vampires would seek constant fun while exploring the
world and trying new things.
"They're basically just people in different circumstances," Nina
explains. "They have these powers and advantages and disadvantages
because they have extended life, but they have these
cravings."
Paul says his character isn't having fun; instead he's taking the
"altruistic route". "He's like, 'If I'm going to be evil inside,
then I'm going to be all good outside'."
The Vampire Diaries is based on the best-selling book series by
L.J. Smith and filmed in Atlanta, Georgia. When the show debut in
the United States it drew nearly five million viewers. It is now a
worldwide hit and in its second season of filming.
The Vampire Diaries screens on Thursdays at 8.30pm on
TV2.
The Vampire Diaries names, characters and related indicia are
trademarks and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. TM &
© 2008 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights
Reserved.
