Why Did Nina Dobrev Leave Vampire Diaries? Who Played Elena in Vampire Diaries?
by Rubaditsha
Updated May 29, 2023
Who is Nina Dobrev?
Nina Dobrev, professionally credited as Nina Dobrev, is a Canadian actress born on January 9, 1989. Her surname is pronounced [ˈninɐ ˈdɔbrɛvɐ]. She gained recognition for her portrayal of Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce in the supernatural drama series The Vampire Diaries (2009–2015) on The CW. Originally from Sofia, Bulgaria, Dobrev was raised in Toronto.
She began her on-screen career by taking on minor roles in various films before achieving breakthrough success as Mia Jones in the drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation (2006–2009). Following this, she became widely known for her role in The Vampire Diaries. Dobrev has also appeared in several feature films, including the 2012 coming-of-age drama The Perks of Being a Wallflower, the comedies Let's Be Cops and The Final Girls (2014), and the 2017 science-fiction drama Flatliners.
Her most commercially successful film to date is XXX: Return of Xander Cage (2017). Additionally, she has starred in romantic comedies such as Dog Days (2018), Then Came You (2018), and Love Hard (2021), and played a leading role in the sitcom Fam (2019).
Why Did Nina Dobrev Leave Vampire Diaries?
However, Dobrev later clarified that her exit from The Vampire Diaries was not due to any issues with her co-star Ian Somerhalder. In fact, Dobrev and Somerhalder maintained a good relationship, and she even attended his wedding to actress Nikki Reed.
Unlike many television actors who spend a significant amount of time on the same show, Dobrev made the decision to leave her role on The Vampire Diaries relatively quickly, despite it being a steady and reliable job. She took a risk by opting for a career change.
Dobrev later opened up about the reasons behind her departure, revealing that the demanding schedule and the challenges of portraying multiple characters on the show had taken a toll on her. In an honest post on Instagram, she admitted that she had to portray a range of complex aspects within a single character, including being a human, vampire, insane immortal, and doppelganger.
Additionally, her character went through various traumatic experiences such as being kidnapped, killed, resurrected, tortured, and cursed. The emotional and physical demands of such a role became overwhelming for Dobrev, and she needed a break.
Since leaving The Vampire Diaries, Dobrev has ventured into other projects, including movies and television shows. She starred in the horror-comedy film The Final Girls and appeared in the remake of the cult classic Flatliners. While her departure from The Vampire Diaries saddened the show's fans, it provided an opportunity for Dobrev to showcase her acting range and explore new roles. Currently, she has five new projects in post-production, two of which are scheduled for release in 2023.
Who Played Elena in Vampire Diaries?
Nina Dobrev, whose full name is Nina Kamenova Dobreva, is a Canadian actress known for her roles as Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce in the supernatural drama series The Vampire Diaries, which aired on The CW from 2009 to 2015.
She was born on January 9, 1989, in Sofia, Bulgaria, and was raised in Toronto, Canada. Dobrev initially started her acting career by taking on minor roles in various films. However, her breakthrough came when she landed the role of Mia Jones in the popular drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation, which she appeared in from 2006 to 2009. This helped her gain recognition in the industry.
Dobrev's career took a significant leap when she joined the cast of The Vampire Diaries. Her portrayal of Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce garnered widespread attention and made her a household name. Alongside her work on the series, she also appeared in several notable feature films. In 2012, she starred in the coming-of-age drama The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
She further showcased her versatility by appearing in comedies like Let's Be Cops and The Final Girls in 2014, as well as the science-fiction drama Flatliners in 2017. One of her most commercially successful movies was XXX: Return of Xander Cage, released in 2017.
In addition to her film work, Dobrev has also ventured into romantic comedies. She starred in Dog Days and Then Came You in 2018, as well as Love Hard in 2021. Furthermore, she took on a leading role in the sitcom Fam, which aired in 2019.
Throughout her career, Nina Dobrev has demonstrated her talent and versatility, transitioning from television to film and taking on a range of diverse roles. Her performances have earned her acclaim and a dedicated fan base.
Did Nina Dobrev Leave Vampire Diaries?
Yes, Nina Dobrev did leave The Vampire Diaries. After portraying the characters of Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce on the show, Dobrev's storyline concluded in season 6. Her departure from the series has been a topic of discussion among fans.
In an Instagram post, Dobrev explained that she had always intended for Elena's story to be a "six-season adventure." She expressed gratitude for the incredible journey she had experienced during those six years, where she portrayed a human, a vampire, a doppelganger, an immortal, and various other complex aspects of the character.
Dobrev highlighted the multitude of challenges and transformations her character went through, including being kidnapped, killed, resurrected, tortured, and cursed. She emphasized that there was still more to come for Elena before the season finale.
Dobrev's departure was not influenced by her real-life breakup with her co-star Ian Somerhalder, who played Damon Salvatore on the show. Despite their separation, Dobrev and Somerhalder remained friends.
After leaving The Vampire Diaries, Dobrev shared in an interview with SELF magazine about her affection for the show and the deep connections she formed with her co-stars, whom she considered as family. While she acknowledged the excitement of embarking on new endeavors, she also admitted that it would be strange not being with her Vampire Diaries family anymore.
Although Dobrev's departure saddened fans, she made a surprise appearance in the series finale to provide closure for Elena Gilbert's story. In the concluding episodes, it was revealed that Elena married Damon Salvatore, fulfilling her character's dream and allowing her to live a beautiful life. It is important to note that The Vampire Diaries is available for streaming on Netflix, enabling fans to revisit the captivating drama, romance, and friendships of Mystic Falls.
Does Nina Dobrev Leave Vampire Diaries?
Nina Dobrev did leave The Vampire Diaries. After portraying the characters of Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce on the show, Dobrev's storyline concluded in season 6. Her departure from the series has been a long-debated topic among fans.
In an Instagram post, Dobrev explained that she had always envisioned Elena's story to be a "six-season adventure." She expressed her gratitude for the incredible journey she had during those six years, where she played various versions of Elena, including a human, a vampire, a doppelganger, and more. Dobrev emphasized the challenges her character faced, such as being kidnapped, killed, resurrected, tortured, and cursed. She mentioned that there was still more to come for Elena's story before the season finale.
Despite rumors suggesting that Dobrev's departure was influenced by her breakup with Ian Somerhalder, her on-screen and off-screen love interest who portrayed Damon Salvatore, she clarified that they remained friends after their separation.
Following her exit from The Vampire Diaries, Dobrev gave an exclusive interview to SELF magazine, where she expressed her love for the show and the incredible adventure it had been for her. She mentioned the strong bond she had formed with her co-stars, whom she considered family. While acknowledging the excitement of moving forward in her career, Dobrev also expressed that it would feel strange not being with her Vampire Diaries family anymore.
It is worth noting that Dobrev made a surprise appearance in the series finale, where viewers discovered the ultimate fate of Elena Gilbert. In the closing episodes, it was revealed that Elena married Damon Salvatore, fulfilling her character's desire and allowing her to live a beautiful life. To revisit the captivating world of The Vampire Diaries and experience the drama, romance, and friendships in Mystic Falls, fans can stream the show on Netflix.
When Did Nina Dobrev Leave Vampire Diaries?
Nina Dobrev left The Vampire Diaries after the conclusion of season 6 in 2015. Her departure from the series marked the end of her portrayal of the characters Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce. Dobrev's exit from the show has been a subject of discussion among fans.
In her Instagram post, Dobrev mentioned that she had always intended for Elena's story to be a "six-season adventure." She expressed her gratitude for the incredible journey she had during those six years, where she played a range of complex roles, including a human, a vampire, a doppelganger, and more. Dobrev emphasized the challenges her character faced, such as being kidnapped, killed, resurrected, tortured, and cursed. According to her post, there was still more to come for Elena's story before the season finale.
Although there have been speculations that Dobrev's departure was influenced by her real-life breakup with Ian Somerhalder, her co-star who portrayed Damon Salvatore, she clarified that they remained friends after their separation.
In an interview with SELF magazine after leaving The Vampire Diaries, Dobrev expressed her deep affection for the show and the bonds she had formed with her co-stars, whom she considered as family. She acknowledged that while embarking on new ventures was exciting, it would feel strange not being with her Vampire Diaries family anymore.
It's important to note that Dobrev made a surprise appearance in the series finale to provide closure for Elena Gilbert's story. In the concluding episodes, it was revealed that Elena married Damon Salvatore, fulfilling her character's dream and allowing her to live a beautiful life. To experience or revisit Nina Dobrev's journey as Elena Gilbert in The Vampire Diaries, fans can stream the show on Netflix.
Nina Dobrev Height and Weight
Nina Dobrev stands at a height of 5 feet 6.5 inches and weighs approximately 55 kilograms. She possesses stunning dark brown hair and captivating dark brown eyes. Her body measurements are reported to be 33-23-33 inches. Dobrev wears a bra size of 30C, has a waist size of 23 inches, and hip size of 33 inches. Her shoe size is 8.5 in the US, and she typically wears a dress size of 2 in the US.
Born on January 9, 1989, in Sofia, Bulgaria, Nina Kamenova Dobreva is the daughter of Kamen Dobrev, a computer specialist, and Michaela Dobreva (née Radeva), an artist. She has an older brother. When she was two years old, her family relocated to Canada, specifically Scarborough in Toronto. After spending her childhood there, at the age of 10, she returned to Bulgaria with her mother for a period of two years.
During her early education, Dobrev attended Vradenburg Junior Public School and J. B. Tyrrell Sr. Public School. It was during this time that she began taking ballet and jazz classes and participated in rhythmic gymnastics. She further honed her acting skills by enrolling in acting classes at Armstrong Acting Studios in Toronto. Dobrev later pursued her passion for the arts at Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts in Scarborough, where she studied in the arts program until her final year.
For her post-secondary education, Dobrev enrolled at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) in Toronto. She initially pursued a major in sociology but did not complete her studies due to her commitment to an acting career.
Why did Nina Dobrev Leave Vampire Diaries:FAQs
Nina Dobrev's height is 5 feet 6.5 inches, and her weight is approximately 55 kilograms.
Nina Dobrev has beautiful dark brown hair and captivating dark brown eyes.
Nina Dobrev's body measurements are reported to be 33-23-33 inches.
Nina Dobrev's bra size is 30C.