Forget Ian Somerhalder, the Real Reason Nina Dobrev Left The Vampire Diaries Was Simple

For six seasons, Nina Dobrev portrayed Elena Gilbert on the hit supernatural show The Vampire Diaries. The show, which was based on a series of books by L.J. Smith, quickly became a fan favorite with Dobrev's character as the lead. However, when the news broke that Dobrev was leaving the show in 2015, fans were left heartbroken, and speculation began as to why.

Many fans assumed that Dobrev's departure was due to her breakup with her co-star, Ian Somerhalder, who played the character of Damon Salvatore.

However, Dobrev later clarified that this was not the reason for her exit. In fact, Dobrev and Somerhalder remained on good terms, and she even attended his wedding to actress Nikki Reed.

Unlike many TV actors who spend years, if not decades, on the same show, Nina Dobrev was quick to make the decision to leave a fairly monotonous, albeit stable, job – and take a risk on a career change.

Dobrev later revealed that the grueling schedule and the demands of playing various characters on The Vampire Diaries had taken its toll.

In a candid Instagram post, Dobrev admitted that she had to portray a "human, vampire, insane immortal, doppelganger," and many other complex aspects of a single character. Additionally, her character was "kidnapped, killed, resurrected, tortured, and cursed," and so much more. The pressures of portraying such an emotionally and physically demanding character finally got to her, and she needed a break.

Since leaving The Vampire Diaries, Dobrev has gone on to star in various other movies and shows, including the horror-comedy The Final Girls and the remake of cult classic Flatliners. Although Dobrev's exit was a loss for the show's fans, it was also an opportunity for the actress to expand her acting range and explore new roles. She currently has 5 new projects in post-production, with 2 of them coming out in 2023.