99. When Nina Dobrev Met Ian Somerhalder

Are you lonesome tonight? Do you miss me tonight? Are you sorry we drifted apart? Does your man? Hi guys, this is a. Very, very, very special episode of Significant Lovers. It's our 99th episode and it's our first with a third host officially. Hi, everybody. Hi. So, you know, Mel and Kel, Kel, Mel, I'm Kel. I'm Mel. And it's been us too for years, because we had another bite of Twilight before this podcast and for the first time ever we are bringing on 1/3 mic permanently.

Yes. We are welcoming Caitlin Kelly's sister, my cousin, to the podcast. She has been an unofficial background host for the podcast for the past couple years, running our YouTube and being our biggest supporter, listening to all of our episodes and enjoying all the fun with us. And Caitlin, we're so happy to have you officially on the podcast. You're going to add such a nice perspective and welcome.

Oh my God, thank you so much. I'm so excited to be here and be a part of it and I guess host another episode and this time is like a full time. Kate did the Larry episode in the past, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles, so she's done it. Before yeah, this isn't my first rodeo, but I'm nervous and excited all the same because this is just so exciting. So Kate, tell us, who are we covering today?

Yes. So today we are covering one of the most iconic relationships of the 20 tens, which is Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder. I feel like they were really popular and still are. I feel like we get a lot of people asking us to do it. So they're from the TV show Vampire Diaries. Well, I'm guessing that's how they met, right? But and you watched it and are super into Vampire Diaries. Correct, The Vampire Diaries is one of my all time favorite shows.

I love it so much I've probably watched it all the way through like at least three or four times. Way too many. I just love it so much. I didn't watch it while it was airing, it was only until like 20, 2022 when I started watching it and that's because I didn't really have anything to watch at the time.

And it was like my senior year of college and all my friends are recommending it for like the 100th time because all my friends had watched it and I thought I might as well watch it. So I did and well like the rest is history I guess cuz now I love it and I watch it like all the time especially when it's fall, which it's now fall. But I think you're right in that they were very high profile because I did not watch The Vampire Diaries.

Obviously, I was a huge pilot fan as well as Mel, and I think it was just a little too close to home. And I just, I don't know why I couldn't get into it. Yeah, so I didn't watch it, but I still knew about them. So even people that never watched it still heard about it so. And that's one of the reasons why I didn't watch it was because you didn't, because I watched like a lot of the same shows that you did. Because if you remember, we watched the pilot as a family.

And I don't really remember much of it, but I just remember everyone being like no. And so then I was just like, I guess it sucks. And then just didn't watch it. Dang, you found your way. What about you? Well, pilots are tough. I watched it years ago and I honestly, I was a little scared and Caitlin has been really wanting us to watch the show. That's just 'cause I know you would like it. I know you would love it.

I know, but I will say when I do watch it, even now, I get kind of scared because there's just a lot of scenes where something jumps out at. You it's a Halloween episode. Yeah, no, seriously IT guys, it's ACW show, but it is a jump scare. But yeah, so Nina and Ian were on the show and I'll get into that in a little bit, but their characters of Damon and Elena were like one of the bigger couples and ships from the show. And they're one of my favorite

TV ships, like of all time. And I think a lot of people who watch the show would say the same. So that also had another added element to the couple. It wasn't just, oh, these two actors are dating. It's these two actors who are also the same actors who are playing a couple on a popular TV show. And the characters that they're playing and the couple that their characters are in, we're also really popular.

And that is tricky because if you really ship the characters in the show, it's really hard not to ship the actors, even if you don't know anything about them or even if they're not really compatible in real life. And then I'm guessing this will come up with this couple. If the couple breaks up in real life, could that potentially destroy your favorite ship in the show? Yeah, it's very similar to like Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in that way.

But it is it's hard when you see a couple on screen that has such amazing steamy chemistry and you think, how can they not be attracted to each other? They seem like they are, you know? It's hard to. Believe, and it's disappointing when they're not. Hard for me to wrap my head around actors having chemistry naturally and they're not being anything behind that. Like how good of an actor can you really be to fake that? You know? There has to be something.

I guess they can so. Kate, I don't believe. Words Kate. What 3 words would you use to describe this couple? OK, so the three words I'd use describe them are cute, comfortable, and cordial. OK. That's pretty positive. I know you might be surprised so. I have a question. I have a question. Not to get a header spoiler, but maybe this will make people a little excited. Will a certain Nicki Reed show

up in this episode? Yes, and I was even going to mention that because I know you touched on Ian a little bit in your Nicki Reed episode for the Another Bite of Twilight podcast. So I know you already know a little bit about him from that, but there's going to be a lot more. So just in case if you forget what you, you know, talked about in that, I will be touching on him as well as her in this episode. So yes. OK, I'm excited.

Before we talk about Nina and Ian as a couple, we should first talk about them separately first we'll talk about Ian 'cause he was born first. Ian Joseph Somerhalder was born December 8th, 1978 in Louisa, Louisiana, United States. Older than I, so yeah, he's. Wrong with that. He's a little older, I think he's in his 40s now I think. Everybody I admire is in their 40s now. Wait not to skip ahead? Not to skip ahead though, I feel

like Nina must be pretty young. She is exactly, almost exactly 10 years younger than him. Oh God, that makes sense. Yeah, OK, so so she's younger, but not by like a huge stretch of time, not like 20 years or anything. So Ian's mother, Edna, she was a massage therapist. She is half Choctaw, which is a indigenous tribe based in Louisiana and that area, as well as half Irish.

His father, Robert, is an independent building contractor with Cajun ancestry and is the second of three children with an older brother and a younger sister. And because of his Cajun side and growing up in Louisiana, he is fluent in both French as well as English. I didn't know that. I know it never really comes up ever I feel like. So I was very surprised when

researching this. Wow I know cuz like the show never took advantage of it. You'd think they would maybe include it somehow but no. So Ian was definitely like a small town southern boy. He rode horses, played football, haunted, went camping. But he was also a theater kid at the same time who loved performing, which his parents really loved because Ian later told Garden and Gun Magazine in 2021 that growing up in Louisiana, his family was super

poor. So Ian's natural talents in front of the camera and on stage gave his mom the idea of making him into a model slash actor. So she was kind of like a stage mom in that regard. I think we have a couple of people you've covered on the past who have had similar parents, so this isn't anything too new. I think this is how a lot of people get into the business is because their parents want them to be in the business.

He is very good. Looking I got, I know, which is kind of crazy because he was like a really young kid when they were trying to make him into a model. So it wasn't even like he was really like a teenager. It was like he was a really cute kid or something. OK, now I have a baby. I know he. Grows up into a beautiful man. Yeah, so his mom took every penny that they had in their savings and put him in modeling

and acting classes. She also rented an apartment in New York every summer for three years to get him better opportunities. And at the age of 10, she entered him into a modeling competition in South Carolina where he won a three-year contract with Ford Models. And after that he started appearing in ads for Ralph Lauren, The Gap, Toys-R-Us, plenty of other companies as well. And Ian admitted that by the age of 11 he was making more money an hour than people with pH DS.

And then it was really scary for him to experience and that looking back on, he doesn't think it was like a healthy thing for a child to be going through. Sounds nice though. Yeah. And when he was when he was 14, his parents divorced and he started living primarily with his mother. And six years after that competition, when he was 10 for the Ford Models Agency, in 1994, at the age of 16, he dropped out of high school and moved to New York to model full time.

He was very booked and busy. He constantly bounced back and forth between Europe and the United States to model on runways and fashion spreads. So even though he mostly grew up in Louisiana, by the time he was 16, he was internationally traveling like he was all over the place of. That yeah, I didn't realize he was such a model. I know, yeah. He was like on all these runways when he was 16. Oh, he walked in shows. Yeah, he walked in shows. Wow.

Like Paris Fashion? You're going to say melon? Fashion Week. I was just say, what does that do to a young guy? You know, like. I know. Not to stereotype, but how do you stay humble when that's your life? I feel like you probably kind of don't, but but I feel like he was slightly humbled from his upbringing a little bit. I think if he was used to wealth growing up, maybe he would be way less down to earth, yeah. Makes sense?

So yeah, he was a big famous model and he loved modeling, but he thought that his hectic schedule constantly moving around kept him from his true passion, which was actually acting. So after a year or two, Ian retired as a model for the time being. I think he's still modeled occasionally, but not as much.

And began taking classes from a famous acting teacher in New York City called William Esper. And then in 2000 and was cast and starred in ATV show called The Young Americans, which was a spin off of Dawson's Creek. However, it was very short lived, so it didn't have like multiple seasons or anything like that. And then in 2002, he starred in a movie adaptation of Brett Easton's Ellis novel The Rules of Attraction. Oh, cool. And that was a good role for him and it got him to be on some

people's. Radar, I know the. Word. Yeah, Radar. I couldn't think of the word I've. Been meaning to, I've been meaning to read that book and watch that movie. So. Oh really? I didn't know he was in it, so that's interesting. But then after that, in 2004, two years after his debut in the Royal. Subtraction movie. He scored his breakthrough role as Boone Carlisle in the TV series Lost. Yes, Kelly loves waiting for this. Yeah, Charlie got me into Lost and I, I love it.

I find lost even scarier than. No, man, it it gets it gets less scary, it's not scary. Oh my God, that first episode I could not do. When that person gets sucked up into that plane, I'm like, forget about it. No, that's like 5 minutes into the episode. I know it's in the beginning. And I didn't know there would be like kooky stuff in loss too. The thing is like I can only watch this stuff if I'm like out of sleepover.

I cannot be going to bed in my own room otherwise I'm thinking about it all night and can't fall asleep. That's OK. But yeah, he was like a pretty mean character on the show, but he's not in every season. Spoiler. Yeah, so even though he wasn't on the show for that long, because loss was such a big hit, it gained him a lot of attention. And he did say it was one of the greatest experiences of his life

at being on the show. And then he was very grateful for it. And because he was on Loss, it actually gave him the opportunity and the chance to audition for The Vampire Diaries for The CW 'cause I think the showrunners had seen Lost and they had seen him, and they were intrigued to have him read. Yeah, because of that. Who's that hot guy? Exactly. So he auditioned for The Vampire Diaries in 2009 and was eventually cast as the character of Damon Salvatore.

And that was alongside Nina Dobrev. Who is that? Well, before we get into her, I wanted to mention about Ian's personality because that's, I know that something that you guys like to talk about a little bit. Oh yeah. So I know it seems like he probably does have an ego. And I know Mel, you believe that he might, but apparently he's reported to have a lack of ego. We don't know these people, but so. Just because Mel said that like a minute ago. No, she said that to me before.

No, she said this to me before. She's like, oh, I. I know someone who knows someone who knows someone that says that he's kind of an asshole, but you know, got a couple degrees away from him. Yeah, so you never know. It could have been a bad day or something. Again, we don't know these people, but he's been said to have a lack of ego. I'm sorry, I know someone who knows someone so 2° away. A friend of mine, a friend of hers knows him. OK, well anyway, he's also

supposedly ambitious. He's very charitable. He even has a bunch of charities in his name. Passionate both about like his charities, the earth, cuz he really big into climate change and fighting against that. Same with, you know, we'll get into that down the line. And he also, yeah. And he's also very outdoorsy as well, big on some of the more southern hobbies that he had growing up. Well, anyway, so who is this Nina Dobrev who was cast in The Vampire Diaries alongside Ian

Somerhalder? Nicolina Caminova de Breva was born in Bulgaria on January 9th, 1989. What? Nickname. I know, so Nina de Brev isn't even really like her real name, but I mean, that's how it is for most people in Hollywood. So she's also fluent in English and Bulgarian because of that. Wow, learn something new everyday. So her dad was a computer specialist and her mom was an artist. She has an older brother.

When she was 2, her family relocated to Canada where she was raised in Scarborough, Toronto. However, at the age of 10, in 1999, she moved back to Bulgaria with her mom for two years. I don't know what her dad and her brother were doing, but for some reason it was just her and her mom that moved to Bulgaria. I feel like we often hear things like that on this show. I know it's weird. She also. Went with her to New York City for a couple years. Like what?

What about the rest of the family? I know same with like even Ian like him and his mom and his brother went to New York every summer as like without the dad without some of the other siblings. Well, anyway, take a drink because she travelled around a lot. So they went between like Bulgaria and Turkey and Romania and a lot of the neighboring other countries and then also back to Canada as well.

Wow. So growing up, Nina was also an accomplished dancer, namely in ballet and jazz, and also a competitive athlete. She was the substitute on the Canadian National team for rhythmic gymnastics, she told Penn Badgley on his podcast Pod Crushed, who we've talked about before. Oh. I listen to that. The one with him, or I mean with the one with her. I think.

So, well, she told him on his podcast that there probably wasn't a pop possibility that she'd have made it to the Olympics, but if she stood stuck with it, she might have. So in an alternate timeline, she might have been an Olympian for rhythmic gymnastics. But then, at least on the grassy, Mia made the cheer squad. Yeah. With with those skills not to skip a hat, Yeah. Did I ruin something? No, I just realized for some reason I have nothing about Degrassi. In what?

Nothing about Degrassi, are you? Kidding. Can't really find too much about it, but I think that's why for some reason I just didn't have it. But in 2006, she began playing the role of Mia, as you know, on Degrassi The Next Generation, and she was on the show for three seasons. But so so she moved back to Canada, to Toronto. How did she get into acting? Did you read anything about that? Like it seems like she's doing dance and gymnastics. Is this just did she just audition or something?

Yeah, I think she just auditioned. Is this her first acting role? This was, yeah, this was her first acting role. It always felt to me like it was kind of, I hate to say this, but easy for those Degrassi kids to get on the show. Oh my God, it gets even easier, you'll to see. Well, why do you say that? No. Just seems like there was a lot of parts on the show and like, I don't know there were. I know. Seems like everyone who was on

it was like kind of an amateur. Didn't like had no experience. It almost felt like it was like a local PBS show that like. It did. I mean, that's good in a way 'cause it was supposed to be like real teens and it was real teens. That was a good thing. But yeah, you weren't getting like these incredible actors necessary, no offense. I mean like. It was it was popular, but it's to get on like the Disney Channel here in the United States.

Like those kids had like been busting their ass for years, like doing acting jobs. And it just kind of seems like they went to like the local high schools and scouted real kids. Yeah, yeah. Anyway, back to Nina. Well, unlike Ian, I think her personality is a bit harder to nail down because she doesn't reveal too much about herself and doesn't take too many interviews. She does occasionally do podcasts and stuff like that, but she's very kind of secretive about herself and kind of keeps

her cards close to her chest. And I think that's why I had trouble finding information about Degrassi because there weren't many interviews about her and her time on Degrassi or about how she got on Degrassi. And if there were, they were probably completely scrubbed from the Internet and impossible to find. What? Why would they be scrubbed? Because like sites just are no longer up anymore. Oh, I see, I see. Yeah, they weren't like trying to hide anything.

Yeah, but she seems sporty and mindful and very practical and again, private, friendly and ambitious, but again, just not the most approachable in a sense. I can see that, I believe that she is very private and keeps her cards close because I feel like she's never been someone that anyone could be annoyed with or anything, you know? But she just doesn't share much about herself. No, she doesn't. You can kind of just project

whatever you want onto her. So Nina moved to LA in January of 2009 and this was after finishing her three season stint on Degrassi and The Vampire Diaries was her very first audition for ATV show pilot. In LA. Yeah, in LA So she moved to LA because she wanted better job opportunities than Canada could provide in terms of acting. And this was the first audition. That's crazy.

That's like Tom Cruise, what we just talked about, started acting and then right away just got good roles and was a star. I feel like at that time to Degrassi was like a more popular show with American teenagers, so it probably helps like at that time like a Grimes also just got on 90210 on The CW. So like you started to see those stars break out, like Drake started to become popular. Yeah.

That's very true. So Nina would later say on a podcast called XOXO in 2022 that at the time when she auditioned for The Vampire Diaries and got the job, that she was actually dating an actor. She didn't say who. We don't know who this person is. She was dating an actor who is being considered for the role of Damon Salvatore, and they were supposedly going to choose him, but then they ended up not in favor of choosing Ian Somerhalder instead. What?

Yeah, so then she got cast as, you know, Elena and plenty of other characters as well for the show. And then it got awkward because he didn't get cast and so they broke up. That would then be that would be tough to be the ex-boyfriend and not only did you lose the part, but you lost the girl. And then the. Girl the girl gets with the guy that got the part. Yeah, that's crazy. I guess that's things happen for a reason. Yeah, I really wish I knew who it was. I wonder.

Yeah, well, that's all I had about Nina before we get into them as Nina and Ian, because the show's about to start filming. So let's take a little break and then we'll when we return, we'll get into the love story. So the pilot of The Vampire Diaries was filmed from about March to April of 2009 in Vancouver, Canada, but then the rest of the season was filmed that summer in Georgia.

And I boiler alert. But for some reason, when I was initially writing this script, I was thinking to myself that Nina and Ian don't kiss in the first season because their characters don't. So I was like, oh, like that wouldn't be the reason why they would get together. You know, like they wouldn't have to kiss for the show and that would like spark any kind of romantic feelings or anything. But they do actually, they do

kiss in the first season. I totally forgot because Nina, yeah, she plays multiple characters and I always forget that she does. So she plays Catherine, who was Damon's ex-girlfriend. And they kiss many times throughout the season in like flashbacks and stuff. So you're telling me in the show because Ian plays Damon and Damon is brothers with? What's his name with? Stefan. OK, Damon is brothers with Stefan and Stefan is the one who is with. You know, doing. This character, yes.

So you're telling me that this guy had this love, this, I'm guessing serious love, and then his brother gets with someone that looks identical to her? No, I mean, you've you haven't seen the show and this isn't something that like is revealed. What do you know? They reveal this in the pilot, so it's not too much of A spoiler, but Stefan and dated Damon. Stefan and Damon dated somebody in the 1800s who looked like Yeah, they both dated. Who is Catherine, who's played by Nina de Brev?

Yeah, see, I don't like that she's identical. Because then it feels like, OK, now you're only dating Elena because she looks like your ex and you're kind of hung up on her. That's like a whole thing. They should have casted justice or something. Someone who looks similar to her. In the show, do they remark like, wow, she looks just like. Yes, 'cause it's a, it's a whole. It's a whole plot too. Similar though like no one in.

It's not like they didn't have an actress to play that character and they were like, oh, Nina, you could just slap on a wig and play this character or whatever. So there's a reason. There's a reason for it, Yeah. Wait, is there a reason why they look alike or is that coincidental? No, there's a reason why they look alike. Yeah, Is she really her? Mel, you'll just have to watch the show. Okay, you got. Me there, I know it's too. Skeely for you, but is that her ancestor?

I am not saying. Okay. Well anyway, so even though Elena and Damon don't kiss in the first season, spoiler alert, Catherine and Damon do, so Nina and Ian do kiss in the first season. So they're getting hot and heavy. But she maybe was still with, I mean she's acting as her job, but was she maybe still with that boyfriend at this time or?

I think it was over when they filmed the pilot they were still together but by the time they were filming the rest of the season, no. OK so May 21st of 2009. So this was while they were filming the first season. The Vampire Diaries cast members were in attendance at The CW Network's 2009 upfront, and Niana and Ian posed very comfortably together on the red carpet. I've heard of these upfronts before because of Penn Badgley's show. I didn't even know what that

was. They have one every year. It's like some event to what? Like showcase all the new. Yeah, showcase all the new shows that are coming out, all the new stars. It's kind of like if you know, the Disney's D 23 or something like that, like basically just saying like here's the lineup of CW and here's all the actors and things like that. So they were on the red carpet together and there's one picture in particular which I think is so cute, and I'm going to send it to you, as you can see.

OK. So this is while they're filming the first season. I see it. He has a fedora on. I know so 2009 I feel like. He has his arm around her, he's looking down at her, but she's not looking at him. But she has like a very smug look on her face, very like. Smiling at the cameras, like, yeah, I have Ian. Yeah, they look like they're dating here. I know. And there's plenty of pictures also that also looked very comfortable and intimate as well.

So this isn't, Yeah. So this isn't totally relevant, but the show premiered on September 10th of that year, 2009, and garnered roughly 5 million views, close to 9 million if you include DVR. And it was the CWS biggest show that season and it was like pretty much their biggest show ever. Beating out America. 'S Next Top Model for #1. To that I just have to say, maybe riding the coattails of Twilight a little. People needed that fix, you know?

Yeah. I think the show definitely rode the coattails, but to be fair, the books which I read, the first book I had the second book. The books were written in the 90s. Yeah, but would the show have even come out at that time if it weren't for Twilight? Maybe not. Probably not. I can. Admit they would have never dated and you know, like, you know what how they say like Stephanie Meyer was inspired by My Chemical Romance. Which is my right 911? Was it inspired by 911 or wasn't?

Yeah, inspired by 911. Oh shit yeah. So these people would not have dated if it wasn't, I hate to say it, for 911. Well, IANS like whole life is based on it because he also married a Twilight actress his whole. Life is based on. It his whole life is thanks to 911.

Well, anyway, on July 30th of that year, still 2009, while talking to fearnet interviewer at CDCC or San Diego Comic Con and says that his character is in a love triangle with quote UN quote this beautiful young lady and points to Nina a couple feet away. So definitely a little bit of flirting. On September 10th, Entertainment Weekly interviews a whole host of the cast from The Vampire Diaries, and Nina is interviewed and she's asked how she gets

along with the rest of the cast. And she says, honestly, I can't even put into the words. We all just get along so well. We hang out more than you think we should because we want to. We want to be part of each other's lives. Paul and Ian are like my Big Brothers. I know. I think that's such a thing that people say. They're like, they're like my brothers. They're like my sisters, you know? But then they end up dating.

I know. So, so like a month later, on October 17th, they arrived together, just them at the Spikes TV Scream 2009 Awards, I don't know what that is, And posed on the red carpet together very intimately and comfortably like they did at the other event. And then on the November 11th, Ian tweets this trailer's messy and Nina tweets back. Haha. Your trailer looks like a doctor's examination room compared to mine. Exclamation point.

And then December 1st, Nina tweeted on set with my boys at Ian Somerhalder and Paul. And Paul, Yeah, so why did he not have Twitter or something? He doesn't have Twitter right now. OK, so on December 2nd, in an interview with Newsweek, Ian says that he is obsessed with stray animals and saving them, and that he and his girlfriend have saved and rescued several animals. Oh, girlfriend. Yeah, and he would be like, Oh my God. Oh cute.

Like get really excited because like oh girlfriend mentioned, but actually this isn't Nina, this is another woman who is his girlfriend at this point in time. Well that kind of makes sense I guess because if they were dating I feel like they it would be too soon to be adopting animals together. I know, yeah. So during this time, Ian has a girlfriend, and he mentions later in that interview that he had been with her when he received the call to audition for The Vampire Diaries.

So clearly not Nina because he hadn't known her at that point in time. I'm just shocked because I thought this was all very flirty seeming. I know. He said that she was beautiful, so I'm shocked. Yeah, so this is some woman. I don't know who she is, if she's an actress or not, but her name's Megan Auld and they've been together since at least 2007 and as of December 2nd, 2009, they're still together. OK. And a couple days later, Nina tweeted incredible work today at Ian Somerhalder.

Just another day at the office lol. And then? Reading at him a lot. I know this is even all of them, but these are like really flirty ones. December 8th, Ian's birthday. They're photographed and videoed landing in and walking around LAX together. So they're the only ones there, the only ones with the cast, the only ones of like their friend group or whatever in LAX, and they're just walking around together on his birthday, what I know.

And then that same day, Nina tweeted just landed at LAX with Ian Somerhalder, who got paparazzi. Ha ha, it's his birthday. Happy birthday, Sam. That's so cute. I do have to wonder though what his girlfriend would think of this. Like I know is this girl. Tweeting at my boyfriend all the time. What the heck? I know. And then so in 2010, in February, the UK magazine My Bliss interviewed the DVD cast, The Vampire Diaries cast. And that's the first little clip

that I sent you guys. They look very closely. Ian has his arms over the shoulders, both Paul and Nina, but Nina and Ian's hands are claps together and they're very close, very tucked into each other. Hi, Bliss. It's Nina Dobrev here. Ian Somerhalder, I don't fall by SO. Am I the only one? You guys totally put me out to drive all. Right, I'll do the accent then. Thank you so much for watching. We really love you and your support and continue to do so. And we'll continue making the

episodes. It's. Not, not bad. Thank you, Peter. I love you. They really were holding hands. I know. Like I gotta say her English accent is great. Yeah. That was cute. She. Grew up in Europe so maybe she travelled around to England a bunch too. True. Yeah. I mean, they looked, you're right. They looked really cozy. Both the guys looked so like Edward, including the eyebrows. Paul, who plays Stefan, is definitely supposed to be like the Edward type for sure. It was cute though.

A month later, on March 6th, Nina and Ian arrive at LAX together and he kisses her on the cheek. OK. And that same day while at Paley Fest, Paley Fest, Ian says Nina looks amazing wearing court sets on set. And when Paul asks in who is who is the pretty one here, In points to Nina. Oh, I would say I hope him and his girlfriend are done. I would be. I know, I know so too. Seriously, I know. But at the same convention, the Paley Fest, she mentions again that he's like a brother to her.

What? I know. And then on March 10th in an interview with 17 Magazine, Nina said that she would never date one of her Co stars. She said that dating a Co star can get sticky and that you'd prefer not to date any actor in general.

She also said in the same interview that you recently bought an Oddie convertible and that Ian went with her to the dealership to get it. And it's kind of funny because in this interview spread with her with 17 Magazine, there's a pic of the two of them and the caption says they'd make a cute couple. I don't feel like sometimes those. Actors just say stuff and it's not true click because obviously you were literally auditioning for the show with your boyfriend at the time.

I know, true. I also kind of take some of her words with a grain of salt because especially in these earlier years, she tweets like, Oh my God, love Paul. You know, they're like my brothers and stuff. But later on, she said that her and Paul did not get along. Really. Yeah. So I don't know how truthful she's being in some of these interviews, you know? She even though she hasn't done that much acting, she seems like someone that's really media

trained somehow. I know maybe it's just from degraded or something, I don't know. She's very good at the publicity, it seems like. Yeah, just saying. You know what you're supposed to say. They begin filming the second season in the spring and summer 2010, April 16th. NIA tweets on set. Running scene right now with Ian Somerhalder. Intense.

And then May 28th, Nina and Ian sit courtside together at a basketball Lakers game in LA and they were supposedly whispering it in each other's ears a lot and very cuddly. But at this point they're still regarded as just friends and Co stars, nothing more and nothing else. Just brother and sister. Yep, we have to kiss a lot for work. So now we're in 2011 and this is now like 2 years since they first met in 2009 for starting The Vampire Diaries. So January 23rd, Nina and Ian

are spotted again at LAX. Just them, no one else. They're not kissing or anything like that. But again, just together at LAX. That means they flew together. In case anybody doesn't know, LAX is a airport in Los Angeles. On March 7th, Nina is interviewed for Teen Vogue and has this to say when she's asked about her relationship with Ian.

She said we expected the rumors, like if I wasn't dating Ian, I'd be dating Paul. A lot of people who work together end up dating, so it wouldn't be unusual, but I've never dated anyone I've worked with. OK. And then April 18th, Nina and Ian were spotted spending the day together at Coachella Music Festival with Joshua Jackson and Diane Kruger, who were a couple at the time. There's no PDA, but they lounged together side by side on the same blanket and this really

fueled the dating rumors. Yeah, going to a music festival together. I know. And spending one-on-one with another couple, so it's like a double date. I think they're dating here. They I feel like they must be. Yeah, I mean, if you're attracted to someone, you're both addicted to each other and you work together, I would be surprised that two years would go by before anything happens, you know?

I know so. So on April 30th, Nina and Ian attend the White House Correspondents Dinner and after party together. What? Why were they invited? Why were they? That just goes to show how popular The Vampire Diaries were that they were invited to the White House Correspondents. I knew you were going to say something like that because it's The Vampire Diaries. Obviously. Why Ella? Cultural. Phenomenon. Maybe yes. Maybe like Sasha and Malia watched it.

Maybe. It would be crazy if they could just say like I want my favorite show I know. I know. And then meet them. So then a month later in May, they attend a World Ocean Day celebration together. Again, just them, no one else. A couple days later in Paris, Nina and Ian are papped walking the streets, holding hands. They also reportedly went to the Saint Germain de Press with their mothers and later dined at a local bar together. But their mothers?

Yeah, their mothers and animales apparently. And then June 6th and this is 2011 again. I don't know what he's reacting to some picture but we can't see anymore. But Ian tweeted Nina gets my vote that dresses like skin tight wrapping paper round a beautiful. Gift Wow. At this point definitely hope that him and his girlfriend are broken up. June 20th they walk the red carpet together at the Much Music Video Awards. When asked by reporters which act Ian was most looking forward

to seeing, Ian cheekily replied. Who am I most succeeded to see tonight? Nina de Brev it. Wasn't the question like which act he. Wanted to, yeah. It was what act? And then he was like, well, I want to see Nona Brev. Yeah, what's her act? Just showing up and being on the carpet, apparently. That's cute, but. It does kind of feel like they're playing into it, though.

I don't know if they're getting, you know, pressure from the studio or like their publicists are saying, you know, like, people would really like to see you guys together. But like, these are kind of unnecessary comments if you are asked. Like, you don't need to like be cheeky with the reporters. I know. And that is something that has come up because so many CW actors have dated their Co stars.

So some people do think, I know Troy from Beyond the Blinds thinks that like potentially the network is setting these people up and like having them pretend in favor of the TV show and like getting publicity for the shows and for the network. That's not something that like I know for certain is happening. It could be, I don't know, but it definitely is something that happens a lot. I mean, we did an episode about Penn Badgley and Blake Lively. That's definitely one of those

CW couples. I don't know. I want to think it's real. I know, maybe it's just like encouraged. We know. I don't know. Yeah, we don't know. But again, they're on very romantic shows with very attractive people. I mean, it seems like something might happen. Well, I guess let's let's keep seeing what happens. OK, well in July, it's more

real. Well, in July, supposedly, while Comic Con and Nina were seen at the Maxim FX and Fox Entertainment party, where reporters said that they supposedly couldn't keep their hands off of each other and that

they were inseparable. And then I couldn't find the exact date, but some point in September 2011, Ian was interviewed by Us Weekly where he said there were a million things he loved about Nina. He said she truly enjoys life, her desire to experience and appreciate everything around her and chuckle and enjoy it. She's great. When you're really close to someone, they can make fun of you a lot and get away with it. But you sort, but they sort of

poke you in all of the places. They sort of poke you in all the places. I guess so, but it doesn't say in all all the right places and all the places it all makes sense because they know you so well and it really pisses you off. But it forces you to sort of be introspective and ask yourself, wow, is that really how people see me? Apparently so that kind of got away from her, but seems like he was saying that she's really close to him. I.

Get what he means? So are they officially dating at this point? I mean they haven't said so but it seems like they are. In the late summer of 2011 they start filming season 3 of The Vampire Diaries and this is when I guess spoiler alert but they have way more like kissing and making out see. And so that's got to do something. October 29th, Nina and Ian attend Ian's foundation and power esque event.

She was dressed as Hermione Granger and he was dressed as Captain Planet because it was like a Halloween themed event. So perfect, no couples costume but they went together like all the rest of the cast were there but they were the only ones that were like posing together. On December 8th, which is his birthday, Nina tweeted. Happy birthday to my favorite vampire. It's 1111 and your birthday. Make a wish. Well yeah, it's definitely not just something you do for a Co worker.

So it's like APR range. Relationship. Yeah, yeah, something like that, but who knows? So it's now 2012, three years since The Vampire Diaries started, and they were cast for it. So beginning of the year there were rumors that they were engaged again. They're not even confirmed, but people believe that they're engaged, or at least people believe that there's a rumor going around that Ian popped the question but that Nina rejected it.

What I know and Ninas publicist actually responded by saying that there was no proposal and that if there had been 1, Nina would be wearing a ring. Where? Did this come from? I don't know this. Is this it just started being a rumor apparently that they were engaged or that Ian at least proposed Nina, who was only 23 at the time, and Ian who was 323332? Sorry, I didn't do the math. So Nina was asked about the rumors by Access Hollywood at the People's Choice Award on

January 11th. And she said that. I mean, that's not my style. I'm really young. It's not like back in the day when you would get married and have children at 18. I'm a career woman and a young, very driven woman, and I've got a lot I have to accomplish before I settle down and have kids or do any of that again. She's only 23, so it makes sense. Yeah, sounds like she really feels that way. So January 11th, a couple days later, Ian tweeted,

Congratulations, Nina, you won. I think this is from the People's Choice Award, which is where she had that interview. He said people do like you smiling emoji. You rock, babe. Truly. So he called her babe. Yeah, that seems pretty damning, honestly. This is the moment I feel like this is the My boyfriend is English, you know? Twilight ref I know for real. Or that she's back in LA. That's Robson reference if you know. Babe. Yeah, What?

I know. So February 27th, Nina and Ian arrive at Elton John's Academy Awards viewing party together and they were photographed with their arms around each other and looked very cozy. That must be such a great party. I know. I mean, our parties are awesome, but they're Oscar parties. But I know that's like a party that you want to go to. So also in February, Nina was on the cover of Nylon magazine. Kelly, your favorite? I have that. I have that.

One you do. Yeah, I have like every single one since it's like 2011. I should have asked you because I had to read this article on like with the Wayback Machine. Yeah, you should have asked. Me, because this is like February 2012 and they just didn't have it anymore. So I had to I had to use the Wayback Machine for it. But anyway, so this is in the article of the Nylon magazine by Michael Wood. So it says.

On the subject of Somerhalder, de Brev stiffens slightly when I bring up the September Us Weekly article that appeared to quote the two actors confirming the relationship. The headline Ian Somerhalder and Nina de Brev, why we love each other. And Nina says we haven't told anyone anything. I remember that interview. They asked us what do you love about your Co stars? And we said like 10 different things about every single person on the show. But they chose what they want to

write about and it's fine. People have that fascination. I can't say I'm not interested in Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt and their families, but something you fight really hard to preserve and keep private. I. Don't know what to think of that. Yeah, well, don't worry because in April, the pair attended a couple philanthropic events together, as well as Coachella again, where they were spotted kissing. Yeah. So like, they're definitely

together kissing. In May, they were also perhaps numerous times walking hand in hand on the streets of New York City. OK, this is also. Yeah. This is also around the same time that Season 4 of The Vampire Diaries is filming, and it's believed that they are living together in the same house in Atlanta, GA. Wow, so it's serious.

I know. And in the September issue of Canada's fashion magazine, Nina's asked again about the engagement rumors and she said eventually I'm going to marry and have a family, but not anytime soon. I'm not going to pull a Miley. OK. Excuse me, not necessary. Why is she throwing Miley under the bus? Poor Miley. I know especially since like Miley just got like engaged that's like it song. She like had kids really young or anything. Gosh, she was such a punching

bag at that time. That's very true. This was I think the same year that We Can't Stop came out. I think 2012, I don't know. Crazy time. Yeah, well listen to the Miley and Liam episode. Well anyway, September 4th Nina is on the cover of 17 Magazine again and she references the last time she was on. She says the first time I was on the cover of 17 the cover line said Nina why she won't date any of her Co stars and then cut to two years later. It's funny that I said that but

you know what? It was honestly what I believed at the time. I didn't want to be dating any one of my Co stars. My goal in the show was to be professional, but sometimes you can't help who you have a connection with and you can only fight it for so long, which I did for a really, really long time. Yeah, I mean, the heart wants what the heart wants. She also said. I think stuff like that.

Seems arbitrary like you know what rule about it like to say like oh I don't date Co workers whatever. But if you really are into someone, I say just go for it. Yeah, because also, I mean, I guess like, you know, you could date someone else and move on and not care, but if you have that tension and attraction, that's going to be there regardless and that almost might be more distracting. Yeah, it could just go on for years. I know. And what if that's the person

you're supposed to be with? And then it builds and builds and then suddenly it's like, OK, this is way more intense than I than it ever even should have been. I know. Then you're. Both engaged to other people and. I know. It just got way out of hand. It could get super messy. Well anyway, in the same article she said I think people should be with a person who makes them smile. The minute you're not smiling anymore, you shouldn't be in a relationship.

That's what you figure out by having good or bad experiences with boyfriends and finding out what qualities you like and don't like in a person. It's part of growing up and learning. You should always be with the people who make you feel happiest. So that's I don't. Know about that? Really. I just think that's a little unrealistic to think like once you're not smiling anymore, it should be over. Like it reminds me, I'm gonna have. Like ups and downs.

I know it reminds me of Olivia Wilde saying like when your pussy dies or something. That's what I mean, exit the relationship or something. Oh yeah. I forgot about that. If you never smile like you never smile, you never, never. Smile. Yeah, maybe then it's over, but you're gonna have bad days. Even, yeah, if you have like a period of not smiling. I mean, I think you can still try to work on it. I don't know. Like I'm sure Barack Obama

didn't make Michelle smile for all those years. 10 years. It's definitely an idealistic thing to say. It's sweet, it's a nice, it's a nice sentiment. But yeah, maybe not the most realistic, but at least from that she's. In the high, she's happy. You can always gather that Ian at that point in time is making her feel happy and smiley, and that's good.

Yeah. Well anyway, around this time Ian officiated his friend's wedding and Nina tweeted at Ian Somerhalder officiated the wedding and did a killer job. May I add good job Minister Somerhalder Winky face. And supposedly they spent Thanksgiving together in Louisiana with his family. And then December 5th they were spotted Christmas tea, Christmas tree shopping together.

It's cute. And then it was reported that they spent Christmas with each other's families before being photographed celebrating New Year's together in Shanghai, China. What? And while on vacation, Nina tweeted. I'm getting married. Exclamation point. Exclamation point with an attached picture of herself feeding a baby tiger. She also tweeted He's orange and soft and we'll be together forever. Match made in heaven. I'm in heaven. And then Ian responded. Wait, what the fuck?

Wait, I kind of feel like I feel like that's deliberate for headlines because she tweets I'm getting married and then next thing you know, there's going to be a click fake art article that says Nina de Brev says she's getting married. Well, to be fair, the tweet was attached with a photo of her and the tiger, but still. I know, but like like it's so easy. That's just. Like, no, I get what you mean. You never know. Yeah. I almost fell for it.

I know that's why I kind of, I got stretched it out a little bit by doing the exclamation point. Exclamation point. So it's now 2013 and January 9th, Ian tweeted. Happy birthday, beautiful. And there wasn't much news regarding Ian Nina in the beginning of this year. But in March they spent Easter together in Toronto with Nina's family. And while in Canada, they also visited a Vampire Diaries fan who was sick in the hospital together. That's nice. I know.

Easter. Easter seems pretty real to me. I know, like Easter. Easter is intimate like Halloween. Halloween you could spend with anybody. Yeah. Years. Yeah, the. Easter. That's serious, I know. April 11th both rushed to the Animal Hospital to care for Nina's sick cat, Moki, and some sites report that they share the cat, and maybe they do, but Moki for the most part seems to originally have been Nina's was. Moki, OK. Yeah, it seems like they were OK.

I think they just need to have like minor surgery and Ian even post a picture of him and OK at the hospital together. But then on May 9th, after 3:00-ish years together, it's officially reported that they split up. What for good? Yeah. That just came out of nowhere. I thought we were building. I thought we were escalating to. More I know. I feel like we just learned that they were. Out of nowhere. The fans. Hey guys, all those Vampire fans, do they have a ship name?

The character's ship name is Delana. I think the, I think the actors, it's like neon. Doesn't ring up the roll out the tongue, but all the neon fans like guys, we feel you. That must. I'm so sorry, I know. You guys were just at the at the hospital with the cat. What's going on? I know. Terrible news. I wonder too. I wonder if they were already having stressors and bad days and then this cat thing happened and just feels like oh everything's going to shit.

I know you know what. I mean, and then they still there's work together. I know. Well, there's still a little bit more. So do they get back together? I guess we'll see you. Already I said for good and you said yes. OK, well, you whatever. OK, what happens next? What happens next? Around the same time, Ian tweeted a thought for today. People change and forget to tell each other. Lena Hellman, playwright 19 O 5 to 1984. And then he deleted the tweet.

He he quoted a Nina. What was the playwright's name? Lillian Hellman. Oh, I thought you said Nina's. Maybe, I said, Nina, I'm sorry. It's Lillian. I have Nina's name on my brain. Yeah, it's Lillian. OK, but still shady. Yeah, I know. That's a. Sub Tweet. Mel, you taught me. You taught me what a sub tweet is like in the day. Yeah. Yeah, I guess. You also taught me what Mel. You also taught me what a selfie is. Whoa. That's crazy.

This was a long time ago, guys. Not like recently because it was like middle school. Yeah, we don't want to use subtweet that linko anymore. I know, but it it was when you tweet about someone else without, you know, saying who it is, but subliminally yes. Well, yeah. Usually in a negative way. It was always in a negative way, Yeah. Wow, OK. Well, anyway, a couple days later, both of them presented on stage together at The CW Networks 2013 Uprunts.

And apparently there's no awkwardness and the awkwardness and they appeared very professional and cordial. So July 10th, a little bit later, about two months after they officially broke up, quote UN quote, they began filming the 5th season of The Vampire Diaries. And although the season was reportedly written back in April of that year year, which was about a month before the news broke that they broke up, the season keeps Nina and Ian's characters apart for a good amount of the season.

So it's almost very lucky in a way for them it kind of worked out because spoiler alert. Like Nina's character goes away to college and they're just kept away from each other for various circumstances, so they don't really have to think. That is a coincidence. I don't know, it seems like almost too big of a coincidence, but they do have to still occasionally act as a as a couple and like kiss and stuff.

But it is very much a coincidence that for a large amount of the season they don't have to share scenes together. Interesting. Yeah, they still have the same amount of chemistry I'd say. I don't think I really noticed a drop in chemistry in season 5 though. That's good they kept it professional. Yeah, and supposedly when filming began, Ian tweeted wrapped. Crazy to be back on these stages in Georgia. Wow, so many memories here. Season 5. This show has lasted more than

most mem marriages. And then he deleted the. Then he deleted it. Why? I don't know, I guess because like, the show lasted longer than his relationship with Nina, so it's like kind of a dig at that. I don't know. Well anyway, in August, Nina seems to support or confirm the rumor that they broke up because she tells Cosmopolitan that her new found friendship with Julianne Ho or Huff, Julianne Huff is built on more than just their shared trauma of going

through recent breakups. Julianne Huff and Ryan Seacrest had recently broken up. Yeah, that was a crazy couple. I honestly forgot that they dated, but in September 9th, Ian sparked speculation that they may have gone back together. He snapped a picture of Nina on the cover of the Affirmations Cosmo and he captions it in a store this morning. Who do I see? The one and the only Nina de Brev. These things are almost gone, so if you haven't gotten this magazine off the shelf, get one.

One word. Stunning. Congrats Nina XO, Ian and Nina responds back. Thank you Smoldy. Weird. Yeah. Could just be him being like a clingy ex recent ex-boyfriend or maybe they are still somewhat seeing each other. I don't know. In November there are rumors that Ian and Nina have been casually hooking up after the breakup and are most likely to get back together, but at the same time, there's rumors that

Nina and Derek Hough are dating. But again, there's no real weight or water to any of these rumors. On December 9th, Nina tweeted. Happy birthday Smoldy, Hope we had a beautiful day filled with smiles and gluten free cake, but not too much cake. We're on The CW. And then like the tongue out emoji. Oh. My gosh. And then it's 2014 and in January, Nina and Ian won favorite on Screen Chemistry and accepted the award together. And they have an acceptance speech, which is what I sent to

you. It's #2. OK. And is this the what? What award show is this? I believe it's at the People's Choice Awards. And. Still, still hot and the People's Choice for favorite on screen chemistry is Ian Somerhandler and Nina Bill. Brown, Ian. Somerhalder also wins favorite sci-fi. TV actor. Wow. Thank you. Wow this is crazy. You believe this is almost 5? Years in the making. Right. Yeah. But, you know, I think what's crazier though, Ian, is that at the beginning of the show.

Elena actually hated Damon. You're hooking up with my brother. Well, you killed my brother. Then eventually she fell in love with me. And then we started dating on the show we. Started dating in real life. And then we broke up in real life. And yet our characters are still dating on the show. It's a good thing it's not. Awkward. Well, it's. A good thing we have chemistry. Thank you guys so much. Oh my God, I can't believe he kissed her on the cheek.

I know I was going to remark on that. So like after the speech, he kisses her on the cheek. I can't believe they even acknowledged dating and that they presented together. They must be like pretty chill with. Each other. I know, isn't that kind of crazy too chill? What do you guys like? What's in the water where you are cuz? I don't know what to make of that. I know, right? They planned that ahead of time, but that doesn't really mean

anything I guess. That's why people think like, maybe they're like not together, but it's still like a maybe type of thing. That like limbo period where you're kind of in denial and you're like, yeah, yeah, You're like able to make jokes about it 'cause you're like, we might get back together. You're not seeing anybody else at the moment. So you can be flirty, but then

it's confusing. Yeah. So I mean, it kind of confirmed that they broke up, at least people speculate that's because Ian wanted to settle down and get married and have kids, but she wasn't ready, which kind of makes sense because at the time he was 36 and she was only 25. So that kind of age difference probably really was brought into the light because he was getting older, but she was still pretty young actively. Yeah, 36, I can believe it.

Like, we've heard that excuse a couple times in the show and sometimes I don't really believe it, especially when they're like. 20. Eight or something and I'm like, I doubt it, but 36, yeah, I could see. And, and that's a significant at that point, it's just so different like 36 like OK, almost 40 in a couple years and but 25 like if you're not ready, like you might not be ready for

like 10 more years. So I. Know and then he's like kind of a wild I know and then he's at an in his late 40s by that point and that's kind of old to be starting to have kids. Yeah, makes sense. But anyway, in February, on February 11th, Nina was spotted getting cozy with Liam Hemsworth at a bar. Supposedly. What? I know Liam Hemsworth and he was just, she was just digging at Miley a little bit ago too. Yeah, what's that about? I think I do. Remember that?

I remember that from our Miley and Liam episode. In May they were at Pally Fest together or Paley Fest together for Vampire Diaries panel Nina and Ian, and they were supposedly very friendly and there wasn't really any awkwardness. And probably because of this, around this time there were reports that they were going to get back together. But then in June, Nina was spotted making out with James Marsden in a bar in New Orleans. Hey, good for her. Like, you know.

She came. She came to Hollywood from Toronto, and then she gets in this relationship right away. Now she's like, yeah, I can like, you know, meet these Hollywood guys and like, like. I mean, it's James Morrison. I know. I can't get upset about that. I know there were also reports that she was potentially seeing Muse member Dominic Howard also. Oh. And then around this time, also towards the tail end of June, Ian was spotted for the first time with Nikki Reed.

MMM, who is? Slash was maybe supposedly a friend of Nina's. The couple was seen jogging together in California before heading to a farmers market, and they looked very couply. Oh they they love farmers markets, I bet. I know that seems so them. But I OK, so in our previous podcast another by Twilight, we did an episode about Nikki Reed and I remember thinking that like her and Nina were these great friends, but like we haven't even heard of her. Like, were they really good

friends? Kind of overblown. I think that's totally overblown because I could, I looked into it and I couldn't find like any evidence that they were friends. I feel like maybe they probably like took a picture like once or twice at some event or something and maybe like we're friendly because like Twilight slash Vampire Diaries, they probably overlapped a little bit, but I don't think they were really friends at all. Yeah, and it's not like they would have had grown up together.

I feel like some of these celebrities, it's like we were in the 3rd grade class together. They live in LA and like they all just kind of know each other. But like, you know, it was in Bulgaria and Toronto. Doesn't seem like they have so many mutuals too. I definitely think that was overblown completely. OK, setting the record straight, yeah.

But after reports got out that he might be with Nikki, Ian posted to Instagram. He said, everyone, I hate to break it to you, but you have zero clue what really goes on in other people's lives. It does you or anyone else any good at all to protect negative energy out there. There's no harm here. I ask you to back off with your negativity, focus that energy elsewhere in a positive manner, and let people live their lives. It's only fair.

Thank you and goodnight. And then he deleted the post soon. After of course. It's just making we laugh because we're doing the complete opposite. I know. I mean, Nina says she gets it so. No, but I think people must have been, he's like, back off. People must have been like hating in the comments and getting really upset, right? Yeah, definitely. They were definitely receiving a lot of a lot of hate. So I can understand. Like, we're not hating.

We're not haters, you know. No, no, no, no. So he's not talking to us. We're not coming. In business, but yeah, but yeah. But this is that he hasn't deleted the post, so technically he never said any of that. He's frequently tweeting and then deleting. I know. He gets nervous. I guess so maybe he doesn't have that media training that Nina

has. So anyway, so Nikki and Ian were spotted in June and in July filming begins for season 6 of The Vampire Diaries. And I don't know when the season was written but it seems heavily influenced by the real life breakup of Nina and Ian. And I mean, maybe it was other reasons, but for the majority of the season Nina and Ian's characters are kept nearly completely apart for the whole season. I'd be. Pissed if I was a fan of the show.

I know. And even like OK, I don't want to be, I don't want to spoil anything, but Nina and Ian's characters get together in like season 4 or something. And I texted my friend who loves the show and watches it and I'm like Oh my God, they just got together. I can't wait for more Elena and Damon. And she was like Oh my God, just wait. Because then obviously Nina and Ian broke up. So then their characters were like hardly together afterwards. No. I know.

But. What I will say is that it's pretty seamless and it actually does work well. Like it makes sense why their characters wouldn't be together. I think they creatively worked around the breakup, I think. Well, that's gonna say that's disappointing. I know it's disappointing, and in season 6 though, you can kind of tell the chemistry is a little different. This is not turning anyone off from watching The Vampire Diaries. I love it. I even love season 6. It's one of my favorite seasons

of the show. But Nina and Ian's chemistry is very different in season 6 and I will say that some of their scenes are a little awkward. It's not the same as the previous seasons, but I think towards the end of the season when their characters do have a couple more scenes together because it's later in the season, maybe they had a couple more months to like work together and become more comfortable. I think their chemistry does feel back to how it had been in previous seasons.

I feel like I might have been skipping ahead, but I remember her leaving the show. Wait one SEC, I need to I need to go to the bathroom real quick. OK. Sorry, one second. I'll go too. I'll go too. Knock, that was. Abrupt. It's an emergency. OK, back back to the episode. I remember her leaving the show. Yeah, well, we're not at that just yet. OK, OK. So in August, Nina told HuffPost Live.

It's funny because I try not to read any of that kind of stuff, but when you start getting text messages from your friends from a link or something and they're like, Oh my God, are you really dating this person? I'll be like, I talked to him last night for a second or yeah, I saw him at this party and all of a sudden you're dating somebody. Especially after Comic Con. Apparently I was dating like 10 people. I had a busy weekend.

Honestly, I need to get a steady boyfriend so that people can stop speculating. Sounds kind of annoying, but also sounds fun. So in October, and keep in mind Nikki and Ian were first spotted in June. By October, they're openly dating, lots of PDA and Instagram pics and they even adopt A horse together.

And there's rumors that Nina isn't OK with the new couple and that she thinks that Ian is being very insensitive with his flaunting of it. It's reported that The Vampire Diaries producers banned Nikki from coming to stat, but who knows if that's really true. A source told Hollywood Life that this is exactly why producers actually tried to forbid Nina for and Ian from dating. They're worried something like this would happen.

Ian and Nina tried to hide the relationship for so long because they're very strictly forbidden from that, but obviously they did go there. Exactly what they promised wouldn't happen has happened, and it's getting in the way of their work. So that is 2015 and it's January 18th and it's announced that Ian and Nikki are engaged after roughly 6 months of dating. Wow, that's kind of Nikki's MO because she also got engaged to her first husband, Paul McDonald

after like three months. Oh my God. Even less. And some say sources say that Nina is fine with the news, but others say the opposite. A lot of people speculate that Nina gave Ian the cold shoulder after engagement rumors. We can't really say for sure. But years later, one of their Co stars, Claire Holt, went on record and said that they are very professional and never weird with one another during the filming of the last seasons. And it seems like that could be true.

It seems like they're very amicable. Nobody has said otherwise really. It's just mostly. I know it must, especially since it was only six months, you know? Yeah, I mean, he's free to do whatever he wants and like, obviously, but it's just tough that they have to see each other

at work. Usually if your ex gets engaged, you just kind of like see a post online or something and then you're like, but to have to like witness that and people probably saying Congrats to him and all that, like that's, that must sting. I know especially if maybe her and Nikki were friends. I mean, we don't have any evidence that says there were, but people seem to think that they were. So who knows?

In the beginning of April and this so this was a couple months after Ian and Nikki got engaged, Nina announced that the sixth season will be her last season and she won't be on the show anymore. And she said, I always knew I wanted Elena's story to be a sixth season adventure. And within those six years, I got the journey of a lifetime. Coincidence. Especially since the sixth season has already wrapped, so it seems like she's announcing this after the season is already filmed.

You would think that maybe this would be an announcement before the season was filmed, you know? Wait a SEC, so they don't get to film like a resolution to her character? I think they still have like a couple episodes left to do, but for the most part the whole season is mostly filmed. Oh, so she announced it after it had wrapped? Yeah, I think there's no maybe she just wanted to do something left to do. Yeah, OK, OK. Yeah, but. Just interesting. Yeah. Especially since like come out

earlier saying this, you know? Yeah, like they seemed friendlier before, but now that he's really moved on, it's hard. But honestly smart. Like those CW shows, once they get to season 7 you don't want to be it on on it anymore anyway. Yeah, and her contract had only been for six seasons anyway, so it wasn't like she was breaking her contract. Like it'd come to its kind of natural conclusion. It just kind of worked at kind of the right time that that just also so happened to be the time

when her ex was engaged. Yeah. So anyway, April 10th e-news posts an article titled An Open Letter to anyone who thinks Nina de Brev left The Vampire Diaries because of a breakup and Ian repost the article to his Twitter with the caption Way to go at EO Online. This is a very informed article about The Vampire Diaries. Thank you. Check this out everyone. Oh my gosh, open letters were all the rage at that time. So true an. Open letter to my roommate's

mom. Yeah. It was like anyone you could think of. So I said so. It was to anyone who thinks, to anyone who thinks the season, what it what was it? It was an open letter to anyone who thinks Nina de Brev left The Vampire Diaries because of a breakup. So specific. I know. So I think they still have like 1 episode or so left to do. So on April 13th, Nina posted Twitter behind the scenes shooting a Damon and Elena scene with Somerhalder AKA at Ian Somerhalder with a photo of them.

And then a couple days later Nina posted Twitter hashtag FBF. Is that flashback Friday? Yeah, I've forgotten all about all those acronyms they used to have on Instagram. Flashback Friday to last week with Ian Somerhalder shooting our final Damian Elena scene and accompanied with a picture of two Polaroids of Nina and Ian pose together. And then a couple days later after that. After 10 months of dating and four months of being engaged, Eid and Nikki get married in Malibu, CA.

It's. Official. Yep, official. It's very fast and very unexpected, apparently even to the guests. According to Nikki, they invited their guests to what they thought would be a house warming party. It was very low key with only their closest family and friends in attendance. Nina was not invited, but Nina was apparently invited, but she was not in attendance. Yeah, I would not want to go. And also Nikki, if I was Nikki, I would not want his ex there at the wedding. That's crazy. I know.

Maybe it was just a polite invitation. Maybe everybody kind of knew. I know like, maybe like everybody from the cast was invited and be awkward if she was the only one that wasn't true. And then May 15th, about a month or so later, Nina post a photo to Twitter of her and Ian covered cake from when they filmed their last scene together. Just her and Ian. Just her and Ian. Weird, I know, kind of holding on to him a little bit. Nita commented on Ian's wedding for the first time.

She was asked by the Huffington Post. She said. When I heard about the wedding, I thought it was beautiful. They look happy and I am happy. So I don't see why there should be a problem with that. The dramas in the media, it's not with us. But of course we're on a teen drama show. Everyone's going to look for drama. If there's no drama, there's nothing to write about. I just ignore it. We didn't break up because anything bad happened or because there wasn't love or friendship.

I love him and the friendship is still strong and I think he's great and I care about him, and that didn't change. Yes, we're professional and that's fine. We were friends long before we dated and we still are. Well, then Nina was off the show. So in 2016, there really wasn't anything to remark about them but that. In 2017, in January, Nina revealed that she would return for The Vampire Diaries season 8 finale, which was also this the series finale.

And on February 6th, she saw her scene for the finale. She's only in it for about a minute, Max, what's of the finale? But the time that she's in it, no offense to anybody, I don't want to spoil too much, but she and Ian have to act like a couple and they have to like, kiss so. So is it just like a flash forward, like they end up together? Yeah. That's kind of disappointing, though. I feel like Gossip Girl did the same thing with, yeah, Serena and Dan ending up together.

It's like, OK, but we haven't seen any build up to this now. Like it's like not that satisfying. It's uncanny how similar it is to Dan and Serena. That's actually dated and they broke up and then they were not together in any scenes for a while and then in the last episode they just randomly give back. Again, I don't want to spoil, but it's not like they were

like, not together. Nina's character was in a coma for the last couple of years, so it wasn't like they're broken up. She was just like in a coma. Oh. My goodness. That must have been really bad at that point. Again, I like season 6 for. It. I like season 6, all the seasons going up to season 6. Season 7 and season 8 definitely are not that great, but by the time you get to season 7 you're like, well, I'm almost done with the show so I might as well keep going with it, you know?

Yeah, especially since season 8 it's only like half the regular amount of episodes, so you can knock that out pretty easily. I felt that way rewatching Gossip Girl. Like the later seasons. I was like, yeah, it's bad, but it's not that bad. Like yeah, I'm still having fun. So February 7th, the day after Nina Shaw her last or her last scene for the final episode, Nikki posts a photo of herself, Ian, and Nina together with a long and lengthy caption.

And I'm only going to read a portion of it. So, she wrote. For the last few years, we thought addressing any baseless rumors with silence was the best way. Besides, who wants to respond to made-up stories about friends, backstabbing friends, cheating exes, or cast members exiting shows on lowbrow websites like Hollywood Life that are just perpetuating trends that precede us? Yuck. I now see that silence was taken as an opportunity.

Fill in the blanks with even more falsities and choose your stories. And we, yes, we believe we have a more responsibility to young girls, girls to end the narrative. Because at the end of all of this, those young girls are the ones who lose their passion and endless devotion for ATV show is being taken advantage, replaced with feelings of anger through divisive techniques.

And even worse, their minds are being shaped and molded as their views of themselves and other girls and what those dynamics should look like are being formed. So here's to putting and end all those fake stories on of onset jealousy, betrayal, made-up, friendships lost, and women hating women. Because at the end of the day, that's what this is all about. Teaching girls that you have to hate other girls only breeds a generation of women who believe

you have to hate other women. Wow, that's. A lot. It's there's even more, but I only read a small portion of it. I. Don't know if she would. Say all that. I know. And then comparatively on the same day, Nina also post a photo of the three to them with the caption. Can't believe how time flies. Farewell dinner with the team, Summer read. So good catching up with these goofballs. All love and that's it. Hers is like so go with the flow, happy. Yeah, I know.

Maybe Nikki was getting a lot of hate for a lot like a long time from Vampire Diaries people. So like, she was over. Overcompensating. Overcompensating, but like thinking that this mattered more than it does. She's like fanning the flames a bit with this. Yeah, yeah. And I don't know, I feel like she's reading too much into it and like making it about something that it's not. It's normal for there to be awkwardness between an ex and a current partner.

Like it's like normal for those people to not maybe want to be in the same room. And then that's just like the way it is. It's not women hating women. It's just like, why would you want to hang out with your ex's new significant other unless you were totally over it? But even then, like, we're all human, you're going to have some weird feelings about it. Like, don't make people feel like they're like crazy for projecting, you know, kind of realistic expectations onto something.

Especially if people thought that her and Nina were friends, it's not of the realm of possibility that people would think it's weird that you're dating your supposed friends ex. Yeah. I mean, yeah, I feel for her. People were saying horrible things to her. That sucks, but I get what you're saying. Like, it it there's just two separate things going on here, like the fans and then their relationship.

And yeah, yeah, I don't think you should make people think like it's just the patriarchy that makes girls not be friends with their boyfriends ex or something. Like, I don't know. I I think I think there are real reasons for that. Yeah, I feel like at that time period, people were doing like, I hate to say a little too much with the women hating women, blah, blah, blah. It's like, OK, like there are like, there are some, like, valid things that you can criticize people for.

We don't have to all be friends. Yeah. I mean, the message is sweet overall and like, she seems concerned about Young girls getting swept up in this hate or whatever. And yeah, but I I agree it's a bit. Much maybe she was just like, I mean, not to offend Nikki or anything, maybe she's just really hormonal or something because a month later she gave birth to their first daughter or their first child daughter named Bodie Soleil. I don't know if that's I think

she's on her period. Imagine if I I know. I was going to. I was going to be like. Cut that out. Maybe she's just hormonal, like she's just on her period. I mean, I really, I would really. It's just so funny the contrast between hers and Nina's post. You know I know like Nina literally wrote like 2 sentences and that's it. Yeah, she keeps her cards close. Yeah. But I feel like Nikki Reed is the type.

I mean, I really like, I do really like Nikki Reed, but she is the type of person that would be like, no, I'm not friends with my cast mates, you know? Yeah. Whereas Nina would be like, we're all best friends. Well, on January 17th, Nina was on Watch What Happens Live and This Is 2019 Now with Andy Cohen and is asked by a caller if she thinks it's weird that she's friends with Ian and Nina considering her history with Ian, and this is her response.

Hey Andy, I love the show. I have a question for Nina and my question is Nina. You used to say Ian. And now that he's married, is it? Weird that you're. Friends with both him and his wife, I. Don't think that's weird at all. I think that's great. It's awesome. Why? Why can't everyone be friends? I think that they have a beautiful baby and they are happy and so am I and let's. What's bad about that? I don't. Have any problem? With that peace and love man. And hair dye.

Next call caller. What's your name and from where you called? Dude that was awkward. I know, a little awkward, but I mean, they say they're fine, so I don't know what to believe. Well, they say they're all well, so maybe that's the truth. I don't know. OK, are they friends though? I don't even really think so. We're against this. Leader, but there's really no photographic evidence that they're still friends. They don't tweet at each other, They don't, they're never seen

together. They don't post about each other. They both regularly interact and meet up with Paul Wesley and like the rest of the cast, but there's no evidence that they're still friends. I mean, they might text here and there, but we don't know that for sure. I I gather that they are friendly. It's all like, all good. If I see you at a party, I'll say hi. I'll shake your hand, I'll ask you how you are. But we're not going on double dates and hanging out, you know?

Her body language, I don't know, she seemed awkward to me. I felt like she was kind of trying to like rush through her answer and then Andy, like quickly moved on to the next. It wasn't like super awkward, but it didn't seem like she tossed her head back and laughed and was like, Oh yes, we're friends. Like it. It seemed a little weird. Yeah, it's probably not a conversation you want to have, especially not like on TV, you know? Very bold of that guy to ask that question. I know.

Well after that, Nina went on to date a few people, none that were that notable. However, in 2019, Nina met the Olympic snowboarder Shaun White at a motivational workshop in Florida and they've been together ever since, which is about 5 years. Nice. And that's, that's pretty much it. I mean, like I said, Nina and Shawn are still together and Ian and Nikki are still together. And in fact, in June 2003, Ian and Nikki had a second child, a son, But nobody knows the name

of that child. Wow, I would be kind of interested in Nina and Shaun White. I know I'm. Intrigued. It's definitely I think we haven't longest relationship. We haven't done that many athletes on the show. Yeah. You did Tom Brady, but has there been any others? I did Joe DiMaggio. Yeah. Oh yes, I think that might be it. We did. Annie Oakley. That I was like, I guess that counts. I mean, shooting, shooting is an Olympic sport. And her. Husband. Interesting.

And her husband, just just her own husband, you know, whatever his name is. But yeah, I. Mean you guys. Knew a little bit about their relationship prior but like is this how you expected their relationship to pan out once you do all the research? No, I mean you can't really predict much if you don't know anything. Like I'm always surprised. Yeah. Did you think it'd be like with a lot more drama? I'm not surprised.

I'm, I guess I'm a little surprised that her and Nikki are not as close because that's definitely the way that I think Nikki had made it seem. And we kind of got that perspective in our Me Too episode of our podcast. So that's pretty interesting. Yeah, yeah. If anything, it's less dramatic than I expected. Like, I I don't know why I thought this, but I thought it was like, Oh my God, she was best friends with Nikki Reed. And then she got with him and yeah, I thought it was really

dramatic. But it seems like from your research it's not as big of a deal as. Yeah, it's odd though, because like, if people think that they're friends, it's funny that they immediately jump to thinking like, oh, Nikki's dating her friend's ex, but like, what if Nina set Nikki and Ian up? Why would she do that if that's her ex? Maybe she thought they would work together and clearly they did, but maybe that's not the case because I think she probably would have mentioned that if it was.

But it's just interesting that I mean. She would have to be. She'd have to be like, she'd have to be so over Ian to do something like that, to set them up. She'd have to be like, disgusted with him. Yeah, I definitely think Ian probably ended the relationship because it seemed like it probably was down to him wanting to get married and have kids, especially considering the fact that once they broke up, he immediately got engaged and got. Married and had kids, yeah.

So he's really putting his money where his mouth is. And she was kind of like seeing a bunch of different guys. I I think sometimes like the dumpy does that, like throws himself into like not and it's a it's a good thing. It's what you should do. But you know, like is seeing different people and you know, I, I agree.

It seems like maybe he ended it. It seems like they were able to work very cordially and there wasn't much awkwardness, maybe a little bit, but it does seem like they were able to put their feelings aside and work professionally. I do get a sense that maybe Nina did have a little bit of hard feelings regarding Ian and especially how fast he moved on, but I think things were ultimately for the better. I think. So I would say Oz that they get back together I think are pretty low, honestly.

I mean, Ian seems happy with Nikki. I mean, I don't know much about Nina and Sean. I would say probably like 2% honestly. I mean, he would have to get divorced. That's like that's a big hurdle. Yeah, I'll say like 1%. I would say pretty low too. Yeah, 1%. But Kate, thank you so much. So well researched. Yeah, thank you. Congrats on your.

First episode, thank you. I know I was telling you guys when I was researching this that like I was pretty much going like month by month, like week by week, pretty much going through like the Internet Archive. Good. Because even though they have a lot of fans and stuff like that, nobody had made really like a comprehensive like timeline for them. Like a lot of fan sites had like little to no information about their relationship. So now we're the source.

Thanks to you. Kate, do you wanna tease who we are talking about next week on the Patreon? Yes, so for my next episode, Oh my God, which is episode #100. Or. 100th episode. Crazy. What I'm gonna say is that there was a miniseries period drama made about this couple that released this year. That's all I'm going to say. Wow, that's super big. Oh, I thought it was not. Oh, you said period. I said period pizza, right? Yes.

OK, OK, that helps. But thank you, Caitlin, and thank you guys for listening so much. Yup. Thank you, I had so much fun researching and posting this episode. I'm so excited to hear what everybody thinks. Oh, and we'll get back together next week. We'll get back together next week. Is your heart filled with pain? Shall I come back again? Tell me, dear, how are you lonesome?