Nina Dobrev
Nikolina Kamenova Dobreva (Bulgarian: Николина Каменова Добрева; born January 9, 1989), known professionally as Nina Dobrev ( DOH-brev), is a Canadian actress. She is known for portraying Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce in the CW's supernatural drama series The Vampire Diaries (2009–2015). Born in Sofia and raised in Toronto, Dobrev made her screen debut playing minor roles in various films, before landing her breakout role as Mia Jones in the drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation (2006–2009). She later rose to prominence with her role in The Vampire Diaries, and 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 biggest commercial success came with XXX: Return of Xander Cage (2017). She also starred in the romantic comedies Dog Days (2018), Then Came You (2018), and Love Hard (2021), and had a leading role in the sitcom Fam (2019).
What was Nina Dobrev's early life like?
Nina Kamenova Dobreva was born on January 9, 1989, in Sofia, Bulgaria. Her parents are Kamen Dobrev, a computer specialist, and Michaela Dobreva (née Radeva), an artist. She has an older brother. At the age of two, Nina's family moved to Canada and she grew up in Scarborough, Toronto. When she turned 10, she spent two years living in Bulgaria with her mother. Nina attended Vradenburg Junior Public School and J. B. Tyrrell Sr. Public School where she began taking ballet and jazz classes and participated in rhythmic gymnastics competitions. She also took acting lessons at Armstrong Acting Studios in Toronto. For high school, she enrolled in the arts program at Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts in Scarborough until her graduation year. Nina pursued higher education at Ryerson University (now known as Toronto Metropolitan University) in Toronto, majoring in sociology. However, her aspirations for an acting career ultimately led her to leave before completing her degree.
What has been the trajectory of Nina Dobrev's career?
Nina Dobrev's breakthrough acting role came as Mia in the teen drama series "Degrassi: The Next Generation," which she starred in for three seasons starting in 2006. During the mid-2000s, she appeared in several feature films such as "Fugitive Pieces" (2007) and "Away from Her" (2007). Dobrev also led various television films, including Sci Fi Channel's "Never Cry Werewolf" (2008), MTV's "The American Mall" (2008), and a couple of Lifetime original movies. In 2009, Dobrev left "Degrassi" to take on the lead role of Elena Gilbert in The CW's supernatural drama series "The Vampire Diaries," an adaptation of the book series by the same name. She also portrayed Katherine Pierce, a 500-year-old vampire doppelgänger, and Amara, the first immortal being, during season 5. In 2014, she made a crossover appearance on the spinoff show "The Originals," playing another doppelgänger character named Tatia. In April 2015, Dobrev announced her departure from "The Vampire Diaries" after six seasons but returned for the series finale in January 2017 to reprise her roles as Elena and Katherine. Dobrev had a minor part in Atom Egoyan's erotic thriller "Chloe," released by Sony Pictures Classics on March 26, 2010. She also had a small role in the film "The Roommate" (2011). In April 2011, Dobrev was cast as Candace Kelmeckis in the film adaptation of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower." By August 2014, she starred in the comedy film "Let's Be Cops," produced by 20th Century Fox. In 2015, she played Vicki Summers in the horror-comedy movie "The Final Girls." That September, she was cast as flight attendant Izzy in what was initially titled “Arrivals,” later renamed “Departures,” with production starting in April 2017. She also joined the romantic comedy “Crash Pad,” which began filming that fall. In 2017, Dobrev co-starred as Becky Clearidge in “XXX: Return of Xander Cage.” The action film sequel grossed $346 million globally and became her most commercially successful movie. That same year saw her co-starring
How is Nina Dobrev involved in activism and charity work?
Dobrev is actively involved in various charitable endeavors, such as Puma's 2011 initiative, Project Pink, which aids numerous breast cancer organizations. She also supports Hunger Bites, an organization focused on alleviating hunger in 27 districts throughout Pennsylvania. Additionally, Dobrev is well-known for her long-standing commitment to the WE movement, a Canadian charity that empowers young people to drive positive change. As part of this effort, she participated in a Me to We volunteer trip to Kenya to assist in building a school. Her dedication extends to hosting the We Day event in Toronto in 2011 and making an appearance at WE Day California in 2019. Dobrev has also engaged with other social causes and charities, including the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
What aspects of Nina Dobrev's personal life are noteworthy?
Dobrev holds dual citizenship in Bulgaria and Canada. She is fluent in English and Bulgarian and has a good command of French. During her time on "The Vampire Diaries," she resided in Atlanta but relocated to Los Angeles after departing the show in 2015. Dobrev has invested in several beverage companies and co-owns a wine brand called Fresh Vine Wine with dancer Julianne Hough. Between 2010 and 2013, she dated American actor Ian Somerhalder, who was also her co-star on "The Vampire Diaries." Since 2020, she has been in a relationship with Shaun White, a retired American professional snowboarder, skateboarder, and Olympic gold medalist; they became engaged in 2024.