The Vampire Diaries - 100th Episode Short Sneak Peeks

The Vampire Diaries - TV Guide Video Interview With Ian Somerhalder

The Vampire Diaries - Ian Somerhalder Interview

The Vampire Diaries - Ian Somerhalder Previews Season 5 - Video

Vampire Diaries Bite - 13th March 2013

Ian Somerhalder Interview

You were on Live with Kelly and Michael this morning, talking about how you've recently realized TVD is basically a soap opera. Can you expand upon that?
My grandmother was this unbelievably smart, phenomenally cool woman and soap operas were just always on in her house. My foundation is building this animal sanctuary and youth education facility where she lived so I was there two weeks ago and those feelings are just so deeply embedded in me that I instantly had those memories being there. So this morning, that all came to me after watching the clip of Damon and Klaus talking they showed. I just realized that I live in a soap opera, and it's awesome.

How do you think the show is able to have soap opera elements without veering into the negative attributes often associated with soaps?
Honestly, I think it's because the writing and the performances are grounded in truth. We ultimately have to find truth in the material, and I think that transfers onto the screen. Obviously there's varying degrees of it, and we don't get it right all the time [laughs], but I think when it feels grounded, it's because we recognize the truth in the material.

I think the show has really gotten it right this season with Damon and Elena's romantic journey. What's been your take on it all?
It's been kind of tragic. I mean, Damon finally got the girl he loves and it's totally tragic that he has this moment of happiness and clarity only to learn that it's fake. I did a show recently where they were talking about Catfish. It's something I never realized is going on, but there's this entire world out there about people falling in love with one another digitally only to find out it's not real. I could have sympathized with that before, but through this storyline, I can also empathize with that. When you go through that emotion on screen you take a piece of it with you. I have such great respect for the people coming out to tell their story because it's an awful feeling.

It's also got to be exciting as an actor that TVD allows you to play your character at various points in their life. We've seen Damon throughout the decades, and next week shows him circa 1970.
Yeah, you hit the nail on the head. Our artisans and production design team went in and not only re-built CBGB's but recreated the feeling of the '70s in Because the Night, airing March 21. It's so cool because you get to experience so many times in Damon's life. Now mind you, because there were so many decades, I think he evolved slower than most. I also love that because we get to go back and romanticize the social happenings of that time, we're really reminded of The United States' deep history and what Damon lived through is just a drop in the bucket compared to the other characters, who can go back thousands of years.

That episode also features the return of Lexi, a character Damon shares a very tumultuous history with. What's it like this time around?
What's cool about it is that you see how long and turbulent their history is. There are just so many different agendas and egos at play, but at the end of the day, both Lexi and Damon love Stefan, so to see them interacting throughout an episode where they're not trying to kill each other or making derogatory jokes to one another the entire time is amazing. There was a real relationship there, so it was fun to explore.

I'd also imagine that this new layer to their relationship makes the fact he killed her more significant.
Totally. I think if you go back to that episode after seeing next week's, the look of betrayal on her face, the shock of it all, is recontextualized. Which I think is a great way to elaborate or, at times, strengthen or fix a storyline that maybe didn't work as well. It's an added bonus to the structure of how our show works.

Looking at what's to come with Damon and Stefan's struggle over Elena's humanity, what are you excited for fans to see?
I'm excited for fans to see Elena have some fun, which means we don't have to worry about her getting killed every waking moment. She's a lot stronger now, Elena is kicking our asses so it's like the tables have turned a bit. But it's interesting because there's this amazing push/pull between Stefan and Damon as they try to figure everything out. Damon has no desire for Elena to take the cure because it means he'll lose her while Stefan definitely wants her to. Ultimately Damon realizes Elena is a lunatic bitch when she has no humanity, and I don't know if the world can handle her. The problem is, he cares so deeply for Elena yet knows she can't keep going down this path. So it's this tragedy of, "Oh man, if I could just get her humanity back, but keep her a vampire, we could have a great life ... or we could at least run around and eat some people all over the world." But I don't know if that's a real option for Damon any more because he's going to have to give her the cure and Stefan only stands to gain from that.

Switching gears for a second, you just came back from SXSW, where you spoke at several panels dealing with the environment and met Grumpy Cat.
Meeting Grumpy Cat was definitely a highlight [laughs]! I'm so grateful to Warner Brothers and The CW for hooking up that whole SXSW event -- they saw value in giving people a space for people to interact. I have to give them kudos for having that foresight and making that investment.

What new Ian Somerhalder Foundation initiatives are you excited about?
We're buying this piece of land that will serve as an animal sanctuary, but will also be a green child education camp. It's a completely sustainable agriculture farm, which is exciting because our natural resources are going out the window as we use them at an exponential rate. If you want change, it has to be generational. The bureaucracy that's already in place is not going to change, but if you can empower and educate the next generation, you've built an entire generation of compassionate, activated people who want sustainability in their world. We're also in the LED business with Go Green Mobile Power. The company that builds our lights, CREE, just invented an LED lightbulb that looks like the incandescent we're so used to seeing but uses 84 percent less energy. You get a 10 year warranty on a lightbulb that costs $10. I'm partnering with them to launch it because I believe in them so much. It's honestly the coolest invention since the lightbulb. These innovations are literally going to change the world.

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Vampire Diaries Bite - 7th February 2013

Ian Somerhalder Interview - What's coming up?

So Damon finally got his girl, and there's this sire bond mucking it all up for him! What was your reaction when you read the script that revealed the sire bond? Were you bummed?
I think it's a classic case of karma. I think Damon did something kind of gnarly in his past life, you know. This kid was born in Mystic Falls, and in 1864 he was just a 22-year-old dude. He would've lived his whole life -- maybe to 65, they didn't live that long back then -- and croaked. But this poor sucker, he just got an infinite lifetime of bad luck. It enriches him. It makes him rich as a man, because there's a lot of s*** that happens to this guy.

That phone call when she finally told him she loved him made me so happy, though. At least he got one moment of joy out of it!
I think that moment is so sweet that it almost makes up for the fact that he just gets screwed over right after. It was very, very sweet.

Stefan and Damon are really at odds right now, and I don't like it! Is there any chance that they can move on and repair their relationship while Damon is with Elena?
Then it wouldn't be fun to watch! We do see some stuff with them where they're just kind of brothers. I personally think it's cool; I do like seeing them not at each others' throats and being a unit with one another. I dig that. I think it's cool to see. But it has the benefit of being great drama when the boys are at each others' throats. It's for pretty serious reasons, you know. They're in love with the same girl.

Does Damon want the cure for himself? Or does he only want it to, potentially, cure Elena of the sire bond?
He doesn't want it! You know this! The last f***ing thing that Damon wants to do is take this cure. There is no point. Why would anybody want that? No way, man. Why would he ever want to be a normal human being? To him, that's just like 'Who would want that?'

You guys are headed to an island, soon, to find the cure. I'm sure you loved all the outdoor filming in the middle of winter.
Basically, I missed "Lost," and I asked to relive my glory on "Lost" and do a "Lost" episode. I'm just joking! We were actually lucky, it was a bit of a warm spell in Atlanta, so it wasn't too brutal.

Is there any time for Damon and Elena to get some romance in, or are they just constantly trying not to die? How does their relationship evolve on the island?
The island is a representation of a lot of interesting stuff ... Living only for Elena's well-being, security, happiness, and all of that stuff, is starting to become very difficult and dangerous for Damon. He's starting to see that it's really not a good thing for her to take the cure.

Does she still want to take it?
She wants it. But do I want it? Hell no. We can live happily frickin' ever after. I've got a big house, we can party, and travel, and whatever, man. Damon and Elena could like, go buy a building in New York with an art gallery in it, and then go live on an island in the Caribbean. They could have a pretty badass life. He's thinking the cure is bulls***. There's no reason for it. The big difference between Damon and Stefan right now, is that Stefan thinks Elena needs to have it. If she gets it, then Stefan can take it, and he'll live happily ever after with her. The last frickin' thing that Damon wants is this cure, and he'd be the first one to tell you that.

Why hasn't Damon murdered Shady Shane yet? He keeps letting him live.
You know why? Because he's such an amazing, convincing character. I love David Alpay. He's brought so much life to Shane, man. Not only is he handsome as hell, but he just brings it, he brings it every time. This guy intrigues Damon. He makes Damon sick, I want to just rip his head off, but there's just too many things preventing him from doing that.

Is there anything good coming for Damon and Elena? They released all these photos of you looking all bloody and bruised, so I'm just guessing there are more bad days coming.
I get my ass kicked, basically. When I first signed up for this character, I thought I'd be working two days a week. Damon's like dessert. He's one of the best parts of the meal,  but you can't have him all the time! So here I am, thinking, four years ago, I'd just do a couple days a week in Vancouver, go back and forth to Los Angeles, and then I realized that it's five days a week of getting my ass kicked left and right! But, I'm surrounded with great people, and every once in a while I get to make out with Nina Dobrev on screen, and it could be worse.

How do you feel about the spin-off news? Would you be bummed to see Joseph Morgan go do another show?
I think it's frickin' amazing! They're my friends, everyone involved. What I'm thinking is that they use some of their time and efforts and resources on "The Originals" backdoor pilot, and maybe, we'll get some time off!

I can't believe they're doing a New Orleans spin-off and you're not in it.
Right? It's unbelievable. I didn't even get invited to go down and tech scout or something. I should be a producer for the New Orleans stuff. I'm going to get on that.

I think you're busy enough. Speaking of which, do you have any updates on the ISF Sanctuary?

It's all happening! The first agreement is physically being drawn up ... fans have been so insanely supportive. We won the Mozilla Firefox Challenge on Crowdrise, with a total of $120,000, which was incredible. That's huge ... so, what we're doing is, is we're putting together the sanctuary. It's coming together. We've got it all under control. It's going to be awesome.

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Ian Somerhalder On The Sire Bond And The Cure

The sire-bond storyline has been hotly contested in TVLine’s comments section. What did you think of the twist and how it affects Elena and Damon’s relationship?
Well, I thought, “Hey, cool! He can do whatever he wants.” Three years of trying to get the same girl, who looks like your ex who you thought was in love with you for 150 years, has to do whatever you say. Could be worse. Actually, no, I thought, “Poor guy”… Here’s the thing: At the end of the day, Damon does not want to take this cure, nor would he in a million years want Elena to take it. He’s thinking, “Why would I want to do this? Why would I want to become a normal, boring human being susceptible to everything?” It’s just not in his wheelhouse to have that thought… It really is a tragic thing. You want this character — even though he does really awful things — you want him to win. You want him to be happy in life… There’s something big in the cards for Damon soon.

You say he doesn’t want Elena to be cured, so why is he going out of his way to find this cure for her? Is it purely about him knowing whether she truly loves him?
No, it’s not that self-serving. That would be like Damon. But I think ultimately, it’s that it’s what she wants. It’s really what she wants.

Elena made a pretty big confession of love recently, and Damon told her to come to him. But then they got distracted by the hunter/cure business. Will they address that conversation soon?
That’s the idea. One would hope. She did come to him, and it was a really cool moment for him. There’s got to be conflict there between them. There has to be. Now, this cure is really not something Damon wants, and so he’s forced to do all this stuff for her. It adds tension because she’s saying, “Look, I love you, man. You have to believe me. I really do.” And he’s just saying, “No, no, no. It’s not possible.” It’s tough for her, and it’s tough for him. It’s Vampire Diaries, it sucks for everyone. It’s hard.

An an actor, was there any frustration about your character finally getting the girl and then there’s this asterisk that it might just be because of the sire bond?
I just thought, “Ooh, Salvatore, you poor bastard.” Leave it to life. It’s Murphy’s Law. That’s the way it goes.

So what’s the next step for Damon and Elena in their relationship?
To move to an island in the Caribbean that Damon buys and start a colony. In all seriousness, it’s kind of like instead of a whodunnit storyline, it’s a who’s-gonna-get-it? Honestly, I think that Damon right now is wishing he wasn’t in this situation, and he has an exorbitant amount of trepidation about getting this cure because he has a pretty clear idea that once she gets it, she’s going to go back to feeling this way for Stefan. This circumstance is really not great.

Stefan and Damon’s relationship has also been through quite the ringer as a result of the Elena story. Stefan’s gotten kind of spunky recently. What’s their interaction like coming up?
Stefan spunky? I like that!

He’s got a bit of an edge.
We like edgy Stefan. Stefan likes edgy Stefan. Stefan, just like his brother, has a lot to go through in the near future. He’s got a lot riding on this cure. Stefan wants it. This is a chance for him… Stefan’s hoping that they can find it and make it work and ultimately she’ll go back to feeling this way for him. And Damon’s thinking, “Ooh, this sucks!” Really not happy about it.

On the way to this cure, Damon has a bloody run-in with a hunter.
I like that storyline. It’s a lot of fun. The character’s great. Charlie Bewley, the actor who plays Vaughn, is awesome. He brings a lot to the role. He and David Alpay, who plays Professor Shane, they’re both really talented and they’re a lot of fun to work with. Damon and Shane, while they’re wanting to kill each other, they really work well together.

Damon’s been really suspicious of Shane. What are the odds that we’re headed to a big “I told you so” from Damon?
[Joking] There’s a scene where Damon and Shane kind of cuddle. Look, this Shane guy has a lot of shit going on, excuse my language. He’s got a lot of stuff he’s hiding. He’s a master manipulator, and that’s really why I like him. He and Damon, they’re not too far off. Again, he has ill-intentions, but they’re for righteous reasons. That’s what Damon had for really the first two seasons of the show. So I have to respect him for that. But I will say that Damon is praying that he’s wrong about this guy, that he’s not as bad as he thinks he is. There’s good stuff there between them.

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Ian Somerhalder Interview On 'Delena'

How did it feel to finally have "hot vampire sex," as Nina called it, with Elena in the November 29 episode?
The fans — and I — have been begging for that for a long time. It's payoff for them, but there are a lot of people out there, particularly dudes, who think Elena would be much better off if she were rid of both Salvatore brothers.

You and Nina are a real-life couple — how does that affect the on-screen romance?
I'll just talk about the show. That sex scene had a lot of built-up passion, but also a more tender side. Damon's finally got Elena, and he's so happy, but he can't be sure that her feelings are real, and not just a result of him having sired her.

Does Elena want this love to be real as much as Damon does?
Absolutely. To Elena, it is real. But, again, is that the sire bond making her think that she loves him?

Stefan still doesn't know about Elena sleeping with Damon. What can we expect when he finds out?
[Laughs] Some gnarly blood, of course! Stefan is really hurt by them. It's a jagged pill for him to swallow.

Will it be good for the show if Elena and Damon stay together for a while?
I think it's good for the story: If Elena is with Damon, this sire bond is always an issue; plus, his brother's really angry. So until both of them know if it's true love, they've decided they're not going to sleep together again. There will be more romance and less sex. Damon wants to do the right thing, but losing Elena is not an option. It's a tough predicament for him.

Speaking of tough predicaments, Damon had agreed to help search for the vampire cure for Elena. Isn't he afraid that, if she reverts to being human, he will lose her?
Yes. It raises a good question. Damon feels guilty that she's turned, but if she stays a vampire, then she stays in love with him. And that's all he's ever wanted. He finally got it, and the sire-bond thing blew up in his face.

Awww. Poor Damon!
I know! The exploration of this relationship and the interaction between Damon and Stefan as a result is all very complicated and very dramatic. This story has really been great in a big way.

Sounds like you're having a blast with this story line.
Absolutely! It's not the Damon of Season 1, where he walks in, cracks some jokes and gets to take home a sorority girl. This is a lot more fun.

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Cast Tease Season 4 - Video

Ian Somerhalder on Missing Alaric, Loving Elena and Finding Compassion

Damon Salvatore misses his best friend. That much is evident in the Vampire Diaries clip from tomorrow night's "Memorial."
And the character isn't alone.
"F-ck Damon. I miss Alaric," Ian Somerhalder told me over the phone yesterday. "I miss Matt Davis in my life."

The second (TERRIFIC!) episode of The Vampire Diaries Season 4 will give viewers multiple opportunities to see how his drinking buddy's passing affects Damon, but Somerhalder says the loss goes beyond a lack of someone to meet at the Grill.
"Losing Alaric signifies something bigger, it raises much bigger questions in Damon's world," the actor explains. "He wonders: 'Why are you dead? What did I do to contribute to it?'"
And it sets Damon off on a dark, lonely path.
"He's missing his best bro, but he's also telling those around him: 'I tried so hard to make you guys see my point of view. And now what's happened? Alaric is dead. Elena is dead.' Damon was right. And now he's saying: 'This is who I am. I tried to play nice and know what? It didn't work.'"
Yes, it's a return to the cynical side ("This is me. Take it or leave it," Somerhalder describes his character's current outlook) of Damon Salvatore, which the star has made clear over the years is his preferred role to play.
"You can't just be a cool lunatic all the time, I understand that. You need to grow and change and evolve," Somerhalder says of the journey Damon has taken. "Still, you are who you are at your core."
And who is that person?
Damon has always had "ill intentions, but he had them for righteous reasons," Somerhalder says. "He believes in what he's doing and he enjoys it so much… whether he's ripping your throat out or saving a kitten from a tree, Damon has that same smile on his face. It's sadistic but true. And the only person he isn't that way around is Elena."
So does that mean Somerhalder is glad he didn't get the girl? Wouldn't a relationship with Elena set Damon down a much lighter path? Somerhalder needed a moment to contemplate that question.
"If you look at why Damon came back to Mystic Falls, it was for love. Even being a sort of maniacal kind of killer at times, he wants what we all want: to be loved."

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Ian Somerhalder Teases 'Cute' Delena Moment

Damon and Elena may not be in a relationship when The Vampire Diaries returns on Oct. 11, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be sharing any intimate moments this season.

“There is some stuff that is going to come up this season that I think fans will get a little bit of joy out of,” said Ian Somerhalder, who explained that the love triangle still has a ways to go. “There is a scene where Damon pushes Elena's buttons a little bit and kind of starts undressing in front of her and that throws her for a loop. It was pretty cute.”

Though Somerhalder wouldn’t reveal what happens after Damon finishes undressing, he would say that the scene was so cute that even the crew guys were caught off guard. (Ok, now we’re really curious to see this).

As for how Damon’s going to handle Elena becoming a vampire, Somerhalder says that ultimately, it won’t affect the way he feels about her. “It doesn’t really matter whether she’s a vampire or human being,” he says. “He loves her either way.” Let the swooning commence.

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Ian Somerhalder Interview - Video

The Vampire Diaries' Damon Salvatore showed a bit of his emotional side last season, but the wry, angst-ridden vampire we fell in love with early on is back in full force when the series returns.

"The guy tried everything," Ian Somerhalder told TVGuide.com. "He tried to be the romantic, he tried to be the big brother, but no one listened to him and it all went to sh--. He's now saying, 'You know what? I tried, it didn't work, screw you. This is who I am and this is what I do."

When the fourth season of the CW series premieres (Thursday, 8/7c), Damon will not only be extremely upset at his brother Stefan (Paul Wesley) for not saving Elena (Nina Dobrev), but he'll be also be an important guide for Elena as she transitions into a vampire.

"I think Damon is the key to her understanding a lot of what's going on during the transition," Somerhalder said. "He even tells Stefan, 'She's not going to be able to understand this blood lust, so let her feel the urge and the pain and hunger. That way, she knows what she's up against."

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Full TVD Panel From Comic Con

Insurgence 4 Update - 8th June 2012

With only 2 weeks to go until our personal event of the year, we thought it was time for an update. There have been several changes since last time.
 Unfortunately, due to work commitments, Daniel Gillies (Elijah) and Torrey DeVitto (Meredith) have had to cancel. Luckily for us, last night Rogue announced a replacement guest in the form of of Claire Holt (Rebekah) and hopefully will surprise us with another.

The full guest line up is as follows:

Ian Somerhalder (Damon)
Paul Wesley (Stefan)
Nathaniel Buzolic (Kol)
Malese Jow (Anna)
Steven R McQueen (Jeremy)
Claire Holt (Rebekah)

The event runs from 22-24 June 2012 in Birmingham, UK
We will be tweeting live from the event: Please follow @TVDaddictions & @MeganHandley on twitter to catch updates.

Vote For TVD At The Teen Choice Awards

The TVD cast have SIX nominations at this years Teen Choice Awards in fours categories.

Fantasy/Sci-Fi             - The Vampire Diaries

Actress Fantsy/Sci-Fi  - Nina Dobrev

                                   - Kat Graham

Actor Fantasy/Sci-Fi   - Ian Somerhalder

                                   - Paul Wesley

Male Hottie                 - Ian Somerhalder

To vote for TVD in the awards check out the Teen Choice Awards website

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE EVERY DAY!!!

Can Elena Be Turned Human Again?

While Julie Plec and the rest of the writing staff will be hard at work on the fourth season of theVampire Diaries very soon, her cast certainly has their ideas of where it might go, especially as Elena makes her journey into vampire-dom. Among the most titillating? Paul Wesley’s idea, which he pitched to me this week at the CW upfronts. “I think a lot of this season is going to be about how to fix the issue or deal with it somehow - maybe even reverse it.”

Now, whether or not that’s even possible, time will tell. But one thing he’s sure of? The writers have a big task in front of them. “I am excited but also a little concerned. One of the things that was so important about the show was that there was this innocent girl being infiltrated by these dark characters - these threatening, vicious beings - who were going to suck her blood at any moment and kill her. Now, that’s not a threat any more. We have some very talented writers and I’m sure they’re going to figure it out,” Wesley says.

Meanwhile, Ian Somerhalder thinks the gang will come together in light of these new developments. “I can imagine that it’s going to be a team effort to help Elena. It’s going to be very odd,” he says. “And for the brothers, it’s kind of like the walk of shame. There’s this girl you love, you were instrumental in altering her being. It’s going to be interesting.”

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Ian Somerhalder Talks Season 3 Finale

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ISF Influence Affair

Vampire Diaries star Ian Somerhalder is doing what he can to make the world a greener place. The actor and his namesake organization hosted The Influence Affair in Bel Air Saturday evening, the night before Earth Day 2012, in an effort to connect business leaders, change makers and visionaries to propel society toward "a better, kinder and greener future."


Somerhalder stopped by the THR Cover Lounge on Wednesday to discuss why he founded the Ian Somerhalder Foundation.

"I realized as an adult it's not me, or you, or anyone running this camera or anyone sitting in this room who is going to actively make people change their minds, it's going to take a generation," he said. "The only way to do that is with the youth of the world."

The night at The Hadid Residence featured Sounds by DJ Josh LeCash and a live musical performance by Capital Cities. The event was also celebrating the Let's Get Dirty campaign, during which businesses, organizations and more than 2,000 schools participated in a massive clean-up effort.


“The coming together of like-minded individuals through action is what's needed to see wide spread change for us, our planet and its creatures, This event provides a platform for individuals who want to see tangible results through active collaboration between celebrities, business leaders and individuals.”

Ian on the red carpet...

Nina on the red carpet...

 

Claire on the red carpet...