With your final episode just a few days away, has it hit you yet that your time on Vampire Diaries is nearly over?
It wouldn't have hit me if it didn't come out the way that it had. It leaked a little earlier than we anticipated, which forced us to make a statement prematurely. But it was a blessing in disguise, in retrospect. It didn't hit me; I got to say goodbye with my family and with the fans. People made videos of — what was in their opinion — the best moments of the last six years. It helped me relive the last six years, and be nostalgic, grateful and look back at those moments and celebrate this experience as it ends, instead of mourn it after I left. I got to say goodbye to my family, and spend my last moments with them, and look back and remember how awesome it has been.
What was the day your exit leaked like for you?
I've known [I was leaving] for such a long time — for a couple of years — so it's been a big secret I've been having to keep for a while. But once people finally knew, people were really upset and outspoken. But ultimately, supportive, which I was very appreciative of. It was strange, one of the days after it was announced, I had people come up to me in the street, crying, like, "What are you doing?" and angry. And then I told them and they were like, "You go, girl. Do your thing. We support you. We can't wait to see what you're doing next." It's 50-50 [support].
When did you know you'd be leaving?
It wasn't one specific moment I knew. I just knew I wanted to go on this journey with these characters, and their lives…it's a vampire show. It's been a great journey, but at the end of the day, I'm not actually a vampire. The fairy tale has to end, and the next chapter has to begin. I knew this was my time, and I'm excited for the next step. I am very sad that I'm not going to get to spend every day with my favorite people in the world, but, that's why we have FaceTime and phone calls. Friendships are like vampires: They'll last forever if they're real.
As you've been reaching the end of the road of playing Elena, how much have you been reflecting on your early days on the show?
I remember the first day on set, I was with Kat Graham [Bonnie], we were shooting in a car, driving around, and she was the worst driver. I was terrified for my life, but if anything were to happen, it would have happened with a smile on my face because we both made each other laugh so much. There was an excitement and nerves, and we didn't know if we were going to get picked up or not, and tension, too, and butterflies. Anything for the first time, the unknown, the fear, those are all emotions that are so exciting, ultimately. I love that feeling, and I really want to feel that again. That's why I'm excited about this next chapter: I have no idea what's going to happen, and that means anything can happen. That's what's most exciting to me — the prospect of anything.
What was your biggest challenge on the show?
There were daily challenges, there were yearly challenges, there were character challenges. The whole show was challenging in different ways throughout the six years. The multiple characters, the hours, creating characters, deaths. I was constantly crying, it felt like. But for that reason, it kept me occupied, I was never bored, it never felt stale. I always came to work excited, and looking forward to the next thing I got to do. It was almost like actor boot camp, or a college experience. I started college in real life, but I never finished. I went to high school in real life, and then went to Degrassi high school, and then four years as Elena — 12 years is a long time to go to school. I need to graduate! I'm ready now. I'm ready to go into the real world. I've literally grown up on this show. I was a baby when I started, and now I'm a woman. I feel like I've learned so much and have grown so much because of every single person, and every single character, and person I've worked with. They made me who I am, and I'm excited to apply that to the next chapter.
What conversations did you have with Julie Plec and the writers about Elena's ending?
We had many conversations over the years. I remember when we first started, we wondered how long the show could go. And there are times when people said six or eight years. If it was up to the studio [Warner Bros. Television], it would be 30 years. It just depends on so many different factors. When we talked over the years, I always felt Elena's journey would be a six-year journey, and I felt that I did so much in those six years, and I wanted to always feel that passion, and that excitement, and fond memories. And I do. I have nothing but love for every single person there. The show must go on, and it is going on, and I'm excited to see what next season is going to be like.
It wouldn't have hit me if it didn't come out the way that it had. It leaked a little earlier than we anticipated, which forced us to make a statement prematurely. But it was a blessing in disguise, in retrospect. It didn't hit me; I got to say goodbye with my family and with the fans. People made videos of — what was in their opinion — the best moments of the last six years. It helped me relive the last six years, and be nostalgic, grateful and look back at those moments and celebrate this experience as it ends, instead of mourn it after I left. I got to say goodbye to my family, and spend my last moments with them, and look back and remember how awesome it has been.
What was the day your exit leaked like for you?
I've known [I was leaving] for such a long time — for a couple of years — so it's been a big secret I've been having to keep for a while. But once people finally knew, people were really upset and outspoken. But ultimately, supportive, which I was very appreciative of. It was strange, one of the days after it was announced, I had people come up to me in the street, crying, like, "What are you doing?" and angry. And then I told them and they were like, "You go, girl. Do your thing. We support you. We can't wait to see what you're doing next." It's 50-50 [support].
When did you know you'd be leaving?
It wasn't one specific moment I knew. I just knew I wanted to go on this journey with these characters, and their lives…it's a vampire show. It's been a great journey, but at the end of the day, I'm not actually a vampire. The fairy tale has to end, and the next chapter has to begin. I knew this was my time, and I'm excited for the next step. I am very sad that I'm not going to get to spend every day with my favorite people in the world, but, that's why we have FaceTime and phone calls. Friendships are like vampires: They'll last forever if they're real.
As you've been reaching the end of the road of playing Elena, how much have you been reflecting on your early days on the show?
I remember the first day on set, I was with Kat Graham [Bonnie], we were shooting in a car, driving around, and she was the worst driver. I was terrified for my life, but if anything were to happen, it would have happened with a smile on my face because we both made each other laugh so much. There was an excitement and nerves, and we didn't know if we were going to get picked up or not, and tension, too, and butterflies. Anything for the first time, the unknown, the fear, those are all emotions that are so exciting, ultimately. I love that feeling, and I really want to feel that again. That's why I'm excited about this next chapter: I have no idea what's going to happen, and that means anything can happen. That's what's most exciting to me — the prospect of anything.
What was your biggest challenge on the show?
There were daily challenges, there were yearly challenges, there were character challenges. The whole show was challenging in different ways throughout the six years. The multiple characters, the hours, creating characters, deaths. I was constantly crying, it felt like. But for that reason, it kept me occupied, I was never bored, it never felt stale. I always came to work excited, and looking forward to the next thing I got to do. It was almost like actor boot camp, or a college experience. I started college in real life, but I never finished. I went to high school in real life, and then went to Degrassi high school, and then four years as Elena — 12 years is a long time to go to school. I need to graduate! I'm ready now. I'm ready to go into the real world. I've literally grown up on this show. I was a baby when I started, and now I'm a woman. I feel like I've learned so much and have grown so much because of every single person, and every single character, and person I've worked with. They made me who I am, and I'm excited to apply that to the next chapter.
What conversations did you have with Julie Plec and the writers about Elena's ending?
We had many conversations over the years. I remember when we first started, we wondered how long the show could go. And there are times when people said six or eight years. If it was up to the studio [Warner Bros. Television], it would be 30 years. It just depends on so many different factors. When we talked over the years, I always felt Elena's journey would be a six-year journey, and I felt that I did so much in those six years, and I wanted to always feel that passion, and that excitement, and fond memories. And I do. I have nothing but love for every single person there. The show must go on, and it is going on, and I'm excited to see what next season is going to be like.
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