Nina Dobrev

Early life

Nikolina Kamenova Dobreva was born on January 9, 1989, in Sofia, Bulgaria, to Kamen Dobrev, a computer specialist, and Michaela Dobreva (née Radeva), an artist. She has an older brother. When she was two, her family relocated to Canada, where she was raised in Scarborough, Toronto. At age 10, she moved back to Bulgaria with her mother for two years.

Dobrev attended Vradenburg Junior Public School and J. B. Tyrrell Sr. Public School, where she started ballet and jazz classes and competed in rhythmic gymnastics. She took acting classes at Armstrong Acting Studios in Toronto. Dobrev subsequently attended the arts program at Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts in Scarborough until her graduating year.

Dobrev entered post-secondary studies at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) in Toronto, majoring in sociology, though her pursuit of an acting career prevented her from graduating.

Career

Dobrev's first major acting role was as Mia on the teen drama television series Degrassi: The Next Generation, a role she played for three seasons starting in 2006. She appeared in several feature films in the mid-2000s, including Fugitive Pieces (2007) and Away from Her (2007). Dobrev also headlined a number of television films, including Sci Fi Channel's Never Cry Werewolf (2008), MTV's The American Mall (2008), and two Lifetime original movies.

Dobrev left Degrassi in 2009 to star in The CW's supernatural drama series The Vampire Diaries, a television adaptation of the book series of the same name, playing the lead role of Elena Gilbert. Dobrev recurrently played a 500-year-old doppelgänger vampire named Katherine Pierce. She played the Petrova doppelgänger progenitor Amara, also known as the world's first immortal, in season 5. She crossed over to The Vampire Diaries spinoff The Originals, as doppelgänger character Tatia, in an episode in 2014. In April 2015, Dobrev announced via Instagram that she would be leaving The Vampire Diaries after portraying Elena for six seasons. In January 2017, it was announced that Dobrev would return as Elena and Katherine in The Vampire Diaries series finale.

Dobrev had a minor role in Atom Egoyan's erotic thriller Chloe, theatrically released by Sony Pictures Classics on March 26, 2010. Dobrev also had a small role in the 2011 film The Roommate.

In April 2011, Dobrev was cast as Candace Kelmeckis in the film adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. In August 2014, she starred in the 20th Century Fox comedy Let's Be Cops.

Dobrev played the role of Vicki Summers in the 2015 horror comedy film The Final Girls. In September 2015, she was cast in the film Arrivals as flight attendant Izzy; the film was later retitled Departures and was scheduled to go into production in April 2017. That year, she was also cast in the romantic comedy Crash Pad, which began filming in Vancouver in fall 2015.

In 2017, Dobrev co-starred as weapons specialist Becky Clearidge in the action film sequel XXX: Return of Xander Cage. It grossed $346 million worldwide, becoming Dobrev's most successful film. The same year, she co-starred as Marlo in the remake of Flatliners.

In March 2018, Dobrev was cast as Clem in the comedy Fam, a CBS sitcom pilot that was picked up to series in May 2018. It premiered January 10, 2019. It was canceled on May 10, 2019, after one season. Dobrev starred as Chloe in the Roger Avary thriller Lucky Day, released 2019. She also joined the cast of the film Run This Town, which was released in March 2020. In July 2020, it was announced that Dobrev would star in and serve as an executive producer for a television adaptation of the Woman 99 book series.

Activism and charity work

Dobrev supports multiple charitable causes, including Puma's 2011 non-profit Project Pink, which supports numerous breast cancer charities, and Hunger Bites, an organization that is dedicated to reducing hunger in 27 districts across Pennsylvania. She is also recognized for her long-term involvement with the WE movement, a Canadian-based charity that empowers youth as agents of change. She took part in a Me to We volunteer trip to Kenya to help build a school. She hosted the We Day event in Toronto in 2011 and made an appearance on stage at WE Day California 2019. Other social and charity issues with which she has been involved include the Elton John AIDS Foundation. She also attended the film premiere for The Promise, a film about the Armenian genocide, featuring Hollywood actors Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac.

Personal life

Dobrev is a dual citizen of Bulgaria and Canada. She speaks fluent English and Bulgarian, and she is conversant in French. Her mother tongue is Bulgarian. While filming The Vampire Diaries, she lived in Atlanta; however, she moved to Los Angeles after leaving the series in 2015.

Dobrev has invested in various beverage companies and co-owns a wine brand with dancer Julianne Hough called Fresh Vine Wine.

From 2010 to 2013, Dobrev was in a relationship with American actor and The Vampire Diaries co-star Ian Somerhalder. She later dated retired American professional snowboarder, skateboarder and Olympic gold medalist Shaun White. They became engaged in October 2024, but in September 2025, it was reported that they had ended their engagement and separated.

On Dobrev's birthday in 2025, she had to evacuate her Los Angeles home due to a wildfire. Her home did not burn down, which made her feel survivor's guilt.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. "Холивуд е омагьосан от българката Николина Добрева (СНИМКИ)".
2. [https://www.svobodnaevropa.bg/a/nina-dobrev-predizvikatelstva/32767149.html Гимназистка за 12 години. Нина Добрев, която е готова да прави неочакваното], ''Свободна Европа'' (Bulgarian office of ''[[RFE/RL]]''), January 9, 2024
3. Raycheva, Maria. (July 22, 2017). "Михаела Добрев: Когато видях деца да спят пред хотела й, разбрах, че Нина е световна звезда".
4. (January 9, 2020). "UPI Almanac for Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020". [[United Press International]].
5. Ryan, Andrew. (September 22, 2009). "From DeGrassi to the dark side".
6. (2010). "Love You To Death: The Unofficial Companion to The Vampire Diaries". Ecw Pr.
7. Kahn, Howie. (May 11, 2015). "What's Next for Nina Dobrev?".
8. (February 24, 2022). "Nina and Alex Dobrev". [[Spotify]].
9. Mancuso, Christina. (October 6, 2014). "Performing Dance Arts Partners with Armstrong Acting Studios".
10. "Alumni". Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts.
11. Lewis, Jessica. (November 5, 2008). "Degrassi Gets Schooled".
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13. Foywonder. (April 23, 2008). "Never Cry Werewolf (But Can We Cry Rip-Off)".
14. (December 21, 2007). ""HSM" producers doing new musical for MTV".
15. Andreeva, Nellie. (March 8, 2009). "Networks see flurry of pilot castings".
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18. Highfill, Samantha. (October 3, 2014). "Nina Dobrev says things get 'complicated' for Tatia on 'The Originals'".
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25. Kroll, Justin. (May 1, 2013). "James D'Arcy, Nina Dobrev to Ride Along on Fox's 'Cops' Pic".
26. Murphy, Shaunna. (July 8, 2014). "Nina Dobrev Gives Us A Behind The Scenes Look At 'Let's Be Cops'".
27. Kit, Borys. (April 10, 2014). "'Silicon Valley', 'Vampire Diaries' Stars Join Horror Comedy 'Final Girls'".
28. Patten, Dominic. (September 30, 2015). "Nina Dobrev Cast in 'Arrivals' Movie with Asa Butterfield & Maisie Williams".
29. Frater, Patrick. (February 9, 2017). "Berlinale: Voltage Pictures Launching Teen Weepie 'Departures'".
30. Ford, Rebecca. (April 24, 2017). "Ken Jeong, David Koechner, Tituss Burgess, Peyton List Board 'Departures'".
31. McNary, Dave. (October 21, 2015). "Domhnall Gleeson, Thomas Haden Church, Christina Applegate Starring in Rom-Com 'Crash Pad'".
32. Kroll, Justin. (January 7, 2016). "Nina Dobrev, Ruby Rose in Talks to Join Vin Diesel for 'XXX: The Return of Xander Cage'".
33. Siegel, Tatiana. (February 11, 2016). "Paramount Boards Vin Diesel's 'xXx: The Return of Xander Cage'".
34. "xXx: The Return of Xander Cage (2017)". [[Box Office Mojo]].
35. Kroll, Justin. (April 20, 2016). "Nina Dobrev Joins Ellen Page in 'Flatliners' Remake".
36. Gettell, Oliver. (April 20, 2016). "Nina Dobrev in talks to join Ellen Page in Flatliners remake".
37. Swift, Andy. (March 12, 2018). "Nina Dobrev to Lead CBS Comedy Pilot Fam in First Regular TV Role Since TVD".
38. Petski, Denise. (May 11, 2018). "CBS Picks Up Comedy Pilot 'Fam' Starring Nina Dobrev To Series".
39. Ellenbogen, Rachael. (January 10, 2019). "CBS' 'Fam' Series Premiere: Here's How You Know The Cast".
40. (May 10, 2019). "'Fam' Comedy Canceled By CBS After One Season".
41. Brew, Simon. (September 18, 2017). "Roger Avary to direct first film in 13 years".
42. Kit, Borys. (April 10, 2018). "Damian Lewis to Play Controversial Ex-Toronto Mayor Rob Ford in Drama".
43. DeFore, John. (March 5, 2020). "'Run This Town' Review".
44. Iannucci, Rebecca. (July 23, 2020). "Nina Dobrev to Star in, Exec-Produce Woman 99 Series Adaptation".
45. Richard, Brandon. (July 12, 2011). "Video: Nina Dobrev for PUMA Project Pink".
46. Littleton, Cynthia. (June 28, 2013). "Variety Announces 2013 Power of Youth Honorees".
47. Mukei, Cate. (December 28, 2015). "'Vampire Diaries' actress to wear Kenyan bracelets".
48. Liao, Christina. (December 13, 2012). "Nina Dobrev Shares About Working with Free The Children".
49. Swift, Andy. (September 27, 2011). "Nina Dobrev Designs 'Hunger Bites' T-Shirt To Raise Money For Hungry Kids In Kenya!".
50. Kaufman, Gil. (April 11, 2019). "Selena Gomez, Meghan Trainor, Chance The Rapper, Joe Jonas to Take Stage For 2019 WE Day California".
51. Lowery, Wesley. (February 25, 2013). "Oscars 2013: Elton John AIDS Foundation viewing party rocks it".
52. "Photo: Nina Dobrev attends "The Promise" premiere in Los Angeles - LAP2017041259 - UPI.com".
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56. Brett, Jennifer. (February 9, 2015). "Nina Dobrev, Julianne Hough, Zac Efron hang out in Atlanta".
57. "Nina Dobrev Promotes Cann's Beverages Despite Having Her Own Wine Company".
58. "Drinking Fresh Vine Wine With Julianne Hough And Nina Dobrev".
59. Nudd, Tim. (May 9, 2013). "Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev Split".
60. Krol, Jacklyn. (July 10, 2023). "Nina Dobrev and Shaun White's Relationship Timeline".
61. "Nina Dobrev and Shaun White Are Engaged! All the Details from the NYC Proposal and Her 5-Carat Diamond Ring!". People.com.
62. (11 September 2025). "Shaun White and Nina Dobrev Call Off Their Engagement (Exclusive)". People.
63. Franklin, McKinley. (January 20, 2025). "Nina Dobrev Says She Has Survivor's Guilt After House Near L.A. Fires "Made It"".
64. Patten, Dominic. (September 21, 2017). "Nina Dobrev Joins Ken Marino's 'Dog Days' Pic, Filming Roger Avary's 'Lucky Day'".
65. Lang, Brent. (June 24, 2021). "Eli Roth Directing Shark Documentary 'Fin' for Discovery Plus".
66. (August 14, 2020). "Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang and 'Riverdale's Charles Melton To Star In Netflix Romantic Comedy 'Love Hard'".
67. Radish, Christina. (October 30, 2021). "Nina Dobrev on Writing and Directing the Short Film 'The One' and Being Shocked to Learn About the Concept of Designer Babies".
68. (April 29, 2020). "Logan Marshall-Green, Abigail Cowen, Nina Dobrev, Famke Janssen & More Star In 'Redeeming Love' Adaptation From 'Eagle Eye' Helmer D.J. Caruso".
69. Galuppo, Mia. (October 28, 2021). "Ellen Barkin, Nina Dobrev Join the Cast of Netflix Comedy 'The Out-Laws'".
70. (July 24, 2019). "Nina Dobrev To Star And Executive Produce Indie Comedy 'Sick Girl', Debut Film From Jennifer Cram".
71. (August 4, 2009). "Wade Allain-Marcus & David Baum – "You Got That Light"".
72. Rowles, Dustin. (November 21, 2014). "'Imagine' Gets the Star-Studded 'We Are The World' Treatment for UNICEF".
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