Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder's relationship spanned three years, according to Who's Dated Who. The former couple fell in love while working together as part of The Vampire Diaries cast. Fans of the show couldn't help but love these two, who turned their friendship into one of the most talked about romances ever. In 2012, rumors that Nina and Ian were engaged circulated, but Nina confirmed that the rumors simply weren't true. The then-23-year-old spoke with Access to clear up any gossip. "I'd heard some crazy story that I'd been proposed to, but I would be wearing a ring if I had one. Not true at all. I mean, that's not my [style]. I'm young. I'm really young," Nina said. She also explained that she was completely focused on her career. "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 and do any of that," she explained. Nina and Ian continued dating, working together, and traveling the world over the next couple of years. Their connection was so electric that they took home the People's Choice Award for "Favorite On-Screen Chemistry" back in 2014. You can check out their joint acceptance speech on YouTube. And while just about everyone wanted to see Nina and Ian get married, the two ended up going their separate ways after the sixth season of TVD. While the real reason that Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder split isn't officially known, there has always been some speculation that their ten-year age difference could have played a role. "The relationship kind of brewed out of a friendship and the fact that they had to get into a romance for the show," an insider told Us Weekly back in 2013. "I think she decided she wanted to experience other things," the source added. Around the time that their relationship ended, Ian took to Twitter to share a cryptic quote. "A thought for today: 'People change and forget to tell each other,'" he wrote, according to Us Weekly. The Tweet has since been deleted. Nevertheless, Nina and Ian's relationship continued in a platonic way. "They will continue to work together and remain best friends, which is where the relationship started," the unnamed source also told Us Weekly at the time. That friendship has continued over the years, and it is believed that the two are still in touch, despite both finding love with other people. Both Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder have moved on in their personal lives. Ian married Twilight star Nikki Reed in 2015, according to Brides. And, yes, Nina was invited to Ian and Nikki's wedding, though she didn't attend. "She was invited. She actually thought about going, but in the end Nina decided it would just be too awkward," a source previously told Hollywood Life. Regardless, there still isn't any bad blood between Nina and Ian. Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder's relationship spanned three years, and even though they split and have both found new loves, they're still friends.

From meeting on set to ending their three-year romance, here's a look back at Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev's relationship Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev spent six seasons together playing Damon Salvatore and Elena Gilbert on The CW's supernatural teen drama The Vampire Diaries. During that run, they also dated off screen from 2010 until 2013. As the actress told Seventeen in October 2012, falling for a cast mate was the farthest thing from her mind when she started on the series. "I didn't want to be dating one of my costars — my goal on the show was to be professional," Dobrev admitted. "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." The couple kept a relatively low profile throughout their relationship, occasionally offering a peek into their romance while cuddling during trips abroad and enjoying music festivals. They eventually went their separate ways in 2013, but maintained a professional and personal relationship after their split. From meeting on set to their post-breakup friendship, here's a look back at Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev's relationship. Life imitated art for Somerhalder and Dobrev, who fell in love after working closely together as lovers Damon Salvatore and Elena Gilbert on the The Vampire Diaries. Somerhalder celebrated his 32nd birthday in an unconventional way on the set of The Vampire Diaries. The actor confirmed he spent the day filming a nude scene but was tight-lipped on whether Dobrev's character was involved. "I was naked with a beautiful girl all day," the star revealed to PEOPLE. "I had a shower scene that led into another scene where I was kind of half-naked and wet." The private couple appeared on the MuchMusic Video Awards red carpet in Toronto. Dobrev — a Canada native and former Degrassi: The Next Generation star — and Somerhalder were on hand to present an award with Selena Gomez. The costars didn't confirm their romance but were introduced on the red carpet as a "beautiful couple." And when Somerhalder was asked who he looked forward to seeing at the show, he quickly responded, "Who am I most excited to see tonight? Nina Dobrev." Dobrev, in turn, gave him a shoutout onstage, saying to the crowd: "He's hot. Right guys?" As rumors swirled that Dobrev turned down a proposal from Somerhalder, the couple laughed off the reports. "I'd heard some crazy story that I'd been proposed to, but I would be wearing a ring if I had one," Dobrev told Access Hollywood on the People's Choice Awards red carpet in Los Angeles. "Not true at all. "I mean, that's not my [style]," she added. "I'm young.

Few could argue against the fact that actors Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder had great chemistry as Elena Gilbert and Damon Salvatore on the CW drama, The Vampire Diaries. As such, when the pair announced they were dating back in 2011, it wasn't exactly shocking. It even seemed as if their off-screen romance was a driving force behind their on-screen love affair. However, not all Hollywood romances have a happy ending. In 2013, the co-stars-turned-couple called it quits, leaving Vampire Diaries fans stunned. "Still hurt abt Nina and Ian's breakup tbh," one fan tweeted in 2014 about the split, while someone else wrote in 2018, "It's been 4 Years and I'm only sad and obsessed with Ian and Nina's breakup now." See? We weren't kidding about the whole "stunned" thing, folks. So, why did Dobrev and Somerhalder break up? Well, it turns out that there were several reasons these TV actors didn't work as a couple. While some feel age is no factor when it comes to love, a large age gap could make it difficult for certain couples to stay together long-term. Although Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder looked as though they were close in age, in actuality, Dobrev was 24 and Somerhalder 34 when their three-year relationship came to an end. It's likely the two were at very different places in their lives due to their big age difference, and that can definitely cause waves in a relationship. Speaking of being in different places, it was more than apparent based on the speed at which Ian Somerhalder moved on that he was more than ready to be a married man. After his 2013 split with Dobrev, Somerhalder started dating actress Nikki Reed. The two confirmed their relationship in 2014, and became engaged after just six months of dating! Somerhalder and Reed tied the knot in 2015, two years before welcoming their daughter. Inevitably, Nina Dobrev was asked to comment about seeing her ex-boyfriend happily married to someone else, and she had nothing but nice things to say about his "beautiful" wedding to Reed. "They look happy and I am happy and so I don't see why there should be a problem with that," Dobrev told E! News. "The drama is in the media, it's not with us." If Nina Dobrev didn't want to settle down, what was she aiming for instead? "She decided she wanted to experience other things before making a long-term commitment," a source close to Dobrev told Us Weekly. Although it's not clear what these other things were, it sounds like Dobrev was on board with the idea of a long-term relationship with Ian Somerhalder, but she felt things were moving too fast. As a source reiterated to Life & Style, Dobrev " [was] just not ready to make that huge commitment yet," and might prefer to wait "about 10 years." As the magazine observed, it was highly unlikely Somerhalder wanted to wait until he's 44 to get really serious. Of course, Dobrev's supposed desire to focus on opportunities other than marriage is completely understandable.

Shortly after Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder were cast as love interests on The Vampire Diaries, they sparked a real-life romance when the cameras stopped rolling. The CW hit, which premiered in 2009, starred Dobrev as human Elena Gilbert after she finds herself drawn to vampire brothers Damon Salvatore (Somerhalder) and Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley). The supernatural teen drama featured one of the most famous TV love triangles as Elena had steamy connections with both Salvatore siblings. Nearly one year after The Vampire Diaries ’ debut, Dobrev and Somerhalder were first linked in real life after they were spotted kissing at the Los Angeles airport in March 2010. “The first time I was on the cover of Seventeen, the cover line said, ‘Nina: Why She Wouldn’t Date Any of Her Costars.’ And then cut to two years later, [I am,]” the Love Hard actress joked during a Seventeen interview in October 2012. “It’s funny that I said that, but you know what? It was honestly what I believed at the time.” She added: “I didn’t want to be dating one of my costars — my goal on 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.” Dobrev and the Lost alum’s love story quickly heated up as they frequently showed off PDA during various public appearances and via social media. “ [Ian] always has a positive outlook and positive energy and he’s always happy,” Dobrev exclusively told Us Weekly in 2012. “As they walked off stage, Nina was a stride or two ahead of Ian.” The pair continued amicably working together on The Vampire Diaries until Dobrev — who also played Elena’s vampire doppelgänger, Katherine Pierce — exited ahead of season 6. (TVD aired its eighth and final season in 2016.) Us later broke the news in April 2020 that the Degrassi alum had moved on with Olympian Shaun White. Somerhalder, for his part, went on to find love with Twilight star Nikki Reed. The Brother’s Bond Bourbon founder and Reed, who wed in 2015, welcomed daughter Bodhi two years later. They announced in January 2023 that they are expecting their second child. Scroll below to revisit Dobrev and Somerhalder’s complete relationship timeline: Wesley, who completed the show’s love triangle, joined his costars at the 2009 Upfronts. The two posed for a photo together at the Louis Vuitton and Vanity Fair Sunset Cocktails bash in 2009. The actors met on the set of the supernatural CW series The Vampire Diaries in 2009. Dobrev plays dual roles of mortal doppelgänger Elena Gilbert and vampire Katherine Pierce, while Somerhalder plays one-half of the blood-sucking Salvatore brothers. Before they began dating, the costars hit up The CW's Upfront party at the Gramercy Park Hotel on May 21, 2009. "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," Dobrev said in a 2011 Teen Vogue interview.

It’s no secret that Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev were in a relationship during the early years on The Vampire Diaries. Somerhalder played Damon Salvatore while Dobrev played Elena Gilbert. They were two of the main characters and worked closely together. As with many leading men and women who are significant others on a TV show, feelings can sometimes grow between them. Often, relationships outside the show become just as official. Some couples barely last beyond the boyfriend/girlfriend stage, but some - like Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer from True Blood - get married. Somerhalder and Dobrev tried to remain covert as a couple, often denying rumors they were dating, or speaking obscurely when questions or statements veered towards their suspected relationship. W ith a Hollywood lifestyle, the truth eventually surfaced. The couple dated for 3 years from 2010 to 2013 before ending their relationship to much controversy and speculation - mostly from The Vampire Diaries fan community and the tabloids. While they had secrets during their relationship, not all of them were bad. Some were downright fun, some were friendly, and some involved people (and animals!) outside their relationship. This list lets you know some of those secrets back when they were dating, soon after their breakup, and up until today. Here’s 15 Secrets Behind Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder’s Relationship. Most men and women have things they look for when dating or courting someone of the opposite gender. Call them requirements or criteria, but consciously or subconsciously, men and women pay attention to them. In the November 2012 issue of Self magazine, Nina Dobrev told readers and her fans what she required of Ian Somerhalder before they officially became a couple. “He has to be a happy person,” she said is her relationship requirement. Did he make her happy? He sure did: “You’ll laugh and enjoy life more,” she said. Because Somerhalder is a happy person, she credits him with being one way to deal with any stress in her life.

The Vampire Diaries fans are used to seeing Nina Dobrev ‘s seasons-long love triangle with Damon and Stefan Salvatore, however, the actress has quite the romantic past outside of the hit CW drama. That said, Nina’s most notable relationship in Hollywood was with her Vampire Diaries costar Ian Somerhalder, who played the role of Damon. The pair dated for three years before calling it quits in 2013. Nina went on to date several suitors before she found love with Olympian Shaun White. Life & Style breaks down Nina’s dating history amid her engagement to the snowboarder. In Full Bloom! Serve Vibrant Spring Vibes in This Breezy Midi Skirt — 63% Off View Deal Following Nina and Ian’s split, she decided to leave The Vampire Diaries after seven seasons. When she returned for the series finale, “I Was Feeling Epic,” fans noticed a change in the pair’s onscreen chemistry. Nina briefly dated her best friend Julianne Hough ’s brother following her split from Ian in 2013. In February 2014, Nina and Liam were spotted kissing in Atlanta. At the time, Liam and Miley Cyrus had called off their first engagement. Rumors about Nina and James began to circulate after the pair was spotted kissing at a bar in June 2014. In August 2014, Nina and the Pirates of the Caribbean actor were seen flirting at Comic-Con. Apparently, several onlookers later saw them kissing at an afterparty. Nina and Austin began dating in July 2015 before calling it quits seven months later. After four years of dating, the couple took a major step in their relationship by getting engaged in October 2024. “RIP boyfriend, hello fiancé,” Nina captioned photos from their engagement via Instagram on October 30, 2024. Nina Dobrev's dating history includes celebrities like Ian Somerhalder and Liam Hemsworth. Inside her past romances amid her engagement to Shaun White.

After The Vampire Diaries debuted on The CW in 2009, viewers quickly got invested in the supernatural events taking place in the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia. At the center of the drama was Elena’s (Nina Dobrev) love triangle with Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder). Off screen, Dobrev and Somerhalder sparked a romance in 2010 and continued to date for three years. “The first time I was on the cover of Seventeen, the cover line said, ‘Nina: Why She Wouldn’t Date Any of Her Costars.’ And then cut to two years later, [I am],” Dobrev joked during an interview with Seventeen in October 2012. “It’s funny that I said that, but you know what? It was honestly what I believed at the time.” She added: “I didn’t want to be dating one of my costars — my goal on 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.” The pair broke up in 2013, but continued to work together for two more seasons. After their split, Somerhalder moved on with Nikki Reed. They wed in 2015 and share two kids together. Dobrev, meanwhile, has been in a relationship with Shaun White since 2020. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly These Designer-Looking Sneakers are Spring Comfy Shoe Perfection — and They’re Now 37% off! View Deal Their costar Wesley was already married to Torrey DeVitto when she made multiple appearances on The Vampire Diaries, but following their divorce, he had a new offscreen love interest. Wesley was linked to Phoebe Tonkin, who appeared on The Vampire Diaries and The Originals as Hayley.

It is no secret that The Vampire Diaries costars Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder were a real-life couple. But, many of their fans are still curious to know how the ex-couple met and how love blossomed between them. Moreover, many are still confused if Nina Dobrev’s dating Ian at present as well. So, let’s have a closer look at Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder’s relationship; from their first meeting to their breakup. Nina Dobrev and Somerhalder first met in 2008 on the set of The Vampire Diaries. Despite both of them had been a prominent figure in the entertainment industry for a long time, they never crossed their paths before they were cast in The CW series. The Canadian actress played dual roles of Elena Gilbert and vampire Katherine Pierce while Somerhalder played one of the Salvatore brothers. Soon after their first encounter, Dobrev and Somerhalder became friends. And just months later, the couple was spotted together out of the set for the first time. On May 21, 2009, they hit up The CW’s Upfront party at the Gramercy Park Hotel, New York. They hadn’t started seeing each other by then. Moreover, Nina told Teen Vogue that she had never dated her costars. People started considering Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder a couple after they were snapped kissing at LAX Airport in early March 2010. Later, Nina said that the pair had expected to hear rumors about their relationship after the incident. By May 2010, Nina and Ian had started making their public appearances without their The Vampire Diaries costars. On May 27, 2010, the alleged lovebirds made their appearance at the Staples Center where they enjoyed a basketball match between LA. Lakers and Phoenix Suns. Their fans were convinced they were an item after the match. Later, an eyewitness told Us Weekly that Dobrev and Somerhalder “looked flirty” as they watched the match together. As of 2020, Canadian actress Nina Dobrev is dating American snowboarder and skateboarder Shaun White. The couple started dating in early 2020. They sparked their romance rumor in March after they went on bike riding together in Malibu, California. The newly-minted lovebirds also spent their quarantine time together. On May 28, Nina took to her Instagram sharing a couple of photos of her and her new boyfriend, in which she can be seen giving White a haircut. Before White, Nina Dobrev dated a couple of men. In fall 2013, Nina reportedly dated professional Latin and Ballroom dancer Derek Hough. After that, she dated Austin Stowell, Glen Powell, and Grant Mellon. As per Ranker, Nina’s first known relationship was with actor Ben Hollington whom she dated from 2006 to 2009. Following Somerhalder’s break up with actress Dobrev, he started dating actress Nina Reed. The lovebirds started dating in 2014 and around a year later, on 27 April 2015, they exchanged their vows in Malibu. Ian and Nikki wedding dresses. Source: Pinterest A couple of years after, the husband-and-wife welcomed a baby girl. They gave birth to their daughter, Bodhi Soleil Reed Somerhalder, on July 25, 2017. Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder dated for three years. Meeting on the set of The Vampire Diaries, they soon started their journey as lovebirds.

The romance between Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder seemed like something out of a fairy tale when it first happened. Seeing Damon and Elena’s onscreen romance become a real-life love story thrilled fans of The Vampire Diaries. They appeared to be the ideal Hollywood couple, what with their mutual love for animals, frequent appearances on the red carpet, and apparent chemistry. However, they unexpectedly ended their relationship in May 2013. Lots of guesswork ensued after Somerhalder tweeted something vague like “People change and forget to tell each other”—a statement that set the stage for months of speculation. Did anyone behind the scenes feel any pain? Were their hectic work schedules a hindrance? On the other hand, could it have been just two people drifting apart? The Split: The Truth Behind What Occurred? Despite the sadness felt by fans, Nina and Ian have made it clear: the breakup was amicable. During an interview, Nina clarified: Nothing negative occurred, and we didn’t end things because we didn’t love or care for each other. We remain close friends, and I love him very much. What then led to the split if feelings of love and friendship weren’t at play? Several important factors were allegedly involved, according to sources. Ian was 34, and Nina was 24. They were in different life stages. Actually, Ian and actress Nikki Reed announced their engagement barely six months after they started dating. They tied the knot in 2015 and had their first child in 2017. Many viewers pondered whether Ian had waited for Nina to be ready before moving on, or if he had simply moved on because she wasn’t? “People wonder if Ian wanted to get married and have kids, while Nina didn’t feel like she was at that life stage yet.” When they broke up, Nina was only 24 years old, so this makes sense. Before tying the knot, she had a successful job, aspirations, and plenty of time to see the world. The couple handled their split like pros, in contrast to many Hollywood exes who allow their private lives to get in the way of their careers. There was absolutely no tension on set, according to Claire Holt, who played Rebekah Mikaelson on The Vampire Diaries: “They were very professional the whole time. Kudos to them because it never became weird. They were really good at handling that. This was quite a challenge for the two actors portraying the romantic interests on screen. After breaking up, many thought their onscreen chemistry would fade, but they kept pulling off romantic scenes with ease. Have They Disappeared? Moving On From a Breakup The two have since found success in other areas of their lives, whether it be professionally or personally, despite the fact that their romance didn’t endure. After marrying Nikki Reed in 2015, Ian Somerhalder continued to have a happy family with her. Nina is in a long-term relationship with Olympic gold medalist Shaun White. 5. Did their breakup affect The Vampire Diaries? No. Despite their split, Nina and Ian remained professional and continued acting as love interests on the show.

Fans of “The Vampire Diaries” were captivated by its story, but it was the romances on and off the show that kept them coming back. The relationship of Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder had a hold on the fans, especially after seeing them win a People’s Choice Award in 2014 for Favorite On-Screen Chemistry. Unfortunately all good things must come to an end, and their romance fizzled out for unknown reasons. Sources say Dobrev “wanted to experience other things,” but she continues to remain friends with Somerhalder. Nina and Ian’s maturity has pushed them to move on and find new love. Ian’s marriage to “Twilight'' star Nikki Reed, a friend of Nina, raised questions from fans wondering if Nikki and Nina are still friends. While Nina didn’t attend Ian and Nikki’s wedding due to it being "too awkward," Nina claims, “Why can’t everyone be friends? I think they have a beautiful baby, and they are happy and so am I.” Nina has been officially dating snowboarder Shaun White since 2020. Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder had immediate chemistry, making fans wonder about their relationship off The Vampire Diaries.