When he’s not sucking blood and romancing teenagers on “The Vampire Diaries,” TV star Ian Somerhalder is working tirelessly to protect and rehabilitate ecosystems worldwide. Having established the Ian Somerhalder Foundation to inspire and support projects in the arenas of habitat conservation, green energy, and animal welfare, Somerhalder carves out time to personally address issues close to his heart.
After a late night of shooting “The Vampire Diaries” on Wednesday, Somerhalder hopped a plane to Washington, D.C., to testify before congress. Speaking up for the Multinational Species Coalition, Somerhalder spoke out in the hopes the funds would be reallocated to international conservation programs that would protect tigers, elephants, and other endangered species across Africa and Asia.
Find a full transcript of his testimony, as well as video, below. If you’re inclined, you can use this helpful link to support Somerhalder’s quest by writing your state representative and asking him or her to reauthorize the Multinational Species Conservation Funds.
“Good morning Chairman Fleming, Ranking Member Sablan, and Members of the Subcommittee. I am Ian Somerhalder, an actor and founder of the Ian Somerhalder Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering, educating, and collaborating with people to help them positively impact the planet and its creatures. I am also a global Ambassador for the Alliance for Global Conservation.
“I appreciate this opportunity to testify before you today on H.R. 50, the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Reauthorization Act. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Subcommittee, especially Chairman Fleming–who represents my home state of Louisiana–for the invitation to join you today.
“Wildlife and environmental conservation has always been not just a passion, but a priority of mine. When I began to find that through my work as an actor, I was gaining an increasingly prominent platform in front of the American public, I knew right away what I wanted to do with it. The IS Foundation is my attempt to use this opportunity, this share of the public’s attention, for the greater good.
“The IS Foundation, which now has dozens of affiliate groups around the world from as far off as India and Algeria, focuses its work around 3 themes: habitat conservation, species protection, and clean energy initiatives. Our goal is to support a range of projects, from more established, mature global initiatives like the Alliance for Global Conservation, to smaller, grassroots efforts initiated by individuals in the Gulf and other local communities. The hope is that we can demonstrate ways for everyone to contribute, on any scale. We want to start conversations on these issues and allow them to grow and evolve naturally. When a particular issue gathers enough interest and momentum, we’ll lend the resources needed to transform it from a conversation into a project, and hopefully, eventually, from a project to real progress.
“In talking to people, and especially young people, all over the country, I have found time and time again that the issue of species conservation is a particularly resonant one. People are passionately attached to the creatures that have captured their attention and their imaginations since childhood, and they are invested in doing whatever is necessary to protect them. Species conservation is beyond a doubt an issue that truly matters to the American public. We’re lucky this is the case, because many of our most beloved wildlife species are clinging to survival by a thread.
“This legislation initially enacted in 1990, is viewed globally a success story. With the US leading the effort, governments around the world are able to begin investing in their ecosystems. From the Congo to Southern Sudan we are finding that species conservation is paying off in terms of both the environment and local government action.
“As Congress considers H.R. 50, I thought it would be useful to share my thoughts on the species that benefit from the US Fish and Wildlife Service leadership on conservation.
“Tigers: Wild tigers are one such example–an amazing species under terrible threat by poachers and the gradual degradation of their habitat and prey base. According to big cat experts, only around 3,000 tigers exist in the wild today, and experts estimate that more than 500 tigers are killed each year. To make matters worse, the actual breeding population may be closer to a mere 1,000. Tigers are magnificent creatures: big, powerful, and charismatic. Unfortunately, these same qualities make them popular targets–the tiger’s beautiful orange pelt commands a high price on the global black market, as do tiger body parts. Their organs and bones are used in Asian medicines, which are sold to consumers who believe these animal products convey strength, health and virility.
“Rhinoceroses: Rhinos, too, hover on the brink of extinction. Between 1970 and 1992, rhino populations declined by 96%, and fewer than 2,400 black and white rhinos survived in the wild. Conservation biologists tell me that today only 300 Sumatran rhinos remain. The low number of survivors is exacerbated by the fact that many rhinos live in small, fragmented populations, which may not be viable due to lack of breeding opportunities and risk of random events or disease. Rhino horns are carved for dagger handles as a coveted status symbol in the Middle East, and body parts and bones are sold on the black market as medicinal ingredients. The illegal trade in animal parts is a profitable business, and the demand for these products creates an ongoing temptation for poachers. Rhinos, and tigers too, also fall inadvertent victim to poachers’ snares, set to trap other animals for bushmeat or trophies.
“African Elephants: African elephants are another species in terrible trouble. In the last century, rampant ivory poaching and habitat loss caused their numbers to drop from over ten million animals in 1900 to fewer than 500,000 by the late 1980s. Uncontrolled hunting and continued loss of habitat still threaten the African elephant today. In addition to the ivory and bushmeat trades, the loss of natural elephant habitat poses a major problem due to the resulting conflict between elephants and humans throughout Africa. As human populations grow and expand into remote areas, natural habitat is cleared and destroyed to make way for agriculture. Elephant populations are compressed into smaller ranges with limited food and water supplies. Hungry elephants wander into villages and damage crops. People often kill elephants in an attempt to stop the crop raids, and people themselves are also sometimes killed trying to fend off desperate elephants.
“Asian elephants: Like their relatives, Asian elephants are also struggling to survive. In the United States, Asian elephants are best known as familiar circus attractions. Yet throughout their homeland, captive elephants are primarily beasts of burden. An estimated 16,000 Asian elephants are presently tamed and used for timber harvest, clearing forests, and agricultural development. Ironically, it is the destruction of forests, the advancement of agriculture, and the encroachment of human civilization that pose the greatest threats to the survival of Asia’s wild elephants. Asian elephant populations have continued to decline due to loss of grazing areas and poaching driven by the ivory trade, and are listed as endangered on the Endangered Species Act.
“Marine Turtles: Six of the seven marine turtle species are listed as threatened or endangered by the World Conservation Union and under the US Endangered Species Act. Because marine turtles require 10-40 years to reach sexual maturity and are vulnerable to predation, oil spills, and as by-catch, restoring their numbers is a lengthy and delicate task. Marine turtles are truly the ancient mariners of the world’s oceans, with ancestors dating back over 100 million years. While all species require tropical, subtropical, or temperate oceanic beaches for nesting, each has specific marine habitat and feeding requirements. I was fortunate earlier this summer to travel to Trinidad and Tobago and watch leatherback turtles emerge from the sea under cover of darkness to lay their eggs and bury them in the sand. It was even more gratifying to see the hatchlings dig their way out of their sandy nest and instinctively find their way to the ocean… still unfortunately facing an uncertain future.
“Great Apes, such as gorillas and chimpanzees: Apes, by their nature, are extremely vulnerable. They have low population densities, grow relatively slowly, are long-lived, and have low reproductive rates and complex social relationships. Today, all the world’s great ape species are threatened with extinction. Apes are susceptible to many of the same diseases as humans. As growing human populations penetrate further into ape habitat, the potential for disease transmission between apes and people, and vice versa, is increasing. As a result, the bushmeat trade poses a serious health risk for humans. Threats facing gorillas and chimpanzees include the loss, fragmentation and degradation of their habitat, as well as hunting for food, medicine and sport. Even with strong recovery programs, the chimpanzee population is 80% lower than 50 years ago, and it continues to drop.
“Looking around the world at these wildlife, it’s abundantly clear that humans have benefited from nature in so many ways but have also brought many species to the brink of extinction. Scientists warn us that we are on the cusp of the largest mass extinction spasm since the dinosaurs.
“The American people that I interact with through my IS Foundation work do not want to allow this to happen; they do not want to let these species go without a fight; and they see the way in which nature provides for people around the world. This is an issue that Americans care deeply about, and it is critical that the United States, as a world leader and global power, continue to lead the planet’s efforts in global species conservation.
“Due to instability or indifference in the areas that many of these species call home, for most of them we are the first, last, and only hope for survival. As the ones with the power to make a difference, the responsibility rests with us. It is imperative that we live up to it.
“On behalf of the Ian Somerhalder Foundation and the Alliance for Global Conservation, I urge the Subcommittee to mark-up H.R. 50 and move to reauthorize this important piece of legislation.”
When “The Vampire Diaries” returns on September 15, it’s Elena’s 18th birthday… and we’re sure that her birthday party won’t end without some serious supernatural hijinks. From the looks of it, though, it seems there will be a healthy dose of good old fashioned teenage angst as well.
Though it’s been reported that Atlanta actress Lilly Roberson was cast as Becky, a former flame of Stefan’s, sources confirm to Zap2it that Becky is still in the casting stages. Roberson, who previously had a guest role on “Without a Trace,” is actually playing Sofie, Tyler’s (Michael Trevino) date to the birthday bash.
Don’t worry, though. This new love interest isn’t likely to make quite the lasting impression on our favorite werewolf that Caroline (Candice Accola) did. While Tyler and Caroline are currently in the friend zone, the potential romance that was built up in Season 2 is definitely going to surface again as they battle with the fact that they’re members of two warring species.
With hundreds of thousands of people attending San Diego Comic-Con every year and the July 20-24 event quickly approaching, The Hollywood Reporter chatted with the big names in television to discuss their favorite memories and tips for attending the annual event. THR’s Live Feed will talk Comic-Con with actors, writers and producers in the days leading up to the event so check back soon for interviews and the latest news on panels and screenings.
Nina Dobrev
Geek Cred: The Vampire Diaries”
Comic-Con panel:Saturday, July 23, 3:30-4:15, Ballroom 20THR: What stands out about your Comic-Con experiences?
Dobrev: I’ve attended twice, both times for The Vampire Diaries and both have been completely different. We shoot Monday through Friday. Both years, we had to fly in on Saturday morning from Atlanta and leave on Sunday afternoon. You always meet people you admire. Last year with Tron I met Jeff Bridges and Olivia Wilde. The year before, I I met Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. I admire them and they inspire me to do what I do.THR: What’s the best thing a fan has said to you at Comic-Con?
Dobrev: Last year one of my fans told me that I inspired them to follow their own dreams. It truly touched me.Comic-Con 2011: Full THR Coverage
THR: What makes for a successful panel?
Dobrev: Stay confident and collected. Remember it’s just a conversation and have fun. People are walking around in monster costumes, so lighten up. It can be intimidating, but at the end of the day the fans are there because they want to be and they want to hear what you have to say.THR: What questions would you recommend fans not ask at panels?
Dobrev: Asking a general question for everyone on the panel is not the best idea because it takes up a lot of time. Be specific in the question you ask and who you ask it to.THR: What panel would you stand in line all day for?
Dobrev: Lord of the Rings. My friend and I would skip school on Fridays and pretend to be sick and we went to see all the Lord of the Rings. That and Wilfred; Elijah Wood is hilarious and it’s a really cool choice for him to do a comedy.Comic-Con 2011: Kevin Williamson on John Carpenter, ‘True Blood’ and How ‘Dark Shadows’ Influenced ‘The Vampire Diaries (Q&A)
THR: Who would be on your dream panel?
Dobrev: I’d love to hear what confident, intelligent women in the industry have to say: Rachel McAdams, Carey Mulligan, Angelina Jolie, Kristen Wiig and Tina Fey. I would stand in line all day for that panel.THR: What tips do you have for Comic-Con first-timers?
Dobrev: Be open-minded and be prepared to have your mind blown because you’re about to go on this crazy adventure that’s like walking in Times Square on New Year’s.THR: How will the originals impact everyone next season on The Vampire Diaries?
Dobrev: The originals have come in and now that stuff has gone to the dark side. The whole chemistry of the show is shifting and it’s going be changing the relationships between people who previously bonded. Now that Jenna is gone and Alaric is single and that Elena and Jeremy don’t have parental figures, if you will, it will be interesting to see who rises to the occasion. Everything has shifted, and everything is off-balance, so everyone is going to have to compensate in different ways.
The Elena-Stefan-Damon triangle isn’t the only epic love story on The Vampire Diaries. Executive producer Kevin Williamson tells EW the renewed friendship between Caroline and Tyler is “building to be a fun, romantic Romeo and Juliet” in season 3, which premieres Sept. 15 on The CW. “We now have a mother who knows her daughter’s a vampire, and we might soon have a mayor who figures out that her son is a werewolf,” Williamson says. “When that happens, it’s certainly building itself to a family feud. That’s the fun Mystic Falls storyline that’s underplaying throughout the entire season.” Adds EP Julie Plec, “When their mothers find out the truth about each of them, they’re gonna have a say in whether the two of them should be together. There’s always going to be push and pull in their friendship as it travels down a romantic road. There’s gonna be people who don’t want them together, including themselves. It’s that forbidden love: we can’t quite stay away from each other, and yet, we shouldn’t be together. And the question will be at what point will they act on that and how will that go?”
Plec wouldn’t tease when Caroline and Tyler, whose werewolf bite is fatal to a vampire, might make it official. But she did answer another burning question only I had?: Was Tyler still naked under that blanket when he woke up on the couch after the full moon in the sacrifice episode, thanked Caroline for taking care of him, and comforted her following her breakup with Matt? “As a matter of fact, let’s see, I’m gonna go with why not? Sure. Yes,” Plec laughs. We approve, we tell her: The intimate, but non-sexual gesture of him inviting her under the blanket underscored the fact that their friendship isn’t just about teenage hormones. It’s deeper. “They’ve been through a lot,” Plec says. “She’s seen it all. He turned into a wolf in front of her. Once you’ve been through a war together, all the initial phases of ‘Oh, I saw his penis’ [laughs] become less relevant as far as the evolution of their relationship.”
Dodging the Super 8 creature — and while under the influence! — may soon seem like a walk in the park for David Gallagher, who has nabbed a Vampire Diaries role with some real… teeth… to it.
Ask Ausiello: Spoilers on Vampire Diaries, Nikita, 90210 and More!
Best known by TV fans for his run as 7th Heaven‘s Simon, Gallagher will appear on the first two episodes of the CW hit’s new season, TVLine has learned. Playing werewolf Ray Sutton, he will have a grim run-in (a howlingly bad time?) with Klaus in Tennessee.
Vampire Diaries Dish: New Season Opens with a Big Event
Though this does mark a homecoming on The CW for Gallagher, I am told that it was actually his scene-stealing work in the summer crowd-pleaser Super 8 that caught the eye of the Vampire bosses.
Matt’s Inside Line: Scoop on Vampire Diaries‘ Bad, Bad Stefan
The Vampire Diaries stakes out its new season starting Thursday, Sept. 15, at 8/7c.
Vampire Diaries fans, mark your calendars for September 15. That’s The CW drama’s third-season premiere — and a special day for Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev). “Our first episode is Elena’s 18th birthday,” spills exec producer Julie Plec. What’s in store for the birthday girl?
“There will be a small time jump [from where last season ended] as we celebrate Elena’s birthday,” says Plec. “But as is the pattern in Mystic Falls, the event never reaches its climax.” Elena will now be a senior in high school, but don’t bank on a season-ending graduation.
Now that she’s 18, “Elena and Jeremy technically don’t need a parent living in their house [following Aunt Jenna's death],” says Plec. “She will be taking care of herself.”
On the romantic front, might the show now capitalize on the real-life romance of Nina and Ian Somerhalder (Damon) and have their characters hook up? While Plec stresses she would never exploit her actors’ personal lives, she hints that “over the course of the season, Elena will be struggling with a deep, deep attraction toward Damon. That’s going to be a big problem for her.” As will Rebecca, a yet-to-be-cast vampire from Stefan’s “darkest ripper days who loves that Stefan’s back to his bad behavior.” She’s not the only one.
When Jeremy (Steve R. McQueen) was suddenly able to see his dead exes, Vicki and Anna — after witch girlfriend Bonnie resurrected him in the season 2 finale of The Vampire Diaries – was crowned the Single Most Clever Twist by readers in EW.com’s annual Season Finale Awards. So where do we go from here? “When we come back to see him at the beginning of the season, we’ll see that he still hasn’t had any success figuring out what it is that they want, or understanding even what it is that they are,” exec producer Julie Plec tells EW. “We’ll see that maybe he’s been keeping this a secret, that nobody else is aware of what he’s been going through, and that his behavior has changed quite a bit and people are starting to wonder if he’s perhaps getting back into some old bad habits. When in reality, he’s just trying to figure out why the hell he’s being haunted by his dead girlfriends.”
The mystery will continue for a handful of episodes; then we’ll get some answers in an hour that EP Kevin Williamson describes as “the climax of the haunting of Jeremy” in October. “Are they there for good? Are they there for bad? It will once again be another twisty story,” he says. “It’s gonna take a lot of turns and also involves some unlikely participants.”
Plec continues the tease. “We’re gonna have some fun with Vicki and Anna and start to really reveal the secrets of why they’re here, what they want, and who else they have access to from our past,” she says. So we may be seeing more of the show’s dearly departed? Fingers crossed. “That’s the most beautiful part of our show,” Plec says, “just because somebody faces their demise in our world, doesn’t mean we’ll never get to see them again.”
As for what Jeremy’s situation means for Bonnie, we’ll get to see her dealing with a new kind of drama. “Because of her love for Jeremy and bringing him back to life, she’s given him access to two people who were very important to him romantically and emotionally. So for the first time, we’ll get to see Bonnie trying to navigate the difficulties of a relationship,” Plec says. “It’s not about being a witch or having access to the power of a 100 witches, it’s about being a girl who loves a boy whose heart is a little bit torn in different directions. I think it will be nice for us to see Bonnie explore some good relationship stuff for a change instead of just being the witch on duty.”
Now that Vicki Donovan (Kayla Ewell) and Anna (Malese Jow) are suddenly back from the dead on The Vampire Diaries, who knows where show creators Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec will take things? Well, Kayla Ewell might have a few ideas. We caught up with Kayla over the phone while she was vacationing with her boyfriend (an actor you haven’t heard of… yet, she says) and his family in Alberta, Canada. In her exclusive Wetpaint interview, Kayla tells us why she didn’t believe the great news at first, what catfights could be brewing in the future, and how she’d like to see the show return to its roots.
What did you think when you heard you were coming back to the show?
I was just as shocked as everyone else was. When I received the phone call, I had thought my time on The Vampire Diaries had passed. It was April Fools’ Day and I literally thought it was a joke. I really thought my managers and agents were playing a cruel joke on me and they thought it would be really funny to trick me. It took me a whole day — at the very end of April Fools’ Day my manager was like, “Okay, you know what? You really need to listen to us and get over the fact that you think this is a joke because we need to talk contracts.” I was just like, “Oh my gosh! Wow, this is actually real!” Then I was so excited and jumping up and down.How did everyone manage to keep such a big secret?
I got a call from Candice Accola (Caroline Forbes) the next morning at like six because the first version of the script came out without Malese and I in it, on purpose so that no one would know. So Malese and I were already committed to it and knew what was happening but it was so secretive that they kept it from the cast in the very beginning. I’m so grateful that they thought it was such a big deal to keep it a secret. And Kevin and Julie planned stories with us in case anyone had seen us in Atlanta, what we would say and stuff like that. That’s how devoted and loyal they are to their fans. They really wanted it to be a complete surprise. I’m happy to say I think we did a really good job with that, because I don’t think anyone knew.I didn’t even tell my brother and sister because they’re both in college and they have Twitter and Facebook. And with one slip-up it could get out there, and I didn’t want Warner Brothers to be upset. So we did a good job keeping the secret and it’s just going to be so much fun to go back and be with my friends and be a part of a show that I was with since Day One. It will be nice to be part of the family again.
Who do you think Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) should be with: Vicki, Anna, or Bonnie (Katerina Graham)?
Well, I’m obviously Team Vicki because I am Vicki. But I do think Jeremy has his work cut out for him because he has three lovely, beautiful ladies and each kind of gives him something different. It depends where they’re going to go with it and what Jeremy’s going to need.What can you tell us about your role in Season 3? Do you know how many episodes you’ll be in?
Actually, they’ve verbally said seven, and then they’ve said ten, and then they’ve said three, and then they’ve said… so I really actually have no idea. I’m not sure if they really know either. We’re just going to have to see. I really think it depends on the fans and how much they enjoy it. So hopefully we get really great people who want to write in and talk about it.What’s your theory on Vicki’s return?
For me as an actress it’s an interesting job to get the script, to know that I was coming back, and to have absolutely no idea what I was — if I was a ghost, if I was an angel, if I was actually there in person? It was really interesting for me to have to come up with kind of a reason as to why I was there. I have a theory that I’m kind of keeping to myself because I want to see if it comes true or not, and we’ll have to see if it does. It was just so much fun to create a backstory, and to realize why I was there. It was interesting to go back to [the writers] and talk to them because they were like, “You know what? Actually, we don’t really know what you are yet either. So we’re going to have to come up with that.”I think what’s interesting about Vicki coming back is that it’s not just solely about Jeremy. It’s about having unfinished business with my brother, Matt (Zach Roering), and my ex-boyfriend, Tyler (Michael Trevino). There are just so many different ways to go with the story. And after my little talk with Kevin Williamson I think they’re going to do some really fascinating things. There’s going to be so many twists and turns — even just talking to him about it I had butterflies in my stomach! I was just so excited about the ideas they’ve been tossing around. So we’ll see what they come up with, but I just know that Kevin and Julie will do a fantastic job whatever they decide.
Do you think Vicki will cause problems for Jeremy and Bonnie?
Absolutely. Instead of a triangle there’s a love rectangle going on right now, and I think with Vicki, wherever she goes she stirs up trouble. I don’t even think she means to, she just does. I think Vicki and Jeremy really do love each other, and I think Jeremy really loves Bonnie too, so there’s bound to be some drama stirred up. There’s room in there for some major catfights, because if you throw in two vampires and a witch there’s bound to be trouble.You’ve mentioned that you think Vicki will be “coming back with a vengeance.” What would you like to see happen with the character this season?
I have a hard time saying what I want to see, because what I really want to see is what they write. Kevin and Julie come up with things that I as the character can’t even fathom in the very beginning, so whatever they chose to do is going to be so much more fascinating than anything I can actually tell you right now. All I would like to do is stir up trouble and have some fun, and really bring the storyline back to the beginning, back to what it was in the very beginning of the show.Do you think Matt will be reunited with his sister?
I do. Matt has gone through the death of his sister — you know, quote-unquote — and the death of his mother. I don’t know if she died or if she left, but so many people have left him. And now he just realized that there are vampires that exist, so I definitely think there’s room to explore that. I’ve heard that Zach is going to have a much bigger storyline this season, which is great, and I do believe that Vicki is big part of it, but I as the actor don’t even know what to expect. I have no idea what’s in store and that’s how it’s been since the very beginning.What are you most excited for when you return to the TVD set and Atlanta this summer?
Everything. The people are so wonderful. They have such Southern charm about them and everyone is just so wonderful and nice. And then throw in grits and all the good southern food! The city itself is so beautiful and it’s nice to escape L.A. and be able to go a new city and meet new people. I love the rain and it rains all the time. Shooting in a city that is not L.A. or New York, no one really cares who we are. I think that really helps to keep the whole cast really grounded. To be in that little bubble and just be happy and working, it’s really wonderful.Like I said, I’ve been there since the pilot, and I’ve developed such strong friendships with so many of those people. I would go to Atlanta and visit the girls even when I wasn’t working, so to be able to come back and work with my girlfriends again will be so wonderful. I really feel like we’re part of a special little family.
Before Malese Jow jetted off to Nimes, France for the Mystic Love Convention — where she’ll meet up with Ian Somerhalder, Nina Dobrev, Michael Trevino, and Candice Accola — the busy actress took a few minutes out of her packing session to talk to Wetpaint.
Malese was super sweet and answered all our questions about what’s going down in Mystic Falls now that Anna and Vicki (Kayla Ewell) have returned, what other characters she wants to bring back from the dead, and what it’s like to kiss Steven R. McQueen. Here’s a hint: Her answer has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that she called him a puppy dog.
Wetpaint: You’re about to leave for Nimes, France.
Malese Jow: I am, yeah, with some of the cast. It’s going to be really fun. I can’t wait to see that part of the world. It’s so crazy that people know who I am and know the show. I mean, you’re just kinda in a little bubble when you’re here in America. But I mean, it really is all over the world. And there are some fanatics that I can’t wait to meet.
Are you staying in Nimes or traveling around?
I think I’m just gonna be there through the weekend. I’m going a little bit early just to get used to the time change because I’ve never experienced anything like that before. It’s gonna be some major jetlag. But I’m going to be there throughout the weekend. The itinerary is jam packed with meet and greets and autograph signings and Q and As, so I mean, it’s gonna be pretty jam packed but it’s gonna be the good kind. I mean, I get to meet everyone and it’s gonna be good.
What are you looking forward to most?
Just being in that part of the world and meeting all those people. I mean, English isn’t their native tongue — I mean, that’s so weird to me. I mean, they see the show in French. And that’s so fascinating, and I can’t wait.
Are you dubbed over in the French version of the show?
I mean, I’m guessing so. I’ve seen some clips on YouTube of Jeremy/Anna scenes in German. So, I’m guessing that it’s dubbed in French, which is crazy. The voices don’t sound anything like us. But, I mean, the material on the show is all that matters.
That must be a strange experience…
Yeah! It’s really weird. I mean, I think that my voice, the one that I heard, she sounded very womanly, and I was like, whoa, look at me.
So, what’s in your suitcase?
Some essentials, you know, packing heels, and the dressy stuff. I mean, I’m way into maxi stuff. I’m packing my maxi skirt. And definitely, like, three different kinds of cameras. I’m gonna try to document everything because, you know, aside from this being a cool experience going to this convention and meeting everyone, it’s my first time, like I said, going somewhere so far away from home. So it’s very exciting for me. It’s kind of a monumental moment in my life, really …
The whole show has kinda provided me with a whole new part of my life and growing up and getting now to see parts of the world that I wouldn’t get to otherwise.
Kayla Ewell is convinced your characters are angels. Do you agree?
I’m totally down with that. I mean, I’ve heard everyone’s predictions, and, you know, I kind of have a few myself, because I haven’t heard anything definite from anyone over at The Vampire Diaries. So, right now it’s all speculation. And an angel/spirit thing would be a great facet to the show, I think.I mean, I think they definitely portrayed vampires and werewolves in a non-cheesy, very convincing way. And I think if that’s a new part of the show, that they’ll make it really creepy and really cool and incorporate it really well. So, that’ll be great. And there’s always the option we could be resurrected for real. So, I mean, I guess we’ll see what happens and to what extent we’ll be part of the show. It’s really exciting.
Do you know when you’re due back on set in Atlanta?
No, once again, I have no idea! But that’s kind of how the show goes. It’s very last minute, on the fly. You just have to be ready for anything. For the first season, when I was recurring, I would find out the day before that I would have to be on a plane the next day, getting the script. So, that’s how the show works, but it keeps you on your toes. And I think that’s why it works out so well, ‘cause you’re not in your head too much. You just kind of have to go for it.
Why do you think Anna and Vicki have returned?
Oh, my gosh. I don’t know. I try not to think about it too much because usually I am very wrong. So, I’m just letting them handle the direction of the show, and I’m not going in with too many ideas of my own. But I do hope Anna continues to be a loving character. I hope that she’s not turned to the bad side. Because, you know, that’s what she was known for. She was strong, but yet she was strong and, you know, threatening for a reason. Like, she was doing it all for love.
It’s interesting that Anna and Vicki are such different characters but both came back.
Yeah, exactly. I mean, I can’t wait to see if we’re gonna be, you know, together for the majority of everything. I’m not quite sure, because we are polar opposites. We suffered the same fate and we kinda had that relationship with Jeremy, but other than that … [Vicki] started out mortal and Anna’s hundreds of years old with history with the Salvatores and Katherine and all that stuff. So I’m really curious to see how they’re gonna do that.
It’d be great if we got some more of Pearl and Anna’s back story.
I’m really crossing my fingers for some more flashbacks because there are a lot of questions that myself and the viewers have that would be really cool to touch on as far as what is the relationship with Katherine and you know, and Damon and Stefan and my mom. There’s a lot of stuff that we didn’t get to know about Anna. But it would be really interesting to see, I feel.Along those lines, what other characters would you like to see resurrected?
Oh, my gosh, I would, actually, I would resurrect Jenna! Because that’s so sad. They kind of need that motherly, family person there with them. Or Kelly Hu. I mean, obviously. I love her as a person. Working with her was absolutely great. And I love that she was my mom. I mean, she was cool. But yeah, I definitely think that Jenna’s death was a very sad one. I can’t imagine how the feel was on set, because I can relate.
What was the mood like on set when you found out Anna was going to be killed?
Oh, my gosh. That whole week, there was just kind of this downer mood going on. And everyone was comforting me and just coming up to me individually, just telling me how great I am. Which, I’m like, thanks guys, but you know, this is a job. And, you know, you have to move on because it really is a job. And I was so thankful for them giving me such an arc on the show. I was just amazed with what Anna became. But yeah, and to be brought back now after a lot of people have died. The fact that it’s Kayla and I, that’s such an honor. And I can’t wait to see where they go with it.
What happened when you got back on set? Did you have a reunion party?
Everything was so secretive about that scene. Like, whenever I got the phone call from my manager, he definitely stressed to me like, do not tell a soul. So there are like, best friends and family members that I didn’t even tell that are, you know, fans of the show. And they were so mad at me when it came out because I knew for weeks and I had to keep it a secret. So that scene was actually the last scene of the season. That’s how secretive it was.
So I barely got to see anyone. I only got to see Nina for like 2 seconds and Kat for 2 seconds and then Steven, obviously. But down to the wire they kept it very hush hush. I’m so surprised it didn’t get out but it was so worth it that it didn’t … The shock was very effective. It did what they intended it to.
So you get to kiss Steven R. McQueen. What’s that like?
[Laughs] What’s it like to kiss Steven? Oh, my gosh. Well, Steven and I, we knew each other before I came onto the show and whenever he found out that it was me and I showed up for my first day, it was like, oh, my gosh, this is so awesome. And we were just immediately just so close from then on out.
I mean, people would dread us having scenes together because it would constantly be a giggle fest and we had millions of inside jokes. So, kissing him was… it was just natural. I mean, I was so comfortable with him that it wasn’t an awkward thing. He is a good kisser, girls. Yes, I will give him that. And he’s very charming. So it’s definitely not a hard thing to interact with that face.
