Nina Dobrev Walks Away from 'The Vampire Diaries' Over Gender Pay Inequality—Despite Doubling Her Workload

At the center of 'The Vampire Diaries' for six blockbuster seasons, Nina Dobrev portrayed not only Elena Gilbert but also her fierce doppelgänger Katherine Pierce—effectively doubling her on‑screen workload. Yet behind the glamour and gripping supernatural drama lay a quiet but powerful conflict: Dobrev never achieved pay equality with her male co‑leads. 

Image Courtesy: USA Today

In the newly released, Samantha Highfill's new book 'I Was Feeling Epic: An Oral History of The Vampire Diaries,' the 36-year-old actress, revealed about how this sadly common inequity drove her decision to bow out at the height of her fame. 

Double the Roles, Half the Recognition

Nina Dobrev frequently played two or even three starring roles rather than just one. She was assigned to play Katherine Pierce and then Amara alongside Elena Gilbert, frequently alternating between the two roles in a single episode. However, the additional work was not reflected in her salary. In reference to co-stars Candice King and Kat Graham, she noted, "In the first two seasons, Candice, Kat, and I were the three lowest-paid series regulars." Even when her responsibilities rose, Dobrev's contract only listed her for the part of Elena Gilbert, leaving her uncompensated for the added workload of playing Katherine.

Image Courtesy: WhatCulture

This inequality extended deep into production. In order to avoid paying Dobrev more, the company even told authors to stop mentioning Katherine in the screenplays. Co-creator Julie Plec acknowledged, "It got extremely intense," highlighting the friction that exists behind the scenes. By the end of Season 6, Dobrev had made a tough but firm decision because of the opposition to her struggle for equal pay, despite her growing popularity and crucial role in the success of the show.

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Principle Over Paycheck: The Finale Fist-Raise

Dobrev made the difficult choice to not extend her contract by the end of Season 6; her exit was a declaration of her worth rather than a dramatic fizzle. She didn't want to continue performing in a performance where she wasn't treated with respect. The conflict reappeared when discussions for her return in the series finale started because the first offer was "five times less" than her prior salary.

Image Courtesy: Variety

Dobrev emphasized that "it wasn't about the money...it was the principle" and that she would not return until pay equity was restored. The studio eventually gave in after Julie Plec personally stepped in, allowing her to return for the finale at equal compensation, albeit for a single episode.

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