The Vampire Diaries is a teen drama that nailed complex relationships and the supernatural aspect of it as well. At the heart of the show was the palpable chemistry between the leads, and today we’ll learn something new about Elena Gilbert, essayed by Nina Dobrev, and Stefan Salvatore, played by Paul Wesley.
The innocent high-school girl and a brooding vampire whose soul was tortured have become a recurring trope in movies and TV shows. But what made Dobrev and Wesley stand out was the chemistry they shared, and you wouldn’t believe the unconventional audition story that marked the start of one of the most anticipated romances on television.
How Paul Wesley was different during The Vampire Diaries auditions
According to an interview with Entertainment Weekly, finding Stefan Salvatore was a challenge that almost derailed production. They were looking for someone who wasn’t just attractive but also gave the vibe of being a good soul, who was somewhat dangerous.
Surprisingly, Paul Wesley wasn’t their immediate favorite, and he had also auditioned to be Damon, Stefan’s elder brother. When Wesley returned to try his luck again, chemistry reads were arranged to find out who best suited Nina Dobrev and the process was quite grueling. Amidst all of it, the actor’s odd approach paid off and led to him being cast. Here’s what Dobrev had to say about her reading with Wesley:
Everyone else was trying to schmooze with me and flirt with me because it’s a chemistry read, and that was my first-ever chemistry read so I thought that’s what it was supposed to be as well. I was trying to get a vibe: who did I have the most s*xual tension with? And because Paul didn’t speak to me, we had the least s*xual tension.
So while other actors were trying to build their chemistry with Dobrev, Wesley kept his distance. She was even outspoken about the fact that there was no spark with him whatsoever, but then what changed, and how did Wesley’s gamble pay off?
Paul Wesley’s brilliant strategy and how it worked
Paul Wesley did not remain distant from Nina Dobrev to be rude or inconsiderate, neither was it a fluke or nervousness. The actor later explained his calculated move, and proved why he deserved the role of Stefan Salvatore the most!
I didn’t even look at her. I saw her looking at me trying to say hello and I refused to even make eye contact with her.
And it sounds a little pretentious and actor-y but the scene we were doing for the chemistry read was the first time we ever met, it was our first conversation, and I wanted her to meet me for the first time in the room during the audition so that it was real.
The casting team, who were initially unsure about Wesley, had a change of heart when they witnessed his interaction with Dobrev. They apparently passed on him 15 times, but the actor’s strategy worked, and now, it’s hard for us to imagine anyone else in the role of Stefan but Wesley.
You can watch The Vampire Diaries on HBO Max.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
