Overview

• Samantha Highfill’s I Was Feeling Epic, released Sept. 9, compiles on-the-record recollections from Nina Dobrev, Julie Plec, Ian Somerhalder and casting directors.
• Dobrev says she, Candice King and Kat Graham were the lowest-paid regulars early on, and despite raises she never matched Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder during her series-regular tenure.
• Co-creator Julie Plec recounts the studio instructing writers not to include Dobrev’s Katherine because dual-role pay increased costs, constraining story options.
• Dobrev describes initially declining a series-finale offer that was five times lower than her prior pay, then returning for one episode only after Plec intervened and she secured parity for that appearance.
• Somerhalder criticizes parts of the fandom as “a toxic cancer to society,” and casting notes reveal near-misses involving Jason Momoa, Joe Manganiello, Sebastian Stan and Pedro Pascal.