Nina Dobrev, known for her roles in The Vampire Diaries, opened up recently about her pay struggles during the show’s early seasons. In I Was Feeling Epic: An Oral History of The Vampire Diaries, she shared that she earned less than her male co-stars, Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, even though she played multiple characters.
In the beginning, Dobrev was only contracted to portray Elena Gilbert. However, she also took on the role of Katherine Pierce, which meant more work for her. “Candice [King], Kat [Graham], and I were the three lowest-paid series regulars in the first two seasons,” she said. While it was typical for actors to renegotiate their contracts starting in season three, Dobrev faced an uphill battle for equal pay.
The show’s co-creator, Julie Plec, recalled that the studio was hesitant to let them write more for Katherine because it would mean paying Dobrev more. “We literally had to say, ‘We’ll kill Katherine,’ to get permission,” she explained. Eventually, they got to include Katherine in more episodes, but it took a lot of convincing.
When Dobrev left the show after season six, it wasn’t the last we’d see of Elena. She returned for the series finale, but not without a fight over her salary. Dobrev insisted she be compensated equally to her male co-stars, who had received several raises since her exit. “I had to make sure that I was paid fairly,” she emphasized.
Initially, the studio’s offer for her return was five times less than what she earned when she left. Dobrev stood firm, saying the principle mattered more to her than the money itself. “I didn’t care about the money; I just wanted to be treated equally,” she said.
Once again, Plec defended Dobrev’s stance, saying she should have always been compensated the same as her male co-stars. After some back and forth, the studio agreed to pay her for one episode at her requested rate. Unfortunately, this meant they couldn’t bring her back for more episodes, though Dobrev felt relieved to at least be part of the finale.
This situation sheds light on pay disparities in Hollywood, especially for women. According to a recent Hollywood Reporter study, women in leading roles can earn up to 80% of what their male counterparts make. Dobrev’s story highlights the ongoing issues of wage equality in the industry, even in popular shows.
Dobrev’s experience underlines the importance of advocating for fair pay. It’s essential not just for actors but for all workers. In a world where talent and hard work should be rewarded equally, stories like Dobrev’s remind us that there is still much work to be done.
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Ian Somerhalder,Julie Plec,Nina Dobrev,Paul Wesley,The Vampire Diaries
