Nina Dobrev facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nina Dobrev
Dobrev in 2022
Born	Nina Kamenova Dobreva (1989-01-09) January 9, 1989 (age 36) Sofia, Bulgaria
Citizenship	Canada Bulgaria
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2006–present

Nikolina Kamenova Dobreva (born January 9, 1989), known as Nina Dobrev, is a Canadian actress. She is famous for playing Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce in the TV show The Vampire Diaries (2009–2015).

Nina was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, and grew up in Toronto, Canada. She started acting in small roles before getting her big break as Mia Jones in Degrassi: The Next Generation (2006–2009). Later, she became very well-known for The Vampire Diaries. She also appeared in movies like The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) and the action film XXX: Return of Xander Cage (2017). She has also starred in comedies and romantic movies.

Nina Dobrev's Early Life

Nina Dobrev was born on January 9, 1989, in Sofia, Bulgaria. Her father, Kamen Dobrev, is a computer specialist, and her mother, Michaela Dobreva, is an artist. Nina has an older brother. When she was two years old, her family moved to Canada. She grew up in Scarborough, Toronto. At age 10, she lived in Bulgaria with her mother for two years.

Nina went to Vradenburg Junior Public School and J. B. Tyrrell Sr. Public School. There, she began taking ballet and jazz classes. She also competed in rhythmic gymnastics. She learned acting at Armstrong Acting Studios in Toronto. Nina later attended the arts program at Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts in Scarborough.

She started studying sociology at Ryerson University in Toronto. However, she left university to focus on her acting career.

Nina Dobrev's Acting Career

Nina Dobrev at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival

Nina Dobrev's first important acting job was playing Mia on the teen drama TV show Degrassi: The Next Generation. She played this role for three seasons, starting in 2006. She also appeared in several movies in the mid-2000s. These included Fugitive Pieces (2007) and Away from Her (2007). Nina also starred in TV movies like Never Cry Werewolf (2008) and The American Mall (2008).

In 2009, Nina left Degrassi to star in The CW's supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries. This show was based on a popular book series. She played the main character, Elena Gilbert. Nina also played Katherine Pierce, a 500-year-old vampire who looked just like Elena. In season 5, she played Amara, the first immortal person. She also appeared as Tatia in an episode of The Originals, a spin-off show, in 2014.

In April 2015, Nina announced she would leave The Vampire Diaries after six seasons. She returned in January 2017 for the show's final episode.

Nina Dobrev at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con

In 2011, Nina had a small role in the movie The Roommate. In April 2011, she was cast as Candace Kelmeckis in the movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower. In August 2014, she starred in the comedy Let's Be Cops.

Nina played Vicki Summers in the 2015 horror comedy film The Final Girls. In 2015, she was also cast in the romantic comedy Crash Pad.

In 2017, Nina co-starred as Becky Clearidge in the action movie XXX: Return of Xander Cage. This movie earned a lot of money worldwide, making it Nina's most successful film. In the same year, she also played Marlo in the movie Flatliners.

Nina Dobrev at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con

In March 2018, Nina was cast as Clem in the comedy TV show Fam. The show started on January 10, 2019, but was canceled after one season. Nina also starred as Chloe in the thriller Lucky Day, released in 2019. She joined the cast of the film Run This Town, which came out in March 2020. In July 2020, it was announced that Nina would star in and help produce a TV show based on the Woman 99 book series.

Nina Dobrev's Charity Work

Nina Dobrev supports many good causes. She worked with Puma's Project Pink in 2011, which helps breast cancer charities. She also supports Hunger Bites, an organization that helps reduce hunger. Nina is also known for her long-term work with the WE movement. This Canadian charity helps young people make a difference in the world.

She went on a volunteer trip to Kenya with Me to We to help build a school. She hosted the We Day event in Toronto in 2011. She also appeared on stage at WE Day California in 2019. Nina has also been involved with the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Nina Dobrev's Personal Life

Nina Dobrev is a citizen of both Bulgaria and Canada. She speaks English and Bulgarian very well. She can also speak some French. While filming The Vampire Diaries, she lived in Atlanta. After leaving the show in 2015, she moved to Los Angeles.

Nina has invested in different drink companies. She also co-owns a wine brand called Fresh Vine Wine with dancer Julianne Hough.

From 2010 to 2013, Nina was in a relationship with actor Ian Somerhalder. He was also her co-star on The Vampire Diaries. Since 2020, she has been in a relationship with retired professional snowboarder and Olympic gold medalist Shaun White. They got engaged in 2024.

In 2025, on her birthday, Nina had to leave her Los Angeles home because of a wildfire. Her home was safe, but she felt sad for others who lost their homes.

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Music Videos

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Nina Dobrev para niños