Turns out, that smoldering Stefan-and-Elena chemistry wasn’t so effortless after all — at least not in the beginning. Paul Wesley just revealed that he and Nina Dobrev actually clashed hard in the early days of The Vampire Diaries.
Paul Wesley says the well-known on-screen chemistry with Nina Dobrev came despite a rocky start behind the scenes. Speaking on the Podcrushed podcast, Wesley admitted the pair “notoriously butted heads” during the show’s early months.
Wesley explained the tension came from both of them taking the roles extremely seriously. “I felt an immense amount of pressure,” he said, and added that his own intensity left little room for playfulness. The clash wasn’t personal so much as creative: Wesley preferred spontaneity in scenes, while Dobrev liked to plan technical details in advance — and that difference led to frequent disagreements.
The friction occasionally boiled over: Wesley recalled one on-set argument that forced a half-hour break so everyone could cool off. Over time, though, he says things changed. As he adjusted to fame and relaxed into his role, the pair’s relationship evolved into a genuine friendship. Wesley noted they’re now on good terms and even considering future projects together.
(Additional behind-the-scenes Vampire Diaries trivia and casting notes follow in the original piece.)
