Nina Dobrev has told how fans were in uproar when she was cast in The Vampire Diaries – because of her hair colour.

The actress plays lead character Elena in the TV series, who was blonde in the books the show is based on, and said fans were “frustrated” to see a brunette in the role.

She said: “I couldn’t go online because everyone was like, ‘She’s not a blonde, Elena’s a blonde’.”

Nina went on: “But we had to change it because in the books Elena was a little bit more of a Queen Bee, the popular high school girl and it just didn’t seem relatable to a lot of people. The creators just wanted to make her more of a girl-next-door, who you can root for. If you’re not rooting for the main girl, then there’s no point in watching. You need to love her, you can’t hate her.”

The Bulgarian-born Canadian actress admitted landing the part was “a long gruelling process”.

“I’m so lucky that I got it because there was a lot of competition,” she added.

The Vampire Diaries begins on February 2 on ITV 2.

Source: The Press Association

Monday’s best bets for celeb spotting. Door crash at your own risk.

TIFF’s sparkliest bash, at least by venue choice, is the Mother and Child pre-screening cocktailer at the Yonge and Bloor Swarovski gallery store. Naomi Watts, Jimmy Smits and Kerry Washington will all walk the red carpet.

The last night of ET Canada’s parking garage party series serves up double the schmooze with Julie Christie and Brit thriller Glorious 39 followed by Playback magazine’s Hall of Fame fete celebrating David Cronenberg, Denys Arcand, Viggo Mortensen and Nina Dobrev.

The Berkely Church hosts Don McKellar and the rest of the cast from crime comedy Leslie My Name is Evil while Canadian film distributor Maple Pictures takes over Victor at Hotel Le Germain for its swanky event.

Source: Now Toronoto

Nina Dobrev, Vampire Diaries
She had a bit part in last seasons’ Eleventh Hour, but Canadian fans may know her best as Mia from Degrassi: The Next Generation. She’s sure to garner some stateside attention on the CW’s Vampire Diaries, on which she plays the object of two bloodsucking brothers’ affection.

Source: TV Guide