Nina Dobrev Biography

Nina Dobrev is a Canadian actress best known for starring as Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce in the CW’s The Vampire Diaries from 2009 to 2015. She debuted on-screen while playing small roles in several films before she played Mia Jones in Degrassi: The Next Generation from 2006 to 2009. Her biggest commercial success came in 2017 when she starred in XXX: Return of Xander Cage.

Nina Dobrev Age

Dobrev was born Nikolina Kamenova Dobreva on January 9, 1989, in Sofia, Bulgaria. She is 35 years old as of 2024. Dobrev celebrates her birthday on January 9th.

Nina Dobrev Height

Dobrev stands at an approximate height of 5 feet and 7 inches.

Nina Dobrev Family

Dobrev was born to Kamen Dobrev and Michaela Radeva Dobreva in Sofia, Bulgaria. Kamen worked as a computer specialist while Michaela worked as an artist. She grew up in Scarborough, Toronto alongside her older brother, Alexander Konstantinov. Her family moved to Canada when she was 2 years old. When she was 10, she returned to Bulgaria for 2 years.

Nina Dobrev Relationships/Shaun White

Dobrev is engaged to Shaun White. She shared news of their engagement in October 2024. They began dating in 2020. Shaun is a retired American professional snowboarder, skateboarder, and three-time Olympic gold medalist. Dobrev is fluent in English and Bulgarian and can converse in French.

While filming The Vampire Diaries, she lived in Atlanta but relocated to Los Angeles in 2015 after leaving the series. Before Shaun, she was in a relationship with American actor and The Vampire Diaries co-star Ian Somerhalder.

Nina Dobrev Net Worth

Dobrev has an estimated net worth ranging between $10 Million – $20 Million which she has earned through being an actress.

Nina Dobrev Ethnicity and Nationality

Dobrev is a dual citizen of Bulgaria and Canada. She has Bulgarian roots.

Nina Dobrev The Vampire Diaries

Dobrev is best known for starring as Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce in the CW’s The Vampire Diaries from 2009 to 2015. Elena is a high school student embroiled in a love triangle with two vampire brothers, Stefan Salvatore(Paul Wesley) and Damon Salvatore(Ian Somerhalder). While dealing with the loss of her parents in a tragic car accident, she is drawn into the supernatural world of vampires, witches, and other mystical beings in the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia.

Dobrev often starred as Katherine Pierce, a 500-year-old doppelgänger vampire. In the show’s 5th season, she starred as Amara, the Petrova doppelgänger progenitor and the world’s first immortal. She crossed over to The Originals where she portrayed doppelgänger Tatia in 2014. In April of the following year, she shared that she would The Vampire Diaries after playing Elena for 6 seasons. A January 2017 announcement revealed that Dobrev would recur the role of Elena and Katherine in The Vampire Diaries series finale.

Her performance in the series, Dobrev won two Teen Choice Awards for Choice TV Actress – Fantasy/Sci-Fi and Choice TV Breakout Star – Female and two Young Hollywood Awards for Cast to Watch(alongside Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder) and Making Their Mark in 2010. The following year, she won a Teen Choice Choice TV Actress – Fantasy/Sci-Fi Award and two nominations for the award in the categories Choice Hottie – Female and Choice Vampire. Additionally, she won the People’s Choice Favorite TV Drama Actress Award.

Dobrev won nominations for People’s Choice Awards in the category Favorite TV Drama Actress in 2013 and Favorite Dramatic TV Actress in 2014. Additionally, she won a Teen Choice Choice TV Actress – Fantasy/Sci-Fi Award, MTV Fandom Ship of the Year (with Ian Somerhalder) Award, and People’s Choice Favorite On-Screen Chemistry (with Ian Somerhalder) Award.

Nina Dobrev XXX: Return of Xander Cage

In 2017, Dobrev portrayed weapons specialist Becky Clearidge in XXX: Return of Xander Cage. A weapons specialist, Becky is a crucial member of Xander Cage’s team, a team brought together to reclaim a dangerous device known as “Pandora’s Box.” Her performance in the film won her a Teen Choice Choice Movie Actress: Action Award.

Nina Dobrev Education

Dobrev studied at Vradenburg Junior Public School before joining J. B. Tyrrell Sr. Public School. While in senior school, she began ballet and jazz classes and competed in rhythmic gymnastics. Moreover, she took acting classes at Armstrong Acting Studios in Toronto.

Dobrev underwent the arts program at Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts in Scarborough. She later joined Toronto Metropolitan University(then known as  Ryerson University) in Toronto. There, she majored in Sociology but didn’t graduate due to her acting career.

Nina Dobrev Career

Dobrev secured her first big role in 2006, starring as Mia Jones in Degrassi: The Next Generation for 3 seasons. Next, she starred in multiple films in the mid-2000s including Fugitive Pieces, Away from Her,  Never Cry Werewolf,  The American Mall, and two Lifetime original movies. In 2009, she left her role as Mia to join the cast of the CW’s The Vampire Diaries as the lead role of Elena Gilbert. Additionally, she often starred as Katherine Pierce, a 500-year-old doppelgänger vampire. In the show’s 5th season, she starred as Amara, the Petrova doppelgänger progenitor and the world’s first immortal.

In April 2011, Dobrev joined the cast of The Perks of Being a Wallflower as Candace Kelmeckis. She crossed over to The Originals where she portrayed doppelgänger Tatia in 2014. In April of the following year, she shared that she would The Vampire Diaries after playing Elena for 6 seasons. She starred in FOX’s Let’s Be Cops in August 2014. In 2015, she starred as Vicki Summers in The Final Girls, flight attendant Izzy in Arrivals(later retitled Departures), and Crash Pad.

A January 2017 announcement revealed that Dobrev would recur the role of Elena and Katherine in The Vampire Diaries series finale. That same year, she portrayed weapons specialist Becky Clearidge in XXX: Return of Xander Cage. Moreover, she starred as Marlo in the remake of Flatliners. Further, she played a small role in Chloe and The Roommate.

In March 2018, Dobrev joined the cast of CBS’ Fam as Clem. The following year, she portrayed Chloe in Lucky Day. Moreover, she joined the cast of Run This Town, a film that was released in March 2020. A July 2020 announcement revealed that she would be an executive producer for a TV adaptation of the Woman 99 book series. Besides acting, she has invested in several beverage companies. Further, she is a co-owner a wine brand, Fresh Vine Wine, with dancer Julianne Hough.

Activism and Charity work

Dobrev is a supporter of several charitable causes including Puma’s 2011 non-profit Project Pink which endorses many breast cancer charities and Hunger Bites, an organization dedicated to decreasing hunger in 27 districts across Pennsylvania. Further, she has been involved with the Elton John AIDS Foundation

Dobrev has been acknowledged for her long-term participation in the WE movement, a Canadian-based charity that warrants youth as agents of change. Alongside the Me to We, she went on a volunteer trip to Kenya to help build a school. She was the host of he 2011 We Day event in Toronto and appeared on stage at the 2019 WE Day California.

Nina Dobrev Movies and TV Shows

Dobrev has starred in several movies and TV shows during her career such as

• Repo! The Genetic Opera
• Playing House
• Too Young to Marry
• The American Mall
• Merry Madagascar
• How She Move
• Robot Chicken
• Workaholics
• Dog Days
• Run This Town
• Fin
• Love Hard
• Redeeming Love
• The Out-Laws
• Sick Girl
• The Bricklayer
• Reunion