Ian Somerhalder Declares Paul Wesley as His Ultimate 'Vampire Diaries' Partner
Former Vampire Diaries star Ian Somerhalder playfully refers to his ex-costar and business partner Paul Wesley as his longest relationship
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The Vampire Diaries alums Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder may no longer play brothers on TV — but their love for each other is everlasting.
In a December 1 interview with Extra, Wesley, 41, expressed his deep attachment to his former co-star. "Our TV show may have ended, but my connection with you is built on love. It’s eternal," he said. The two actors, who portrayed vampire brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore on the popular CW series from 2009 to 2017, have since collaborated on their liquor brand, Brothers Bourbon, which debuted in 2021.
Ever since season 2 of [The Vampire Diaries], this is something we've been wanting to do," Somerhalder revealed to Extra about the brand. "We were just kids at the time. So, it's really meaningful that we now have the opportunity to do this together. It's a dream come true. It's no small feat, but it's our dream."
Somerhalder went on to say that he and his partner collaborate as a "team" and consider themselves a "family" in running the business, making the entire process "incredibly special" for both of them.
"This is my longest relationship," Somerhalder joked about their partnership, to which Wesley responded, "That's true."
Wesley pointed out that the two of them are opposites who "complement" each other in real life, just like their TVD characters did on screen. "Our characters were very yin and yang on the show, and in real life, we're very yin and yang as well," he explained. "I'm kind of the eternal pessimist and he's the eternal optimist."
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In TVD, these roles tended to be reversed. With both vying for the affection of the same girl (Nina Dobrev), Wesley’s Stefan was frequently portrayed as the optimistic hero, while Damon took on the role of the brooding, sardonic anti-hero of the show.
Somerhalder explained that both on and off screen, the pair "balance each other." Wesley, on the other hand, described their dynamic as oil and vinegar, likening it to something you "put on a salad and it tastes delicious."
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Even though they have an unbreakable bond, Somerhalder humorously mentioned to Extra that he and Wesley try to maintain separate lives. Somerhalder got married to his wife Nikki Reed in 2015 and the couple have a daughter Bodhi, who is 6, and a son who is 4 months old. On the other hand, Wesley has been in a relationship with Natalie Kuckenberg since November 2022.
“Full disclosure, we don’t live together,” Somerhalder quipped. “But we basically do.”
