The Untold Truth: Paul Wesley's Shocking Revelation About The Vampire Diaries - You Won't Believe What He Really Thinks!

The Vampire Diaries star, Paul Wesley, recently shared his honest thoughts about his experience on the long-running series. Wesley portrayed Stefan Salvatore, the younger brother of Damon Salvatore, played by Ian Somerhalder. Over the course of eight seasons from 2009 to 2017, Wesley appeared in all 171 episodes. Stefan's character was known for falling in love with human girl Elena Gilbert, portrayed by Nina Dobrev, and being involved in a tumultuous love triangle with her and Damon.

During a recent interview with InStyle, Wesley reflected on his time as part of the Vampire Diaries cast. He disclosed that he has no desire to revisit the role of Stefan and "would never do another vampire anything, period." Although he appreciates the role and acknowledges its popularity, Wesley feels that eight years was a significant amount of time and hopes his future roles will allow him to separate himself from the iconic character.

I would never involve myself with any vampire-related project again, especially not the Vampire Diaries. There isn't really anything I miss about portraying Stefan. I don't say this in a derogatory manner. The eight-year duration was quite lengthy, and I am incredibly relieved to move on from that chapter. Eight seasons.

I truly value Stefan's dynamic nature throughout the long run of the show. To prevent monotony, each season brought a different arc for him. He transitioned from being pure evil to starting out as the good guy and finally ending as the good guy. However, I enjoyed the challenge of keeping the character constantly fresh.

In terms of popularity, The Vampire Diaries stands as the biggest project I have ever undertaken. While I have taken on various roles since then, none have reached the same level of popularity. Therefore, I believe it is crucial to find the next endeavor that allows me to be recognized for myself, rather than just the character I portrayed.

Everything Paul Wesley Has Done Since The Vampire Diaries

Wesley has largely upheld his commitment to move on from Stefan Salvatore. After The Vampire Diaries concluded in 2017, he had minimal involvement with the franchise, with his only contribution being directing an episode of its second spinoff Legacies in 2019. This opportunity allowed him to explore his creative abilities in a different capacity. Additionally, his notable subsequent roles, such as his involvement in Tell Me a Story by Vampire Diaries co-creator Kevin Williamson, have showcased his efforts to demonstrate his versatility and distinctly separate himself from the character of Stefan Salvatore. Wesley has also taken on smaller television roles in well-known shows, including the VC Andrews-inspired Flowers in the Attic: The Origin. Most recently, he has taken on the iconic role of Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds series on Paramount+.

Wesley has ventured into various fields beyond acting, such as theater roles, producing through his company Citizen Media, and directing episodes for shows like Roswell, New Mexico and Batwoman. While he has moved on from his role as Stefan, he continues to collaborate with Somerhalder on the release of Brother's Bond Bourbon in 2020. Although his previous roles like The Vampire Diaries are behind him, he has multiple projects that demonstrate his desire to have a diverse range of skills and experiences.