The Vampire Diaries Star Paul Wesley Reveals Shocking Truth Behind Typecast Fears During CW Drama
The Vampire Diaries star, Paul Wesley, candidly discusses his concerns about being typecast after the success of the CW drama and shares his transition to theater as a means to challenge himself creatively
Summary
Paul Wesley, who played Stefan Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries, worried about being typecast and took on theater roles during his time on the show to combat this.
Hollywood actors, such as Wesley, frequently steer clear of specific roles to avoid being typecast in their careers.
The TV series The Vampire Diaries simultaneously embraced and avoided numerous typical teen drama character stereotypes, and Wesley skillfully evaded portraying similar roles once the show ended.
Paul Wesley, known for his role in The Vampire Diaries, shares his concerns about being limited to similar roles. The popular CW show, created by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, premiered in 2009 and features Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert, alongside Wesley's character Stefan Salvatore.
During a recent interview on Michael Rosenbaum's Inside of You podcast, Wesley shared his concerns about being typecast after being a part of The Vampire Diaries's cast. To tackle this issue, he decided to explore new opportunities beyond his role as Stefan. Wesley's strategy involved venturing into a completely different medium. Take a look at Wesley's complete statement below:
"As we reached season 3 or so, I began to feel the need to diversify my acting portfolio. I became really invested in the idea of being a versatile actor, so I started taking part in New York theater productions. During the show's hiatus, I would immerse myself in the world of obscure off-Broadway plays."
I had more energy back then mainly because of my youth, but also because you're... Look, I'm not criticizing the show, but ultimately it's just a one-hour CW drama.
Avoiding being pigeonholed is important, and you start questioning if you have some level of pop culture fame, but are you truly respected? I aspire to gain the respect of my fellow actors, so I strive to take on diverse projects.
Wesley's Typecasting Fears Explained
Wesley has successfully avoided being typecast throughout and after his time on The Vampire Diaries. Since then, he has appeared in various projects such as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Flowers in the Attic: The Origin, and Tell Me A Story. Despite taking on a diverse range of roles, his concerns about being stereotyped are indeed valid.
Many actors in Hollywood intentionally make choices about which roles to take or pass on in order to avoid being typecast. For instance, Christina Applegate turned down the opportunity to star in Legally Blonde because she didn't want to be seen as repeating herself after her role in Married with Children. These concerns are particularly significant in the realm of TV teen dramas, which often feature stereotypical character types.
Teen dramas often follow predictable patterns, with characters like the lead with a troubled background, the enigmatic love interest, and the stereotypical bully. However, The Vampire Diaries managed to break free from many of these clichés, although some of its characters still had a sense of familiarity. Despite concerns about being pigeonholed, Wesley's additional work off-camera ultimately contributed to his post-show success as an actor, showcasing his versatility.
