Nina Dobrev’s journey on ‘The Vampire Diaries’ highlights the ongoing struggle for pay equality in Hollywood, shedding light on her experiences as a female lead.
Nina Dobrev’s Fight for Pay Parity on ‘The Vampire Diaries’
Nina Dobrev was undeniably a leading figure on The CW’s The Vampire Diaries, yet she faced significant challenges in achieving pay parity with her male co-stars. In a recent interview for the book I Was Feeling Epic: An Oral History of The Vampire Diaries, she shares her experiences and struggles regarding equal pay.
Initial Pay Disparities
At 36 years old, Nina portrayed Elena Gilbert and her doppelgänger Katherine Pierce during the show’s first six seasons, returning for the series finale in season eight. In the book, she disclosed that the three female leads – herself, Kat Graham, and Candice King – were the lowest-paid series regulars in the initial two seasons.
“Candice, Kat, and I were the three lowest-paid series regulars in the first two seasons,” Nina stated. “My contract only specified my role as Elena, but I was also playing multiple characters, which increased my workload significantly. I wanted fair compensation for my efforts and to be treated as an equal to my male counterparts.”
Studio’s Response to Pay Equity
According to Nina, the studio eventually instructed writers to limit Katherine’s appearances due to the added costs associated with her character. Showrunner Julie Plec confirmed this decision, stating that it created a challenging situation for the writers.
“It became a heated issue, and we were told not to write Katherine into the scripts, which felt unjust,” Julie remarked.
Continued Struggles for Fair Compensation
While Nina did receive a pay increase, she never achieved pay parity with Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley. “They refused to adjust my pay to match the boys out of principle,” she said. “It was disheartening to feel that my hard work was undervalued.”
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When she returned for the final season, the studio only agreed to equal pay for her appearance in the series finale, despite her willingness to participate in more episodes.
Conclusion: The Importance of Equal Pay
Nina emphasized the significance of being compensated fairly, stating, “It wasn’t just about the money; it was about equality. I had to insist on being treated as an equal.” Despite the challenges, she expressed gratitude for her return to the show, highlighting the importance of her role in the series finale.
For more insights, consider reading the book!
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