Nina Dobrev may be best known as the star of The Vampire Diaries, but outside of the popular supernatural millennial drama and her roles in movies like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Flatliners and Love Hard, she’s also a dedicated environmental activist.
Dobrev recently partnered with SC Johnson, EarthEcho International and Conservation International to be the face of a sustainability campaign centered on a short film following Zuzu, a cute blue hermit crab whose story spotlights the impact of plastic waste on our planet. As part of her partnership, the actress is also encouraging people to sign a new petition to advance legislation around recycling infrastructure.
Dobrev sat down with First for Women to discuss why recycling is a cause close to her heart, her time on The Vampire Diaries and how she finds inspiration and stays grounded.
First for Women: How did you get involved with this campaign?
Nina Dobrev: I’ve been involved with ocean advocacy for over 10 years, and when I heard about this specific initiative it really warmed my heart, because it’s so hard to figure out how to be most helpful, especially when the ocean is so out of sight, out of mind most of the time. Having a concrete and specific way to make a lasting change got me excited.
I watched Zuzu’s film and was immediately taken with it. I found myself crying and laughing, and it was heartwarming and beautiful and very inspiring and hopeful in the end. It felt like we could actually do something to make a difference, and if we got everybody on board it could make a big change, because we’re in a global crisis right now in this department.
FFW: Was environmentalism something you grew up with?
ND: I’m Canadian, and in Canada we have a very robust recycling program. It’s on everyone’s mind, and everyone has different bins for their paper, plastics, garbage and compost. They take it very seriously, and you get fined if you don’t do it correctly. They have a really good system that works.
Sadly, America’s system is broken. We need to fix it and do better. A big problem is that we might be doing the work of recycling, but then the government’s not actually being thoughtful about what they do with the products after we’ve done that.
So many corporations use plastics that we consume daily, whether we realize it or not. It’s important to have that awareness and try your absolute best to do what you can on your end. The reality is that plastics exist in our world and completely eliminating them might not be realistic, but it’s about what we do once we use them and how we recycle them and make sure they don’t end up in the oceans.
FFW: Who are some of the women that inspire you?
ND: My mother is my first and forever source of inspiration in life. It’s great nowadays, because there are inspiring women all around. It used to be like Meryl Streep, period, and now there are so many other amazing women.
I’ve always admired Jennifer Lawrence‘s candor. Emma Stone is so talented, and I look up to her. Jane Fonda has done so much for advocacy and cares about the world and the environment and is so outspoken, so she’s a source of inspiration. And Zendaya, because she’s Zendaya, obviously.
FFW: You’ve produced a few films, and in 2021 you made your debut as a writer and director with your short film The One. What has it been like to move behind the scenes?
ND: It’s been really amazing. I loved directing, and it came oddly naturally to me. I actually was surprised at how comfortable I was on set in that position. I shared that with one of my friends, and they said that when you think about it, a director who isn’t an actor does about one or two projects a year and they’re very intense. For actors, we’re used to being in front of the camera and we’re on set all the time, so whenever we step onto a set, we just feel at home. There’s not too much pressure and nervousness. I definitely would love to direct more, it just has to be the right project.
FFW: You have a devoted fan base from The Vampire Diaries. What was it like being part of such a beloved show, and why do you think vampires are so perennially popular?
ND: It’s still shocking to me how quickly the time has passed since I left the show. I look back at it so fondly and there are so many incredible memories. We all quite literally grew up on the show and in the public spotlight, so it’s a surreal and beautiful youthful experience.
I think the idea of eternal love makes vampires appealing. As humans, we’ll say, “I love you forever,” but the reality is at some point we’ll all die, and with vampires that promise could be a reality. There’s a fantasy of loving someone forever and being loved forever, and at the end of the day, that’s all we really want.
FFW: What’s the best advice you’ve received, and what advice do you wish you could’ve given your younger self?
ND: I would tell myself not to stress so much. I was a perfectionist to such a degree that I think at times was a little bit limiting, so I would say to enjoy the process a little bit more, like I do now.
The best advice that I’ve been given? Recycle! And be nice to the people on your way up, because you’re going to see them on the way down. I was told that when I was very young, and it’s true.
FFW: Having been part of such a successful TV show early in your career, how did you manage to stay grounded?
ND: I was always surrounded by people that weren’t in the business and kept as close to my roots as possible. I didn’t come from an industry family. I didn’t grow up in Los Angeles. I grew up in Toronto, and I was born in Bulgaria and lived there for part of my life. Having that melting pot of different kinds of people from different walks of life and careers was really helpful for me.
