Paul Wesley recently shared insights into the rocky start he had with co-star Nina Dobrev while filming The Vampire Diaries, revealing that their onscreen chemistry as star-crossed lovers masked offscreen clashes. “We just notoriously butted heads,” Wesley admitted on the September 11 episode of the Podcrushed podcast.

Six years after Dobrev revealed they weren’t close during the show’s early days, Wesley clarified the root of their tension. At the time, both actors were young and deeply invested in their roles, with Wesley feeling immense pressure to deliver. “I was taking the role very seriously, and so was she,” he explained. “Perhaps that’s why we didn’t get along.”

Wesley, who got engaged to Natalie Kuckenburg in July, noted that their disagreements stemmed from differing approaches to acting rather than personal issues. “It was more onscreen,” he said. “She wanted to plan scenes meticulously, while I was all about spontaneity, thinking that’s what would create magic.” This contrast led to frequent disputes, with one notable on-set argument halting production for 30 minutes to let them cool off.

Ironically, their real-life friction fueled the perception of strong onscreen chemistry. “People thought we had such great chemistry as the show’s romantic leads,” Wesley quipped. “We kept it under wraps during press, but we definitely clashed.”

Over time, as Wesley adjusted to fame—a challenge he initially struggled with—their relationship evolved into a genuine friendship. “I didn’t always handle fame well, and I probably wasn’t the easiest to work with,” he admitted. “But now, Nina and I are great friends, and we’ve even talked about working together again.”

Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of The Vampire Diaries

1. Ashlee Simpson Nearly Starred: The CW initially envisioned The Vampire Diaries as a vehicle for Ashlee Simpson, but after casting Nina Dobrev as Elena, Simpson was offered a role in the Melrose Place revival. Ashley Tisdale also passed on Elena to star in Hellcats.

2. Nina’s Rocky Audition: Dobrev’s first audition didn’t impress, but after pleading for another chance and submitting a new tape, she won the role of Elena, Katherine Pierce, and more. “Her second tape was magical,” co-creator Julie Plec recalled.

3. Book-to-Screen Changes: Fans of L.J. Smith’s novels were upset that Dobrev’s Elena wasn’t blonde with blue eyes. The show also altered Elena’s family, giving her a brother, Jeremy, instead of a young sister, and made Caroline a friend rather than a rival.

4. Casting the Salvatores: Finding Stefan and Damon was tough. Paul Wesley auditioned multiple times, initially for Damon, while Ian Somerhalder joined late. Other actors, like Zach Roerig and David Gallagher, also read for the roles.

5. Ian’s True Blood Near-Miss: Before landing Damon, Somerhalder auditioned for True Blood’s Jason Stackhouse but lost the role to Ryan Kwanten. He also faced a rival actor trying to psych him out during The Vampire Diaries auditions.

6. On-Set Legal Trouble: In 2009, Dobrev, co-stars Sara Canning, Candice Accola, Kayla Ewell, and photographer Tyler Shields were briefly detained in Georgia for disorderly conduct during a freeway photo shoot. They were released after paying a fine.

7. Real-Life Romances: The set saw several relationships, including Paul Wesley with Phoebe Tonkin, Candice Accola with Zach Roerig, and Joseph Morgan with Persia White, who married in 2014. Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev dated for three years, remaining friends post-breakup.

8. Nina and Paul’s Real-Life Bond: Despite their early clashes, Dobrev later called Wesley one of her closest friends. “We despised each other so much it read as love,” she said in 2019, noting their friendship grew strong after resolving tensions.

9. Taylor Swift’s Influence: Showrunner Kevin Williamson, a Swift fan, modeled Stefan’s friend Lexi (played by Arielle Kebbel) after her, hoping to cast Swift as a vampire, though she was deemed “too big” for the show.

10. Missed Casting Opportunities: The producers dreamed of casting Dawson’s Creek star Joshua Jackson as Klaus and Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Sarah Michelle Gellar as Rose, but both declined.

11. Nina’s Exit: Dobrev shocked fans by leaving after season six, wanting Elena’s story to wrap after a “six-season adventure.” She returned for the series finale, which saw Stefan sacrifice himself for Damon and Elena’s happy ending.

12. The Original Ending: Early plans had both Salvatore brothers dying to save Elena, watching her as ghosts as she lived on. Nina’s exit and the show’s evolving love triangle shifted this vision, with Stefan’s death closing the series.

13. The Final Line: The show’s last line, “Hello, brother,” echoed Damon’s pilot greeting, tying the brothers’ arc together. Originally, a different line was planned, but the iconic phrase won out for its emotional resonance.