TheTVaddict.com will go to almost any length to score an interview. So when we heard DEGRASSI star Nina Dobrev was in our neighbourhood filming a movie. We decided there was only one thing we could use to attract her attention in the hopes of scoring an interview.
Now I know what you’re thinking. Clearly you utilized your dashing Brad-Pittesque good looks? Thanks, but there’s where you’d be wrong. We utilized the only sure fire weapon at our disposal. The one weapon in our arsenal guaranteed to attract the opposite sex. Enter the TV Addict’s adorable dog MAC.
The moment we walked by, Nina was not surprisingly hooked. And lucky for us, kind enough to take a few minutes out of her busy shooting schedule to answer a few questions (As long as she got to play with Mac after!)
Were you a fan of DEGRASSI before you auditioned for the show?
Nina Dobrev: I was of course familiar with the show and heard all the hype, but I didn’t really watch it because I didn’t have the time. Actually I am not the biggest TV person, I’m really into school, sports and gymnastics.
When you were cast on the show, did you immediately go rent the DVD’s to catch up?
Yeah, when I got the role I literally borrowed seasons one through five and watched them all back-to-back within a month or two.
And your favorite character was?
Jake Epstein.
It must have been nerve-wracking joining such an established show. How nervous were you?
As nervous as you can get. Meeting new people, making a good first impression, seeing the studio. It was strange. Just realizing that this one studio has everything — the mall, houses, the school.
How challenging was it to play a high school student with a child? How do you get into the mindset of a teenage mom?
It was challenging because it’s not me. I went to a lot of web sites that dealt with teenage pregnancy. I read a lot of stories about girls having to go through what Mia did [Mia is Nina’s character on DEGRASSI]. There’s the alienation factor and there are all the stories and rumors, having everybody judge you. It isn’t easy.
What was it like dating JT on the show? Did you know prior to the start of the season that your boyfriend was going to die?
I didn’t have a clue! It was so strange. I started the show, got to know everybody, became friends, it was great. Then one day, Cassie Steele [Mannie] called me up after the read-through and was like, “JT died!”. I thought she was kidding, just joking around. But she’s like, “No, no, no, JT died!” I was shocked and was thinking, how could they not tell me? He’s my boyfriend on the show! And then it was like, did they really not like me that much? Are they trying to… were they trying to get rid of me!
Is it hard talking to friends, family, [intrepid reporters] about the show? Knowing that you don’t want to reveal anything big that may ruin a surprise.
Definitely — and last season I didn’t know that! I was so nervous, and once I think I mentioned an upcoming story-line that I shouldn’t have because I was so nervous. But you learn quickly and I’ve gotten much better at knowing what to say and what to keep a secret.
With that in mind, what can you spill about the new season?
Last season the show started to sponsor Feed the Children, so that’s going to play a big part in the show this year. There’s a plan to take some of the cast members to Africa where we will hopefully help build a school. It’s going to be amazing.
What challenges would you like to see Mia face this upcoming season?
I really want Mia’s stories to challenge her this season. Something that takes me outside of my comfort zone as an actress.
Every DEGRASSI star has a great ‘fan experience’ story. What’s yours?
Okay, my strangest fan experience was when I was in LA with Miriam [McDonald] and Cassie [Steele]. We were in a restaurant, and I went to the washroom and at one point when I walked out of the stall, this girl took a picture of me with her cell phone! And then after that, another girl came up to me and said, “Why did you kill JT?!” Obviously I was shocked… I didn’t kill JT! It’s a character and my character’s fictional. It was very strange. 