Between new doppelgängers and different iterations of established characters, Nina Dobrev offered a range of top-notch performances across her run on The Vampire Diaries. Based on L.J. Smith's popular series of books, the supernatural drama was developed by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec. Debuting in 2009 on The CW, the show garnered the best series premiere ratings since the network's inception.

Set in the fictional town of Mystic Falls, The Vampire Diaries followed a group of friends as they dealt with frequent supernatural threats, age-old mystical secrets, and complicated love lives. The bulk of the latter was focused on Elena Gilbert's tangled relationships with the 162-year-old vampire Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) and his unpredictable older brother and fellow vampire Damon (Ian Somerhalder). Among others, the series also starred Steven R. McQueen as Elena's brother Jeremy, Kat Graham as the powerful witch Bonnie, and Candice King as Elena's vampire best friend Caroline.

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Though each character evolved across The Vampire Diaries' 8 seasons, the majority of the cast were tasked with bringing to life just one role. One of the show's central mysteries, however, was the doppelgänger curse - of which both Elena and Stefan were entangled. As such, Wesley and Dobrev frequently stretched their acting muscles to several different characters. Here's a breakdown of everyone that Dobrev played.

Elena Gilbert

Elena Gilbert smiling on The Vampire Diaries

Amid vampires, witches, werewolves, and those who could speak with the dead, Dobrev's Elena was the literal beating heart of the show. And in the wake of losing her adopted parents in a car crash, it was around her that everything revolved - from the passion-driven actions of Stefan and Damon to several mysteries and the machinations of countless villains. In The Vampire Diaries season 4, however, Elena officially turned and became a vampire. As a result, Dobrev got to portray an entirely new and super-powered side to Elena. The actress was also able to do the same when, in a moment of overwhelming grief, Elena switched off her emotions and humanity - displaying a more reckless and bloodthirsty facet of the character. As such, in essence, Elena alone provided Dobrev the opportunity to play at least three characters in one.

Katherine Pierce

Katherine Pierce eating a stawberry in The Vampire Diaries.

In The Vampire Diaries season 1, episode 6, "Lost Girls", one of Elena's main doppelgängers made their first appearance. Appearing in flashback, it was revealed how Katherine Pierce had seduced and ultimately turned both Damon and Stefan into vampires - thus sparking over a century of frequent animosity between the pair. Cunning and ruthless, Katherine returned in modern-day Mystic Falls at the end of the first season. She then spent the majority of The Vampire Diaries season 2 serving as a principal antagonist and a darker, much more self-assured reflection of Elena. Katherine returned repeatedly as such across subsequent seasons - including as the final Big Bad in The Vampire Diaries series finale.

Immensely popular with fans, the character was not without her sympathetic sides and moments of pathos, as seen in later flashbacks and when briefly rendered human. In Dobrev's hands, the character always felt distinct - even from similarly destructive versions of Elena. Equally, the actress often had to play Katherine posing as Elena. As such, she added even deeper levels of nuance to the performance and again got to play several characters in one.

Amara

Amara smiling in The Vampire Diaries

Amara was introduced in The Vampire Diaries season 5. Like Katherine, she is first seen in a flashback before emerging in the present day. Born sometime during the 1st century, Amara served as the handmaiden Qetsiyah and engaged in an illicit romance with Qetsiyah's betrothed, the villainous Silas (Wesley). Intending to be together forever, Amara and Silas stole and consumed a magical elixir, making themselves the world's first immortals. As a result, the doppelgänger curse that would spawn Elena and Katherine was officially born to balance out natural law. Unfortunately, Qetsiyah trapped Silas and Amara in revenge. Though largely more innocent than Katherine and even Elena, Amara was driven insane by her imprisonment and at being forced to feel the death of every supernatural creature over the centuries. As a result, Amara's tenure on The Vampire Diaries was brief - with the character seeking out death the moment she was able to.

Tatia

Nina Dobrev as Tatia on The Originals

As if that wasn't enough, Dobrev also guest-starred on The Vampire Diaries' spinoff show, The Originals. Established as the first of the Petrova doppelgängers to emerge, she was the widowed wife of a Viking warrior. She met the Mikaelsons before they become the original vampires. Reflecting later love triangles, both Elijah and Klaus fell in love with her. Though she ultimately chose Elijah, nothing was able to fully come of the relationship. With her mystical blood used to create the vampire spell, a newly turned Elijah was unable to hold back from killing her. The rest of her blood was used to repress Klaus' werewolf side. As such, Tatia was a one-and-done character.

Both The Vampire Diaries and The Originals have concluded their respective runs. Regardless, the world has continued to live on in the form of Legacies. As a result, it could be that Dobrev may, one day, guest-star - either as the now human Elena, a miraculously returned Katherine, or a different iteration altogether. Even if not, however, the actress's varied and nuanced body of work will continue to stand for itself - effectively telling multiple, well-rounded story arcs and helping The Vampire Diaries remain rewatchable for years to come.

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