Nina Dobrev

There weren’t many teens and young adults who didn’t watch The Vampire Diaries when it originally aired. Star Nina Dobrev was believed to have left the series only because of her breakup with co-star Ian Somerhalder, playing Damon to her Elena. The rumor proved to be entirely false.

The actual reason for leaving came down to Dobrev’s certainty about having only a “six-season adventure” developing her character arc. By the end, the actress knew Elena had finished her time on the show, with no need to expand any further.