Vampire Diaries' Nina Dobrev Had An A+ Response For Whether Elena Would Choose Paul Wesley Or Ian Somerhalder IRL

The Vampire Diaries Elena Gilbert Nina Dobrev The CW
(Image credit: The CW)

Have you ever watched The Vampire Diaries and wondered who Elena would choose if her options were Ian Somerhalder or Paul Wesley? When it came to Damon and Stefan, Elena made her hotly-debated decision on the show. What about Elena’s portrayer, Nina Dobrev? Who would she have chosen if she were Elena?

That very question was posed by E! News with a photo of Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley on Instagram, and the choice was between the actors rather than their characters, which may have made Nina Dobrev's response easy! First, take a look at the photo of The Vampire Diaries' former leading men:

A photo posted by on

Nina Dobrev may not be Elena in real life, but she still shared an answer to the question after so many years of sharing the small screen with Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley. Her response had nothing to do with Delena vs. Stelena. Instead, when it comes to choosing a favorite from that photo, Dobrev went with:

the bourbon

Whether the post referred to Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley or Stefan and Damon, Nina Dobrev selected the third-party in the photo – the bourbon. Dobrev finished off her reply with an alcoholic drink emoji and a winking smiley face. Her response is humorous for several reasons. For one, Dobrev’s answer implies that she would have chosen neither guy.

Plus, it is potentially a wink at her former Vampire Diaries co-stars’ new business venture. Since the show ended, Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder have started Brother’s Bond bourbon together. They announced the venture’s name back in May. I doubt that Nina Dobrev meant to refer the duo’s team-up, even if it is a neat side note.

As for Nina Dobrev’s response, it was a diplomatic one that should not alienate either side of The Vampire Diaries’ fanbase, which can be ferocious. The comments section on the post is filled with “Damon,” and “Stefan” replies. So, the debate will undoubtedly wear on for eternity, even if Elena did make her choice.

Who did Elena end up choosing before The Vampire Diaries ending aired? Damon! Yes, the love triangle actually came to an end. Elena chose Damon, and Stefan moved on with Caroline before he died. Damon lived the best life he could without his brother and with Elena. Of course, Ian Somerhalder had thoughts on what exactly Damon did after the finale.

Damon and Elena ended up having three kids, including a daughter named Stefanie. Whether or not she ever shows up on Legacies is another story. Some fans are definitely into the idea. Elena’s life choices were obviously not the ones her portrayer would have necessarily made. For her part, Nina Dobrev would have opted for a stiff drink!

You can watch Nina Dobrev’s Elena debate between the Salvatore brothers during her days on The Vampire Diaries. It is currently streaming in its entirety on Netflix alongside 2020 arrivals. For more entertainment options, check out this fall’s premieres.

Britt Lawrence

Like a contented Hallmark movie character, Britt happily lives in the same city she grew up in. Along with movies and television, she is passionate about competitive figure skating. She has been writing about entertainment for 5 years, and as you may suspect, still finds it as entertaining to do as when she began.