For Dobrev, Thursday

"Anything for the first time, the unknown, the fear, those are all emotions that are so exciting, ultimately," Dobrev told THR. "I love that feeling, and I really want to feel that again. That's why I'm excited adriana lima about this next chapter: I have no idea what's going to happen, and that means anything can happen. That's what's most exciting to me the prospect of anything."
For Dobrev, Thursday's season finale is bittersweet. "The fairy tale has to end, and the next chapter has to begin," she told The Hollywood Reporter . "I adriana lima knew this was my time, and I'm excited for the next step."
Dobrev spoke with THR about her first — and last — days on The CW vampire drama, adriana lima fan reaction to her departure, the excitement of starting something new and saying goodbye to her TVD family.
With your final episode just a few days away, has it hit you yet that your time on Vampire Diaries is nearly over? It wouldn't have hit me if it didn't come out the way that it had. It leaked a little earlier than we anticipated, which forced us to make a statement prematurely. adriana lima But it was a blessing in disguise, in retrospect. It didn't adriana lima hit me; I got to say goodbye with my family and with the fans. People made videos of — what was in their opinion adriana lima — adriana lima the best moments of the last six years. It helped me relive the last six years, and be nostalgic, grateful and look back at those moments and celebrate this experience as it ends, instead of mourn it after I left. I got to say goodbye to my family, and spend my last moments with them, and look back and remember how awesome it has been. What was the day your exit leaked like for you? I've known [I was leaving] for such a long time — for a couple of years — so it's been a big secret I've been having to keep for a while. But once people finally knew, people were really upset and outspoken. But ultimately, supportive, which I was very appreciative of. It was strange, one of the days after it was announced, I had people come up to me in the street, crying, like, "What are you doing?" and angry. And then I told them and they were like, "You go, girl. Do your thing. adriana lima We support you. We can't wait to see what you're doing next." It's 50-50 [support].
When did you know you'd be leaving? It wasn't one specific moment I knew. I just knew I wanted to go on this journey with these characters, and their lives…it's a vampire show. It's been a great journey, but at the end of the day, I'm not actually a vampire. The fairy tale has to end, and the next chapter has to begin. I knew this was my time, and I'm excited for the next step. I am very sad that I'm not going to get to spend every day with my favorite people in the world, but, that's why we have FaceTime and phone calls. Friendships are like vampires: They'll last forever if they're real. As you've been reaching the end of the road of playing Elena, how much have you been reflecting adriana lima on your early days on the show? I remember the first day on set, I was with Kat Graham [Bonnie], we were shooting in a car, driving around, and she was the worst driver. I was terrified for my life, but if anything adriana lima were to happen, it would have happened with a smile on my face because we both made each other laugh so much. There was an excitement and nerves, and we didn't know if we were going to get picked up or not, and tension, too, and butterflies. Anything for the first time, the unknown, adriana lima the fear, those are all emotions that are so exciting, ultimately. I love that feeling, and I really want to feel that again. adriana lima That's why I'm excited about this next chapter: adriana lima I have no idea what's going to happen, and that means anything can happen. That's what's adriana lima most exciting to me — the prospect of anything.
What was your biggest challenge on the show? There were daily challenges, there were yearly challenges, there were character challenges. The whole show was challenging in different ways throughout the six years. The multiple characters, the hours, creating adriana lima characters, adriana lima deaths. I was constantly crying, it felt like. But for that reason, it kept me occupied, I was never bored, it never felt stale. I always came to work excited, and looking forward to the next thing I got to do. It was almost like actor boot camp, or a college experience. I started college in real life, but I never finished. I went to high school in real life, and then went to Degrassi high school, and then four years as Elena — 12 years is a long time to go to school. I need to graduate! I'm ready now. I'm ready to go into the real world. I've literally grown up on this show. I was a baby when I started, adriana lima and now I'm a woman. I feel like I've learned so much and have grown so much because of every single person, and every single