Based on the young adult novels by the same name, The Vampire Diaries is a television series that chronicles the life of Elena Gilbert and her encounters with the supernatural world around her. This supernatural teen drama has it all, from vampires to witches and werewolves.
The series became the most-watched show on The CW and has inspired several spin-offs, all connecting to the same universe. The Vampire Diaries produced many unforgettable characters in part thanks to the actors chosen for their roles. There were many actors who nailed their roles in bringing these novel characters to life, while some completely missed the mark.
10 NAILED: Bonnie Bennett Played By Kat Graham
Without a doubt, Bonnie Bennett is the badass of the series. Coming from a long line of Bennett witches, Bonnie is very powerful and in turn, the others rely on her to help them out when they are in need of supernatural interference.
Using her powers to help the others comes at a cost as Bonnie arguably suffers the most heartache out of any of the characters. Kat Graham's portrayal of Bonnie is spot on, taking fans through Bonnie's powerful moments as a witch, to the heartfelt moments when she's just trying to live a normal life.
9 FAILED: Jeremy Gilbert Played By Steven R. McQueen
Jeremy is the troubled younger brother of Elena. Although it's later discovered that Jeremy is actually Elena's first cousin, the two's relationship definitely brings the series down. Elena is always worrying about Jeremy and it gets to be rather cumbersome.
Try as he might, Steven McQueen's performance as Jeremy just doesn't help make him interesting. He starts out as a drug addict, then he becomes a vampire hunter, and he eventually leaves town because McQueen left the show for a season. Honestly, his character wasn't missed.
8 NAILED: Matt Donovan Played By Zach Roerig
Matt Donovan is the high school jock who is in love with Elena. He moves from being the boy who pines for the girl, to someone who finally takes a stand and tries to fight for what's right. One of the things he fights for is his hometown, Mystic Falls, and ridding it of all supernatural beings.
Zach Roerig plays the good guy role so well. Even though Matt eventually takes a stand against the vampires, it doesn't change fans' opinion of him. Matt is just a character that fans root for and one they want to see make it until the end.
7 FAILED: Vicki Donovan Played by Kayla Ewell
Vicki is the older sister of Matt Donovan and proves to be a troubled individual. She's in a relationship with Tyler, who mistreats her, and then there's Jeremy who she hangs around and does drugs with. When she meets Damon, her life takes a turn for the worst.
There's really nothing Kayla Ewell could have done to make Vicki a likable character. Vicki is just an unfortunate individual and her character doesn't really add anything to the show other than a source of heartbreak for her brother.
6 NAILED: Niklaus "Klaus" Mikaelson Played By Joseph Morgan
Klaus is introduced in the second season of The Vampire Diaries, and he makes quite the impression. As one of the Original vampires, Klaus is older and stronger than any other vampire, not to mention he's a vampire/werewolf hybrid, the only one of his kind.
Klau is so evil, even his own family hates him, and Joseph Morgan plays the complicated vampire perfectly. He's ruthless and cunning, taking whatever he wants, whatever the cost. Morgan's devilish grin allows him to portray a villain fans love to hate.
5 FAILED: Elijah Mikaelson Played By Daniel Gillies
As an Original vampire, Elijah Mikaelson is certainly an interesting character. However, it's hard to know how to feel about Elijah as he moves from being a potential enemy to an ally, and then there's that weird romance with Katherine.
Fans only get a little taste of Daniel Gillies' portrayal as the eldest Mikaelson in The Vampire Diaries and compared to Joseph Morgan's Klaus, his performance is definitely overshadowed. Gillies does a much better job in The Originals bringing the seemingly composed Elijah to life.
4 NAILED: Caroline Forbes Played By Candace King
In the first season of The Vampire Diaries, Caroline is this bubbly, energetic cheerleader who is taken advantage of by the wicked Damon. Caroline is a typical high school girl, caught up with boys and jealousy in the beginning.
However, after Caroline becomes a vampire, her character goes through considerable growth. Caroline is considered the other female lead in the series, and Candace King does a great job playing to all Caroline's sides. She can be sweet and loving, but also extremely fierce and strong.
3 FAILED: Stefan Salvatore Played By Paul Wesley
Stefan is the mysterious new student in the first season of the series. He meets Elena and they begin a relationship, eventually being torn apart by her love for his brother Damon. One minute he's only feeding off animals and being the good guy, the next he's a head-ripping monster.
Paul Wesley does his best with Stefan, but overall he's a pretty inconsistent character. His best acting is when Stefan turns off his emotions, but unfortunately, that only happens a few times throughout the series.
2 NAILED: Damon Salvatore Played By Ian Somerhalder
Damon Salvatore serves as an antagonist in the first season of The Vampire Diaries. As the older brother of Stefan, Damon embraces his life as a vampire, rather than trying to run away from it. Oftentimes he appears cold and calculated, but he can also be quite charming.
His character sees redemption throughout the series, and Ian Somerhalder plays the bad, good guy perfectly. With piercing blue eyes, dark hair, and that charming smirk, what's not to love about Damon Salvatore?
1 FAILED: Elena Gilbert Played By Nina Dobrev
It says a lot when the main character of a series can leave the show and the series continues on for 2 more seasons just fine without them. That's exactly what happens with Elena Gilbert when Nina Dobrev exited the show after the sixth season.
Dobrev's performance in the role of Elena fails to deliver a likable character. She's not very interesting as a human, and she's just plain annoying as a vampire. Compared to her turn as Katherine Pierce, which she nails, Dobrev's portrayal of the lead character falls flat.
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