What initially drew you to the show and the character of Elena?
N: Well, I remember reading it and just being drawn to the fact that she was this average girl who was damaged in many ways and then I did some research and found out that I would probably end up having to play Katherine too, who is the complete opposite. This is one of the rarest, coolest opportunities in television, to play two people on the same medium.

What can you tell us about Katherine coming back at the end of the finale last season?
N: The only thing I can really tell you is that she’s back, and if I told you any more I’d have to kill you or bite you or something. But, yeah, she is back and you can just imagine now that she’s back in action things are just going to get more and more intense. It’s fun to see what she is going to do because she is just so spontaneous and crazy, but I’m just as in the dark as you are because they don’t tell us anything until we get there.

Who do you have more fun playing – Elena or Katherine?
N: I think like anything in life, whatever you’re deprived from or you don’t get to do as often, you end up enjoying more than anything else because it’s like a guilty pleasure. So, whenever I play Katherine, because I do it seldom, I have the most fun playing her.

Do you think Damon and Elena could ever have a good, healthy relationship?
N: “Damon” and “healthy” in the same sentence? That’s funny! I don’t know, I mean, with the way the season ended, it doesn’t seem as though Damon and Elena are an item in any way because he didn’t really care for her. He chose Katherine. Little does he know he is totally falling in love with Elena but Elena truly doesn’t feel that way. She sees him as a buddy. She sees him as her boyfriend’s brother, and, at times, a pain in the butt. But their friendship and their chemistry are definitely growing.

If it were up to you, which brother would you choose?
N: Well, I would choose the other brother, definitely – or maybe a mixture of the two. I think both characters have different qualities that are very appealing so it just depends. If you combine them, they make the perfect man because Stefan is committed and sweet and protective and loving, and Damon is spontaneous and crazy and fun and exciting. Every woman has to find that guy who pushes all her buttons, and Damon and Stefan push different buttons for Elena.