Ashley Tisdale Almost Got Cast As Vampire Diaries Lead
We could have had a very different Elena Gilbert.
In the 2000s, movies and TV shows about supernatural forces, magic, and vampires were firmly entrenched at the top of various charts.
It all started with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, then it was replaced by Charmed, and in 2009 The Vampire Diaries released its first season and won the hearts of thousands of fans.
Surrounded by vampires, witches, werewolves and those who could talk to the dead, Elena Gilbert was the central character that attracted the attention of the viewers and other characters.
Literally everything revolved around her, from Stefan and Damon's fight for her heart to numerous mysteries and machinations of countless villains.
The lead role was played by Nina Dobrev. Thanks to this role, the actress was able to show off her acting talent, as she had to play not just one character, but several at the same time.
Elena was one of a number of doppelgangers – Nina also played Katherine, Amara and Tatia. However, the series could have been completely different, as the lead role was originally offered to Ashley Tisdale.
Such a choice seems quite logical because in the L. J. Smith books on which the series is based, Elena is a blonde with blue eyes. So the type of actress was perfect.
When Ashley was offered the role of Elena, she was already a star thanks to High School Musical, where she played Sharpay.
Undoubtedly, The Vampire Diaries would have been another stellar project in Ashley's acting career, but circumstances forced her to turn it down – at that moment she was filming in another series Hellcats about cheerleaders.
The series did not become a hit, was coldly received by the viewers and was canceled after the first season.
The actress lost more than one role in a successful project due to the failure of Hellcats. Ashley also had to turn down a role in Pretty Little Liars.
Despite the fact that Nina Dobrev does not look like her book character, fans agree that she did a great job with the role of Elena Gilbert, and it was the actress who made the character iconic.