The Real Reason Nina Dobrev And Ian Somerhalder Broke Up
Celebrity - News
By TONI MATTHEWS-EL, GILLIAN WALTERS
Settling down
Nina Dobrev was 24 and Ian Somerhalder was 34 when they broke up, and while Somerhalder was at a common age for getting married and settling down, Dobrev was still in her early adulthood. When Somerhalder speedily moved on to dating actor Nikki Reed, it was clear he was ready to become a married man.
Not ready for marriage
If Dobrev didn't want to settle down, what was she aiming for? "She decided she wanted to experience other things before making a long-term commitment," a source told Us Weekly, and another source said Dobrev may wait "about 10 years" to get serious — but it's unlikely Somerhalder would wait until he's 44.
Growing apart
Dobrev and Somerhalder cared about each other, but they weren't on the same page, and Somerhalder cryptically tweeted in 2013 , "A thought for today: 'People change and forget to tell each other.' – Lillian Hellman, playwright (1905-1984)." Did Dobrev agree to a long-term relationship, only to decide otherwise later?
Different places
Somerhalder likely felt comfortable about his career status, as his resume stretches back to the late 90's, while Dobrev's career, which began about a decade later, only began to blossom at the time of their union. Also, Somerhalder appears to prefer off-screen production roles nowadays, while Dobrev is still very much an actor.
Co-worker dating
Relationships between co-workers can be a tricky situation, and Dobrev previously noted that she wanted to avoid dating her co-stars — and actors in general — if possible. Because Somerhalder and Dobrev were trying to balance romance and acting, it's possible these factors strained their relationship a bit.