Nina Dobrev on the Complicated, Difficult Story of Sick Girl

Juggling the ebbs and flows of adult friendships is something Dobrev knows well. “People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime,” she says. For Dobrev, whose life and schedule are as busy and unpredictable as it gets, planning has always been key to cultivating deeper relationships. She’s great with a schedule and makes a point to pencil in time with friends when she’s in their area. FaceTime and social media have been a big help too. “I’m very lucky I have incredible friendships,” Dobrev says. “They are also very understanding of the fact that we’re not going to be the kind of friends who talk every single day about every single thing.”

Dobrev is nothing if not a realist, and she’s definitely not one to beat around the bush. It’s that directness that makes her such a great friend, actor, and producer and what also attracts her to like-minded creative folks such as Cram and stylist Kate Young. “I say how I feel, and I don’t sugarcoat too much, and that’s both my Achilles heel and one of my greatest assets,” she says. 

Young, like Dobrev, is straightforward and direct, and that kind of personality can come in handy when the right red carpet look is on the line. The A-list stylist, who also works with Dakota Johnson, Michelle Williams, and Julianne Moore, has been an ideal match for the actor, both in personality and fashion tastes. Dobrev can confidently say that her style has evolved dramatically since the two started working together. She cringes thinking back on some of her earlier red carpet looks. “I don’t know why nobody had an intervention with me,” she laughs. These days, the two have fun playing with a variety of styles and silhouettes, whether it’s a stunning gold sequin gown for the CFDA Fashion Awards, a leggy skirt-and-blazer combo by Nensi Dojaka, or an unexpected Chanel denim-on-denim look. Again, is there anything Dobrev can’t do? Young has been instrumental in creating a more elevated and chic vibe for Dobrev. “She’s the ultimate cool girl,” she says of Young. We can say the same about Dobrev.