Growing up in the spotlight and receiving such worldwide exposure is something that has changed her life forever.
She’s now become an iconic character that will live forever, too literally.
Rebekah Mikaelson is an immortal who can never die.
What’s your all-time favorite Nutella recipe?
I love the classic traditionalNutellaon toast.
Nutella on a pancake.
That’s my favorite.
And that’s something you’re going to be sharing on Instagram this week?
Yes, I will.
Well, I went to theNutella Cafe in Chicago, which was a childhood dream.
I got to try the Nutella crepes, the Nutella banana bread, fruit dipped in Nutella.
They were all delicious.
My favorite one was the crepes by far.
It was so yummy.
What’s a sweet way that we can incorporate Nutella into Valentine’s Day?
Because that’s coming up soon, too.
I think you’ve got to do the dipped fruit, the strawberries in the Nutella.
That’s a romantic thing, isn’t it?
Dipping fruit in chocolate.
Giving it to your lover.
[Laughs]
I’m getting so hungry right now.
It was a bad idea not to eat before this.
You’ve always got to be well-fed before you have a conversation like this.
Otherwise, you’re going to be running to your cupboard.
As a mom, what’s a great kid-friendly, kid-approved way that you’ve found to incorporate Nutella?
My kids get to have Nutella on special occasions like this.
It was really fun, and they loved it.
Totally, and for a number of reasons.
Also, I think [when] being a mom, you connect to the different side of yourself.
I think you become more in touch with your emotions.
You learn more about yourself, and that makes you understand yourself more.
I think that helps with acting, and you’re definitely attracted to different roles.
I think I’m getting ready to brave that world again because I love it.
Will we ever see her return as Rebekah Mikaelson?
How did it feel to return as Rebekah Mikaelson in “Legacies” just this last year?
Rebekah, I feel like I know her so well.
She’s my longest relationship.
It was 2011 that I started playing her.
So do you have to do anything to prepare for playing her again?
Or is it just natural to you at this point?
She’s in me now.
I’m so familiar with and I think that’s a credit to the writers, right?
It’s like stepping into the shoes of an old friend.
I feel like her story hasn’t really even ended yet.
Will we be seeing her again soon?
Are you up for that?
I don’t want to say anything that’s going to get me thrown into jail.
I’ve been playing her for so many years now.
I always pray that there’s an opportunity that I’ll get to play her again.
There’s one that totally sticks out, because it was so cold.
I was in jeans and a long sleeve shirt and a light-ish jacket.
I remember having to lie on the ground outside.
[Laughs] I’m like, “I don’t know what to do, guys.
I’m so sorry.
It’s freezing.”
Because we got to see so many time periods.
I loved when we did the ’20s.
That was really fun to go back and dress up like that.
[Laughs] We’d be in these tight costumes and big gowns in 90, 100 degrees.
I love modern day Rebekah.
She’s always wearing great fashion.
I think Yeah, the ’20s and then the modern Rebekah were my favorites.
Was there anything that you kept from either “The Originals” or “The Vampire Diaries?”
I heard that the vampire teeth that you wore were formed to your teeth.
Did you get to keep those?
They were, but I didn’t get to keep them.
Because you speak with a ridiculous lisp with those teeth in.
I did not keep the teeth.
I got to keep some great coats, actually.
No, I don’t know where I’d even store that thing.
They did a massive body cast of us the first week before shooting …
I guess it was a bit longer than that.
They molded those tails to us.
It was really a cool experience doing that.
It was something that I still, to this day, think about.
What was it like to grow up on TV?
It’s not ideal to have the entire world get to see you go through puberty.
[Laughs] It’s not really something that you want immortalized, but it was great.
I met some of my best friends in the world.
Phoebe [Tonkin] to this day, I still talk to her all the time.
I never would’ve had that experience had someone not taken a chance on me.
I had no idea what I was doing.
I only got the job because I knew how to swim, I guess, so it was amazing.
I’m so lucky.
I’m so fortunate.
I get to do what I love.
There are elements where you’re like, “Oh, gosh, that fashion wasn’t great.
Or that hairstyle could’ve been better.
Or maybe I don’t need the whole world to see me at 16.”
But, at the end of the day, it’s such a blessing and a gift.
I’m really grateful.
Do you have a most memorable fan story?
What a beautiful gift that is for me to be able to hear that, because I was lucky.
I got the job, and I’m so lucky and grateful.
That’s really beautiful to be able to connect with so many people and hear so many stories.
It’s interesting to see that your followers have inspired you as well.
I remember when I first had James, and I was learning how to breastfeed.
I thought it was the hardest thing on planet Earth.
I remember posting something saying, like, “This is so hard.
I didn’t realize.
I’m constantly feeling like a failure.”
Then all of these people are like, “Stick at it.
Or stop if it’s not right for you.”
There was so much encouragement.
I think about it all the time, that people step up for you.
If you’re vulnerable and we’re all people, right?
We’re all searching for connection and understanding and shared experiences.
If you just say, “I’m struggling.
What’s coming up next for you?
What kind of goals do you have?
Aside from having many more children that you talk about on Instagram.
[Laughs] I joke about that.
I don’t know.
But it’s interesting.
I don’t have to be one thing.
I don’t have to just be a mother.
I can be a mother and an actress and an investor.
I can connect with people, and I can be creative.
I’m really trying to come from that place this year.
I’m really enjoying investing and working with brands.
I can learn, and I can fail, and I can get better and have another go.
There are a lot of doors that open when you have that mindset.
My first pancake was terrible.
After about 50 of them, I finally nailed it.
[Laughs] My kids loved them, and I loved them.
Oh, I can’t wait.
I’m getting so hungry, I’m going to be honest with you right now.
Go and get lunch.
Go on, get out of here.
Go have some Nutella right now.
