At last, The Vampire Diaries returns tonight (The CW, 8 p.m. EST)! To get us through the last leather jacket-less month, we phoned costume designer Jennifer Bryan as she was out and about in Atlanta looking for pumps to talk about all the shirtlessness we were missing, the secret to buying a leather jacket (one of the excellent reader questions submitted for her), and what we have to look forward to next (Damon on a bender!).

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Let’s just get right to it. The shirtlessness: Is that something that’s usually in the script, or something you negotiate with the actors?

JENNIFER BRYAN: There’s a couple of ways that it has evolved. I would say almost all the time, the writers put it in. But they dole it out in small measures. If the story calls for it, that’s what happens. But I don’t think they had expected such a strong positive reaction, like, “More! More!”

Do the actors embrace it? What’s their reaction?

It’s middle-of-the-road. Paul [Wesley] and Ian [Somerhalder] take what they do really seriously, so we really try to not be gratuitous.

There was that one episode when Stefan was putting on his shirt as he walked into his bedroom. I’m not complaining, but I was like, he had to do that right then? He couldn’t have done that in the hallway on the way to his room, off-camera?

It gave him something to do. It’s almost like we used it as a connector because we needed him to work into another scene where his shirt was on. So we had to make the shirt exist. I’m puttin’ it on, and I’m walking into the room, so the next time you see him, it wouldn’t seem like a continuity mistake.

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In honor of the hit show The Vampire Diaries returning with new episodes on the CW tonight (8 p.m. EST), BettyConfidential caught up with star Sara Canning, who dishes about who she’ll be hooking up with (onscreen and off!), her celeb roomie, and who she’d most want to be stranded on a deserted island with.

–Patty Adams

With Twilight’s Kristen Stewart and Rob Pattinson are a (not-so) secret item, and True Blood’s Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer engaged off-screen, it’s hard to believe there’s no coupling up on the equally steamy set of The Vampire Diaries. But Sara Canning, who plays Jenna, the cool, but sometimes-clueless guardian, tells BettyConfidential that she’s not actually tempted to get together with any of her hot co-stars. “The guys are nice, smart, and easy on the eyes, but they’re family to me!” swears Sara, 22, who has never even dated another actor. The Canadian, who now calls Atlanta home thanks to filming the show there, would rather just go to dinner and play pool with the likes of Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder, Zach Roerig and Matt Davis. All the perks without any of the drama—smart girl!

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Source LA Times

Source

Sara Canning, Elena’s hot, near-in-age auntie Jenna on the popular series “The Vampire Diaries” is trying to keep the peace after the secret of Elena’s adoption was outed and she is also getting some romance in her life with the new history teacher Alaric and a flirtation with hot Damon.  The vamps aren’t the only characters on the show ramping it up with new episodes starting tomorrow night on the CW!

Sara Canning as Jenna in “The Vampire Diaries”

The CW

We are on our cell getting the latest from the young Canadian actress who, with her figure skating background, just told us she was really rooting for Olympic skater Joannie Rochette who took home a medal for Canada!

With a feature film coming out this summer and her character’s story heating up on the show, Sara was happy to catch us up on her career and also give us some very wise, auntie-like advice for teens trying to fit in and her opinion on why vampires are soooo extra attractive to a lot of high schoolers! First up… wazzup with the show?

TeenTelevision: Talk about this hot new history teacher in town Alaric. Can we get a little preview of what’s coming up from you two? There is a photo from the set of the two characters kissing so something must be heating up.

Sara: There is definitely a lot of chemistry between Jenna and Alaric, and things are heating up. But at the same time, the audience knows he’s troubled about losing his wife. So the development of their relationship is not going to be free of conflict.

TeenTelevision:  That’s the way we like it!  You’ve been quoted as saying ‘Damon for the weekend and Stefan for eternity’.. Still feel that way?  How about in real life?  Go for the bad boys but only occasionally?

Sara: In real life, I go for a guy who can make me laugh non-stop, but who has a kind soul and a lot of passion. I think that’s closer to Stefan’s character. But I also think a person can’t go through life without experiencing Damon Salvatore!

TeenTelevision:  Yum! You are a contemporary of your fellow castmates but you are playing the auntie, kind of motherly role.  Is that frustrating or fun and are you kind of motherly to any of the other cast members?

Sara: It’s really fun to play a character who’s older than I am, especially being younger than some of the cast playing high school students. We’re all really good friends outside of work, and then when we go to set I play a parental figure, I get to make some rules. I think I sometimes get a little motherly with some of the cast, but it’s all out of love!

Sara Canning as Jenna in “The Vampire Diaries”

The CW

TeenTelevision: As a teen, were you fascinated by supernatural characters at all; especially hot vampires? Do you find the idea of them sexy or just frightening?

Sara: Growing up, I loved ghost stories, and all things supernatural. I actually fell in love with the story of ‘Dracula’ when I was thirteen. I love when a vampire story scares me, but underneath it all I think the vampire genre is very sexy, very romantic.

TeenTelevision: Why do you think teens, especially are so drawn to the vampire phenomenon?

Sara: I think being a teenager often involves falling in (and out) of love for the first time, and discovering what can be wonderful (and horrible) about relationships. A huge theme in the vampire genre is a human falling in love with a vampire, which is so romantic, and yet so dangerous. I think teenagers can relate to what it feels like to be in love, and how hard it can be to remain in that happy place in a relationship. That unattainable love is so apparent in vampire stories.

TeenTelevision: We don’t see much about you on the gossip wires. Do you consciously avoid getting caught out clubbing or, do you just not do that as a personal choice?

Sara: Since we shoot in Atlanta, we’re hidden in a sort of bubble. But going to clubs isn’t something I do often at all, so even if I were in LA I don’t think I’d be very visible in that scene. I’m a very low-key person. I love just hanging out with friends, going out to dinners or shows, theatre, great movies. Those are the kinds of things I love, and we do a lot of that in Atlanta.

TeenTelevision: What must a guy NEVER do if he wants to date you?

Sara: I would never date a guy who was too cool to just be a big kid with me sometimes.

Sara Canning and Matt Davis in “The Vampire Diaries”

The CW

TeenTelevision: Totally agree on that one.  What advice would you give to a teen who dresses differently and isn’t happy doing what his or her friends are doing?

Sara: The most important thing I learned as a teenager was giving my time to what made me happiest. I was a huge drama and musical theatre nerd, and my happiest memories from high school are from spending time with people who enjoyed and encouraged that side of me. Before that, I’d gone through a phase of trying to fit in with other groups, and never feeling sure of myself. The most important friend to have as a teenager is yourself. Build your group of friends from people who love you for you.

TeenTelevision: More great advice. Have you ever had to take care of a younger sibling or relative? Are you good at caring for younger kids?

Sara: I have no siblings, but have lots of cousins, so I’ve definitely had some practice with little ones. I was lucky enough to have awesome older cousins to play with me when I was a little girl. They were a big part in my developing a pretty wild imagination.

TeenTelevision: Back to the show…  How much about the town vamps will Jenna finally know?  Will we find out that she knows way more than we think?

Sara: I have no idea how much Jenna will find out about the supernatural beings inhabiting Mystic Falls. We sometimes get the scripts only a day or two before shooting that episode, so I’m often just as surprised as the audience! It would be awesome to see Jenna’s reaction to finding out her niece is dating a vampire.

TeenTelevision: What else do you really wish the writers and showrunners would let Jenna do in future?

Sara: I would really love for Jenna’s character to become involved with the supernatural aspect of the show. It seems that knowledge of the vampires leads to really cool stunts, so that would be a lot of fun!

Also, there’s a lot of history in Mystic Falls, as we’ve seen with the flashback episodes, and the fact that there are witches in the town as well. I’d love for the writers to explore Jenna’s family history, and find out if there are any supernatural secrets residing there.

TeenTelevision: Great ideas! What historical or literary character would you love to play in a film some day and why?

Sara Canning in “Black Field”

Rebecca Sandulak

Sara: There are so many characters from both history and literature that I’d like to play! The best book I’ve read recently is called ‘The Glass Castle’, a memoir by Jeannette Walls. It’s about her growing up in a very dysfunctional family, but her parents are two of the most fascinating characters I’ve read. If the book were ever translated to film, when I’m older, I’d love to play her mother, Rose Mary Walls.

TeenTelevision: Are you doing a film or TV movie on hiatus from the show?

Sara: In June, I have a film coming out in Canada called Black Field (A dark historical drama set in 19th century rural Canada; a gothic tale about two sisters, the man that comes between them, and the tragedy that results.) Right now I’m focusing on filming the last few episodes of season one of ‘The Vampire Diaries’, then we’ll see!

TeenTelevision: What would you say to fans as to why they will really enjoy upcoming episodes?

Sara: It’s really become standard with ‘The Vampire Diaries’ that each episode will reveal something shocking to the audience. Since we’ve seen the tomb opened, fans can expect to see the aftermath of that. They’ll also get to see more into the past of the Salvatore brothers, which is great, because who doesn’t love Stefan and Damon?

TeenTelevision: Amen to that!