Already have an account?
Get back to the

Nina Dobrev on Ian Somerhalder Breakup: “People Aren’t Defined by Their Relationships”

Nina Dobrev poses for Cosmopolitan magazine
Nina Dobrev says she is not defined by her relationships -- of either the friend or romance variety.

Nearly three months after splitting from her Vampire Diaries costar Ian Somerhalder, Nina Dobrev is having the time of her life hanging out with her gal pals — just don’t call their get-togethers pity parties.

“That’s not what our friendship is about,” she tells the September issue of Cosmopolitan of her connection with gal pal Julianne Hough, who split with love of two years Ryan Seacrest in March. “Unfortunately, that’s how it’s perceived, but there’s more to us. People aren’t defined by their relationships. The whole point is being true to yourself and not losing yourself in relationships, whether romances or friendships.”

Related: PHOTOS: Nina and Ian in happier times

The girlfriends have instead been focusing on their own wellness and betterment — Dobrev is even planning on opening up a yoga studio in the near future.

“Yoga changed my life,” she says of staying zen. “Hopefully, it will do that for others.”

Nina Dobreve - Cosmo Cover
Nina Dobrev covers the September issue of Cosmopolitan.

“It’s been cool to find an active buddy — there are lots of girlie girls around,” she adds of Hough. “We don’t talk about makeup; we talk about life.”

And the next time Dobrev gets into a relationship, the actress explained, she knows exactly what she’ll be looking for. “You either have chemistry or you don’t, but a lot of what attracts me is a guy’s mind and humor and talent,” she says. “I need to get to know all those things before I fall for someone. I’m not a one-night-stand kind of girl. I’m a relationship girl.”

Related: PHOTOS: Vampires through the years

As for what type of guy she’s personally attracted to? “I’m progressive in some ways, old-fashioned in others,” she explains. “I like it when guys hold the door open and are sweet and thoughtful. The guys on our show are really good at that.”

PHOTOS: Hollywood’s friendliest exes

“A man in a suit looking put together and dapper is very attractive, but I also kind of like the I-just-rolled-out-of-bed, a-little-bit-of-scruff, effortless, not-trying-hard-but-still-sexy guy,” Dobrev continues. “If a guy spends more time looking in the mirror than I do, that’s a problem!”

In this article

Got a Tip form close button
Got a tip for US?
We're All Ears for Celebrity Buzz!