Nina Dobrev left The Vampire Diaries primarily because of a pay disparity with her male co-stars, Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley. Despite playing multiple characters on the show, which significantly increased her workload, she was paid less than the two leads. Dobrev wanted fair compensation reflecting her contribution and status as an equal lead in the series. This pay inequity, combined with her desire to move on from the series and take on other roles, prompted her departure after the sixth season. Additionally, Dobrev expressed that leaving was part of her plan to stop playing a teenager and pursue other opportunities, despite it being a scary decision for her.

The show's writers creatively wrote her character Elena Gilbert out by putting her in a sleeping curse to keep open the possibility of her return, which she eventually did for the series finale.