Ian Somerhalder discusses his approach to his work

If you thought Ian Somerhalder just shows up and reads a few lines then think again.

“There is the edge, in keeping it fresh and keeping things in my life that I can actually put into the text,” the Vampire Diaries star revealed.

“The only way I’m going to be able to really, truly live a moment is if it actually means something to me. You can’t just show up and say the words. Sometimes it really hurts. A lot of stuff that my character goes through is super-cathartic for me, as an individual, and it’s not always pretty.

“You’re pulling from all these things in your life that are not necessarily good. It’s basically like getting paid for therapy. Instead of laying on someone’s couch and telling them about how you feel, you’re internally pulling all this stuff.”