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The Vampire Diaries: Nina Dobrev Teases "Big Finale Reveal," Ian Somerhalder Hints at "Redemption"

Exclusive! "I got to fight myself in a big way, not just a little against the wall neck grab," Dobrev says of the showdown between her two characters in the CW's season four finale

By Kristin Dos Santos, Tierney Bricker May 16, 2013 9:57 PMTags
Watch: Who Will Elena Choose in "Diaries" Finale?

Attention Emmy voters, it's time for you to recognize the brilliance that Nina Dobrev has been serving up on The Vampire Diaries this season!

Seriously, the girl acted her face off in the episode where Elena's brother Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) died on the CW hit, and we couldn't help but gush all over her tear-inducing performance when we caught up with Dobrev on the red carpet at the CW's upfront presentation in New York City. And guess what? We weren't the only ones sobbing!

"The experience of reading that script for the first time in our read-through, I've never gone through that in my entire life," she tells us. "I literally started sobbing uncontrollably as I was reading it."

But will tonight's finale cause fans to sob? Well, Elena makes her choice between Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Stefan (Paul Wesley), so one half of the fanbase might just be! We chatted with Dobrev and Somerhalder about "Graduation," including the "big reveal" and Katherine and Elena's showdown!

Watch: Redemption for Damon in "Diaries" Finale

While Dobrev wouldn't spill on which brother Elena chooses (duh!), she does reveal it's not an easy decision.

"It's like any relationship. There's a different connection you have with different people, and I think that Elena had a certain connection with Stefan that was very profound and with Damon it was more excitable," she says. "Between the two of them, unfortunately, they're the perfect man, so it's hard. Maybe she needs to go out and explore other things and discover herself.

"Damon's grown a lot. It's about the push and the pull of him really wanting her to be this creature, because her feelings ultimately changed for Stefan, which was very good for Damon, but in all actuality even Damon knows it's not right; what happened to this young, beautiful woman and watching her deteriorate and fall apart, it's heartbreaking to see," Somerhalder previews what fans can expect from Elena's choice between the two brothers in the finale. "By virtue of that, there's redemption in some ways."

Of course, this being The Vampire Diaries, show which has basically redefined finales, fans can expect a game-changing twist.

"There's a big reveal that happens in the finale that changes, that will create a whole new vibe in the fifth season and I know Paul [Wesley] was excited about this," she teases.

And fans will finally get to see Elena and Katherine really battle it out in tonight's finale, with Dobrev telling us, "I got to fight myself in a big way, not just a little against the wall neck grab. It's a pretty intense sequence and it's going to be fun for people to see!"

The Vampire Diaries finale airs tonight at 8 p.m. on the CW.

To hear more from Dobrev and Somerhalder, including his recent interactions with crying fans, watch our interviews above!

PHOTOS: 2013 May finale spoiler-rama