ROSE & IVY Nina Dobrev Interview Sick Girl & The Bricklayer

cover Nina is wearing Jason Wu Collection; jewelry by Alessandra Camilla Milano; shoes by Giuseppe Zanotti; briefs by Commando.

above Nina is wearing ETRO Women’s Resort 2024 Blue Floral Printed Dress; earrings by Judy Geib available at Twist; rings by GISEL B. and Marlo Laz; bracelet Nina’s own.

opening image Nina is wearing a full look by Brunello Cucinelli, available at Brunello Cucinelli 683-689 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10065; heels by Malone Souliers; earrings by Judy Geib available at Twist; tights are stylist’s own and worn throughout story.

With a new year I feel like the idea of potential is on the mind. How have you seen this idea of potential and possibility evolve as you have gone through life?

When I was younger, I definitely had a blind trust in the universe, its potential, and unlimited opportunities. I think there is a naiveté behind that which lends itself to being really hopeful and as a result, you attract more opportunities. As I have gotten older, and especially because of covid, I felt like some of that magic had faded away. So the last two years have been this personal journey of rediscovering that childlike excitement. It’s about bringing back the playfulness and getting into a rhythm, which will also bring back the excitement of the opportunities. For so many of us, it was a pause in life, and trying to get that momentum back up has been hard.

above Nina is wearing Alexandre Vauthier Haute Couture; earrings by Ritique; shoes by Malone Souliers.

I agree, it’s been a challenge. Its like restarting an engine, sometimes it takes longer.

Yeah, I’ve been working on turning that back on, also, the strike was another pause in that department. It’s exciting that it is all coming back and I am feeling more hopeful and the opportunities are coming back and that is exciting. I am also not seeing it as a business only and I have rediscovered that playfulness. When you have that energy behind things it attracts more of that.

GOing back to what you said about trusting in the universe, sounds like manifesting, which is key i’ve found.

I’m a big believer in manifestation, too and that’s what I was hinting at. As I got older, I started to manifest less and got caught up in the day-to-day grind of things. I am reminding myself to dream big again.

When you started to branch out in other ways like writing, directing, and producing, how do you entertain thoughts of uncertainty and doubt when pursuing something that challenges you or pushes you out of your comfort zone?

I dive head first into everything that I do both to my detriment and my success. When you aren’t thinking so much you just do it. I have relied on my instincts, my gut instincts, a lot of the time. I am trying to learn how to follow my intuition and listen to my gut more. I feel like I am very intuitive. When I go with my gut and make decisions from that pure place, I find thereis a lot more success. I think variety has kept me inspired and kept me going; changing up between being in front of the camera or behind the camera in a producorial way, or dipping my toe into the directing world. It has kept things fresh, new, and challenging. Especially with producing, it is so challenging because it takes so many years and so much energy. It’s not a nine-to-five job; I think Sick Girl, took five years before it came out. While I am waiting for an audition to come in or a director who wants to meet with me, I am also producing on the side. It is good for my brain mentally, it keeps me active, busy, and feeling like I have purpose. I think it’s so important to have a purpose. I think that’s a very undervalued feeling and people don’t talk about it a lot.

As you mentioned, you executive produced one of your new films ‘sick girl’. talk to me about branching out in that way. What do you love and what is the least favorable thing when it comes to producing?

The least favorable is how long it takes. The time commitment to get a call back or a meeting—people cancel and there is a lot of back and forth. But that is also what is the most positive thing about it, it’s a double-edged sword. Once it does come to fruition and you finish it, there is no feeling that compares to the accomplishment and pride when your baby is released into the world. Getting that real-time feedback is amazing and all of the time and energy is finally paying off.

Can you share more about the project? I read you shot it in 11 days for $500k, which is pretty impressive.

That was a true labor of love, everyone involved in that movie wanted to be there. We all believed in it. It took a bit longer because of the budget limitations to get it finished and to get it out there. But now that it is done, it feels so good. There is nothing better than getting to be a part of something from its inception and getting to have creative control and input on how it turns out.

above Nina is wearing a coat by Meruert Tolegen; bra by Intimissimi; shoes by Malone Souliers.

What are you the most proud of about the film?

I love how dynamic and complicated my character is. Wren is at a crossroads and at a very unique time. People who watch it would say she is lost. She is not only trying to find herself but find her friends and her support group. She does and says things that are unforgivable. It was very interesting to play such a complex character with so many different flaws and challenges. It was fun to dive into the deep end of such a complicated person—it was the first time I got to do so in my career. Jennifer Cram took a chance on me, and I took a chance on her because it was her first film. Together we had this special experience of creating it together. We took a leap of faith at the same time. We started conversations in 2018 and shot it in 2019.

Another project that was just released is ‘The Bricklayer’ where you star opposite aaron eckhart. Can you talk more about this project?

It’s fun especially with Sick Girl and The Bricklayer coming out so close to each other because the juxtaposition is interesting. One was a small indie film that was shot so quickly and The Bricklayer was a bigger production with a big action director and star. They couldn't have been further from each other in tone and experience. It was fun to shoot in Greece, I had never shot in Europe before, and I got to live there for three months.

Greece is amazing, where did you shoot?

Thessaloniki, a coastal town, the second largest city after Athens. The one thing I didn’t realize was when they said I was shooting in Greece I just packed and went. When I landed in my shorts and t-shirt in March, I found out winter was very much a thing and it was snowing when we got there (laughs). It wasn’t like Mykonos or Santorini (laughs). I play a CIA agent in a very grown-up role. Between the two projects, I got to experience, play, and challenge myself with two different roles I never tackled before. I did a lot of my own stunts; I was hanging out of a car going 50 miles an hour in the narrow Greek streets. Growing up, my brother was a daredevil and so was I so I felt prepared for it.

congratulations! When it comes to expressing yourself creatively, how does the idea of courage and vulnerability come into play?

It is all a leap of faith. It’s itching a scratch, it’s something that is missing that you need to fulfill. I know when I started writing I wanted to create the characters I wasn’t given the opportunity to bring to life on screen. Now we have written a couple of things that are in different stages of development, so fingers and toes crossed, we get to make them soon. Producing is the same they go hand-in-hand, you have to be bullish and strong, and make cold calls–cold calls are my speciality.

Advice please! cold calls can be intimidating.

It’s a natural human reaction because the fear of rejection is powerful. A lot of people can be debilitated by it, but I just don’t have that. I have that immigrant mentality that was ingrained from my family because we immigrated from Europe. Nothing has come easy for me. I would so much rather pick up the phone and make a call than send a text message or email. It goes so much further to hear someone’s voice, their passion, and intonation when they are talking to you. I advocate for it when other people don’t. It’s so much more efficient, nothing drives me crazier than wasting time.

What ingredients do there need to be in place to inspire your work?

It’s all about the people. It’s all about who you surround yourself with, that’s been my experience so far. My writing partner, Sarah Adina, is a brilliant writer, a hilarious human being, and a passionate artist. When the two of us are in the same room, the juices just start flowing and it’s just fun. Anytime I have been in the same room with creative people who do what they love and are given the freedom to do what they love, they did better work. My first time directing I didn’t walk into it like I was some genius auteur who knows everything—I leaned on my crew very much. I told everyone there was no idea that was a bad idea and that I’d love to hear anyone’s feedback. Let’s make this as a team; everyone was there because they were the best at what they do. I am not a prop person and I don’t have training in cinematography—I have been on set for years and years—so I rely on my cinematographer who was absolutely genius and so talented. It was a great experience, so what I am getting at is the people around me inspire me.

There is nothing like creative collaboration with like-minded people. In addition to the directing, writing, and acting, you also have an award-winning wine line with your friend Juliane Hough, Fresh vine wine. Are you someone who needs a lot of variety to keep things exciting?

I do, I thrive on being busy and having a lot going on but there is a certain balance that needs to be upheld. At a certain point, you can be too busy so I am constantly teetering and balancing on that line of having enough but not too much so everyone can get done.

Are you someone who has a list of goals they’d like to achieve in yhe new year?

I don’t want to lie, in previous years people always asked, what’s your resolution? I have never done it or failed at them. I have two specific ones so wish me luck. I want to floss every day. I want to go to my dentist and look him in the eye and when he asks, I am going to ask with confidence and not lie like every other time (laughs). I want to meditate, this will be the year I meditate every day. I want to floss and them meditate (laughs).

Introducing January Starring Nina Dobrev