Ian Somerhalder Talks Nina Dobrev Relationship With Fans; ‘Vampire Diaries’ Star Says He Never Dates Co-Workers

Are “Vampire Diaries” co-stars Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev back together? Not according to fans at “The Vampire Diaries” convention in Orlando, Fla. The actor reportedly took to the stage over the weekend of Dec. 14-15 to talk not only about season 5 on-screen drama, but also a little bit about his personal life.

Answering questions about his least favorite flashback hair (80s Damon) and the most-beautiful place he’s ever been (“TVD” Orlando and Paul Wesley’s bedroom), the star was eventually asked a doozy: Would he ever date a member of the Ian Somerhalder Foundation?

(For those that don’t know, the actor started the Ian Somerhalder Foundation to “empower, educate and collaborate with people and projects to positively impact the planet and its creatures.”)

So what did Somerhalder answer? According to a fan who posted on Ian-Somerhalder.com, the actor said he wouldn't date a member of ISF because he “never dates people he works with.” The site then dished that one fan responded with: “except one.” To that, Somerhalder replied, “actually twice.”

The actor is, of course, referring to his very public three-year relationship with “Vampire Diaries” co-star and on-screen love, Dobrev. But what some don’t know is that in 2006 Somerhalder dated his “Lost” co-star and on-screen stepsister, Maggie Grace.

Somerhalder’s response about not dating co-workers echoes a comment that Dobrev made to Seventeen magazine in 2009. Initially telling the magazine “why she wouldn’t date any of her co-stars,” Dobrev a couple years later had to explain her comment to the magazine after she became romantically linked to Somerhalder.

“It’s funny I said that, but you know what? It was honestly what I believed at the time,” the actress told the magazine. “I didn’t want to be dating one of my co-stars … sometimes you can’t help who you have a connection with, and you can only fight it for so long -- which I did for a really, really long time.”

Despite rumors of a romantic reconciliation, the pair remains friends. But the same can’t be said about their “Vampire Diaries” alter egos Damon Salvatore and Elena Gilbert.

After multiple seasons of will Elena or won’t Elena get with Damon, the vampire finally professed her love (sire bond-free) to Damon at the end of season 4. Starting off season 5 with a lot of passion, the couple hit a couple road blocks along the way. The midseason finale ended with Damon breaking things off with Elena, but the split won’t be permanent.

“The 100th episode will revisit this fight that they had, this break-up, and [Damon’s] going to get some good brotherly advice that will push him in the right direction,” Executive Producer Caroline Dries revealed to TVLine.