Ian Somerhalder’s Message To ‘Delena’ Fans: Elena Still In Damon’s Heart, Season 7 Marks ‘The Vampire Diaries’ Evolution

Loyal "Delena" fans may still be having a hard time getting over the loss of one half of the beloved lovebirds, Damon Salvatore and Elena Gilbert, after season 6 of "The Vampire Diaries." However, Ian Somerhalder, who plays Damon, assured fans in a recent interview that Elena is still in his character’s heart.

Somerhalder sat down in an exclusive interview with E!News where he spilled details about his "The Vampire Diaries" character in season 7 of the hit CW series. When asked about his message to fans who will miss the Damon and Elena pairing, the actor replied that both characters were great, and that they will “remain great characters separated.”

At the end of "The Vampire Diaries" season 6, fans were heartbroken when Elena was placed in a sleep like death. This was after actress Nina Dobrev, who played the character, decided to leave the CW series.

"Damon is still here," Somerhalder added. "He's still evolving and he's still having a blast and he's still saying super-smarmy, ridiculously overly confident, very wildly embarrassing and degrading things and he will continue to do that, but with a little love for Elena in his heart."

Somerhalder also tried to make light of his character’s heartbreak over losing his soulmate, by commenting on how difficult it is to maintain that relationship when Elena is sealed shut in a coffin for many years. "It's not so great for a relationship. I would not recommend it," he said.

The actor admitted that his Damon character is going to have a hard tough in season 7 of “The Vampire Diaries” going through the loss, however Somerhalder commented that it’s part of the show’s evolution and journey. "I'm thinking that this is the evolution of the show," he told E! "Obviously she is in his heart and he is going to have a very tough time understanding how to go on, but that's what drama's for."

Meanwhile, Somerhalder spent Monday night answering some of the fans' questions about "The Vampire Diaries" during a Facebook Q&A session. The actor answered queries such as how often Damon will be shirtless in season 7, in which he teasingly replied "As much as you want him to be." Somerhalder was also asked whether he'll go behind the camera to direct in season 7 of "The Vampire Diaries" and the actor confirmed that he'll be doing so around Christmas time.

Season 7 of "The Vampire Diaries" will premiere in the U.S. on Oct. 8.