Daniel Gillies. That’s the name you’re looking for. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in those tailored suits. When we talk about who played Elijah in The Originals, we aren’t just talking about an actor filling a role; we’re talking about a guy who basically invented a specific brand of "vampire decorum" that didn't exist before he stepped onto the set of The Vampire Diaries in 2010.
He was supposed to be a guest. A short-term villain. A disposable threat. But Gillies brought something so weirdly captivating to the character—a mix of extreme violence and a dry, antique politeness—that the writers couldn't kill him off. They tried. They actually "killed" him multiple times in those early seasons, but the fan reaction was so intense that he eventually became the co-lead of his own spin-off.
The man behind the suit: Daniel Gillies
Daniel Gillies is a Canadian-born New Zealand actor. Before he was ripping hearts out in New Orleans, he was mostly known for playing John Jameson in Spider-Man 2—you know, the astronaut who almost marries Mary Jane. It’s a wild jump from a clean-cut NASA hero to a thousand-year-old immortal with a "noble" streak that often borders on psychotic.
The thing about Gillies is his physicality. He decided very early on that Elijah Mikaelson shouldn't move like a normal person. He’s still. He’s incredibly still. When he moves, it’s precise. This wasn't just a choice for the sake of looking cool; it was a character choice that defined the entire Mikaelson family dynamic. While Klaus (Joseph Morgan) was all explosive rage and shifting eyes, Gillies played Elijah as the calm center of the storm.
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He often joked in interviews about the "Elijah suit." It was his armor. In the sweltering heat of Georgia (where they filmed), Gillies was layered up in high-end wool and silk, never breaking a sweat while everyone else was in t-shirts and leather jackets. That dedication to the "aesthetic of the Original" is a huge reason why the character worked. It felt grounded in history.
Why Elijah Mikaelson worked where others failed
Most vampire shows fall into the trap of making their leads too "CW-pretty" or too brooding without any substance. Elijah was different. He was scary. Do you remember the coins? In his very first appearance, he threw a handful of spare change through a window with enough force to shatter glass and decapitate people. It was a statement.
The complexity Daniel Gillies brought to the role involved a deep sense of self-loathing masked by "nobility." He wasn't just the "good brother." That’s a common misconception. Elijah was often just as brutal as Klaus, but he did it with a handkerchief in his hand to wipe away the blood. Gillies played that hypocrisy perfectly. He made you believe that Elijah truly thought he was a good man, even when he was doing horrific things in the name of "family above all."
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The chemistry that built a franchise
You can’t talk about who played Elijah in The Originals without mentioning Joseph Morgan. The two of them had this lightning-in-a-bottle chemistry. It wasn't just that they looked like they could be related; they shared a rhythm. Gillies often improvised small moments—a tilt of the head, a specific way of adjusting his cufflinks—that Morgan would react to in real-time.
This partnership is what allowed The Originals to transition from a teen-centric high school drama to a Shakespearean tragedy about power and legacy. Gillies stayed with the show for its entire five-season run, eventually even directing several episodes, including "Phantomesque" in season four. This showed he wasn't just a "hired gun" actor; he was deeply invested in the lore of the Mikaelson family.
Life after the tuxedo
Since The Originals wrapped in 2018, Gillies hasn't disappeared. He moved on to Virgin River, playing Mark Monroe. It’s a jarring shift for fans. Seeing him in a cozy sweater in a small town instead of a three-piece suit in a French Quarter mansion feels almost wrong. But it speaks to his range. He also starred in the thriller Coming Home in the Dark, which is a grueling, dark film that is about as far from a CW supernatural drama as you can get.
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There's always talk about him returning to the "TVDU" (The Vampire Diaries Universe). While he made a few voice cameos or appeared in flashbacks in the spin-off Legacies, he has been pretty vocal about having told Elijah's story. The ending of The Originals was... well, it was final. Spoilers for a years-old show, but Elijah and Klaus going out together was the only way that story could have realistically ended. Gillies has expressed that he felt the ending was poetic, even if it was heartbreaking for the fans who spent nearly a decade watching him.
Fun facts about Daniel Gillies' portrayal
- The Hair: In the early episodes of The Vampire Diaries, Elijah had a slightly longer, floppier hairstyle. Gillies pushed for the tighter, more "professional" cut we see in The Originals to reflect the character's obsession with control.
- The Martial Arts: Gillies has a background in Muay Thai and often worked closely with the stunt coordinators to ensure Elijah’s fighting style was "efficient." He didn't want Elijah to brawl; he wanted him to end fights in two moves.
- The Directing: He didn't just direct The Originals; he also wrote and directed a film called Broken Kingdom back in 2012, proving his interests go way beyond just being in front of the camera.
How to watch his best work today
If you’re looking to revisit the performance that defined a decade of supernatural TV, The Originals is usually streaming on platforms like Freevee, Amazon Prime, or Netflix depending on your region. It holds up surprisingly well. Unlike some shows from that era that feel dated because of the effects, the "Mikaelson" era of the franchise relies heavily on the acting and the dialogue.
Next steps for fans of Daniel Gillies:
- Watch "Coming Home in the Dark": If you want to see his acting range without the "noble vampire" constraints, this New Zealand thriller is the place to start. It's intense, so be prepared.
- Follow his photography: Gillies is an avid photographer and often shares high-contrast, artistic shots on his social media that have a very different vibe than his TV work.
- Check out "Saving Hope": Before and during his time on The Originals, he played Dr. Joel Goran in this Canadian medical drama. It’s a great way to see him playing a "normal" human with the same intensity he brought to Elijah.
- Re-watch the "Sun Also Rises" arc: Go back to season two of The Vampire Diaries. That is where Gillies truly solidified Elijah as a legend. It’s the peak of his "unstoppable force" era.
Ultimately, Daniel Gillies didn't just play a character; he created a prototype for the "gentleman monster" that many other shows have tried to copy since. He remains the heart of that franchise, even years after the final curtain call.