Kayla Ewell is one of those actresses you’ve definitely seen, even if you can’t quite place her face at first. She’s the girl from The Vampire Diaries. No, not Nina Dobrev. The other one. The one who broke everyone’s heart in the first season. Honestly, her career is a wild case study in how one specific role can define a person for a decade, even if they only stuck around for a handful of episodes.
She’s stayed relevant. Somehow, between the chaotic world of Mystic Falls and her transition into the podcasting space, she’s managed to build a brand that feels incredibly grounded. It’s rare. Usually, child actors or CW stars burn out or vanish into the indie film void. She didn't.
The Vicki Donovan Effect and Why It Still Stings
Let’s talk about The Vampire Diaries. If you were breathing in 2009, you knew Vicki Donovan. Kayla Ewell played the "troubled" girl of Mystic Falls with a kind of raw vulnerability that most CW shows usually gloss over in favor of shiny love triangles. She was the first "real" casualty of the series.
When Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec decided to kill her off, it wasn't just a plot point. It was a warning. It told the audience that no one was safe. Ewell has talked about this quite a bit on her podcast, Directionally Challenged. She knew her time was short, but the impact was massive. Fans still come up to her at conventions crying about Vicki.
Think about it. She was turned into a vampire, lost her mind, and got a stake through the heart all within a few episodes. That’s a heavy lift for a young actress. Most people forget she was actually on The Bold and the Beautiful before the fangs came out. She played Caitlin Ramirez for nearly 150 episodes. That soap opera training is probably why she can deliver those high-stakes emotional beats without looking like she’s trying too hard. It’s a specific skill set.
Life Beyond the Vampire Fangs
After Mystic Falls, things got interesting. She didn't just chase the next big pilot. She guest-starred on House, The Glades, and Lucifer. She also had a recurring gig on Roswell, New Mexico, which felt like a nice nod to her CW roots.
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But if you really want to know what she’s up to lately, look at her business moves. She isn't just an actress anymore; she’s a creator. Along with Candice King (who played Caroline Forbes), she launched Directionally Challenged. It started as a way to talk about being in your 30s and not having a clue what you're doing. It’s relatable. It’s the opposite of the "perfect" influencer life we see on Instagram.
They talk about everything. Infertility, grief, career pivots, and the weirdness of being a "legacy" actor. They’ve had guests like Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley on, which obviously makes the fans go nuts. But the core of it is surprisingly deep. It’s about the shift from being the "it girl" to being a woman trying to balance a mortgage, a marriage, and a kid while the industry keeps changing around you.
The Reality of the "CW Family"
There is a very specific bond among the actors who survived the 2010s teen drama boom. Kayla is at the center of it. She married Tanner Novlan—who stars on The Bold and the Beautiful and Roswell, New Mexico—back in 2015. Their wedding was basically a TV fan's fever dream. Candice King was a bridesmaid. Nina Dobrev was there. Michael Trevino was there.
It’s interesting because it highlights how small the industry actually is. You spend years working 16-hour days in Atlanta, and you end up with friends for life. Kayla has leaned into that. She doesn't shy away from her past. She embraces it.
Navigating Motherhood and the Industry
Kayla has two kids now, Poppy and Jones. And she’s been very vocal about the "un-glamorous" side of post-baby life. In an era where celebrities pretend they "snapped back" three days after giving birth, she’s been refreshingly honest. She’s talked about the struggle of returning to set while nursing and the mental toll of the "bounce back" culture.
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It’s this authenticity that keeps her following loyal. People aren't just following her for Vampire Diaries updates anymore. They’re following her because she’s a mom who happens to be an actress, not an actress who uses her kids as props.
What People Get Wrong About Kayla Ewell
People think she’s "just" Vicki. That’s the trap.
The reality is that she’s a seasoned professional who has been working consistently since 2004. That’s twenty-plus years in Hollywood. That doesn't happen by accident. You have to be easy to work with. You have to be talented. And you have to be smart enough to pivot when the roles change.
She’s also a fitness enthusiast. Like, a real one. Not the "I drink green juice and do yoga once a week" type. She’s often spotted hiking the trails in LA or doing high-intensity workouts. It’s part of how she stays grounded.
The Future of the Ewell Brand
So, what’s next?
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She’s still acting, obviously. But her focus seems to be shifting more toward production and digital media. The podcast has proven that she has an audience that will follow her wherever she goes. There’s a rumor—or maybe just a very strong hope from fans—that she might do more directing or producing in the future.
She has that specific type of "industry IQ." She understands how sets work. She understands how to talk to fans. She knows the business side of the "content" world.
Why You Should Care
Kayla Ewell represents a shift in how we view "celebrity." We used to want our stars to be untouchable and mysterious. Now, we want them to be like Kayla. We want them to tell us that their toddler didn't sleep and that they're stressed about their next job.
She’s a reminder that you can have a "peaked" moment in a massive TV show and then go on to have a much more fulfilling, multi-hyphenate career afterward. Life doesn't end when your character gets killed off. Sometimes, it’s just the start of the second act.
How to follow her journey effectively:
- Listen to the back catalog of Directionally Challenged: If you want the real, unvarnished truth about Hollywood and adulthood, start from the early episodes. It’s better than any "how-to" book on the industry.
- Watch her "Roswell, New Mexico" arc: It’s a great example of how she’s matured as an actress. The vulnerability is still there, but it’s more refined.
- Check her social media for the "real" stuff: Ignore the sponsored posts. Look at the stories where she’s just being a mom or hanging out with her old castmates. That’s where the value is.
- Support her husband's work too: Tanner Novlan and Kayla are basically a power couple in the daytime and CW spaces. Their dynamic is one of the most stable and genuinely supportive ones in the business.
Don't just pigeonhole her as a girl who died in a 2009 vampire show. She’s much more interesting than that. Watch her move into the next phase of her career—it's likely going to involve a lot more behind-the-scenes control and a lot more honest conversations that actually matter.