Paul Wesley: Stefan, Stefussy & The Salvatore Brotherhood

Paul Wesley, born Paweł Wasilewski to Polish immigrant parents, changed his stage name early in his acting career because he found the pronunciation of his real surname cumbersome in Hollywood. His parents were highly educated (his father attended Columbia and works as a computer engineer; his mother has a master's in psychology) but supported his passion for acting rather than forcing him into traditional career paths.

When auditioning for The Vampire Diaries, Wesley took an unconventional approach by deliberately not acknowledging Nina Dobrev during their initial screen test, wanting their on-screen meeting to feel authentic. Despite not getting along well during the early seasons due to Wesley's intensity and perfectionism on set, the two developed undeniable chemistry that translated to their characters' relationship. Their relationship gradually evolved from tension to genuine friendship over the show's eight-year run, with Wesley telling Dobrev near the end, "You're going to miss me one day"—a prediction that proved accurate when she returned for the finale after a two-year absence.

Wesley's friendship with Ian Somerhalder began during their very first meeting at a dental office for fang fittings before the pilot. On the flight to Vancouver, Somerhalder optimistically predicted the show would be successful while Wesley expressed doubt. They bonded deeply by moving to Atlanta and getting apartments next to each other, famously arriving at the airport dressed identically in light blue jeans, black leather belts, white Hanes shirts, black Ray-Bans, and cowboy boots. Their relationship evolved from colleagues to best friends to brothers, eventually leading to a business partnership.

During COVID lockdown, Somerhalder called Wesley suggesting they create a bourbon blend together. They spent months in Somerhalder's kitchen experimenting with graduated measuring cylinders and bourbon samples. When pitching to major retailers, they needed a name quickly and settled on 'Brothers Bond'—Wesley's refinement of Somerhalder's initial suggestion of 'Brothers Supreme'—capturing both their on-screen vampire brotherhood and their off-screen bonding ritual of drinking bourbon after long filming days in Atlanta.

Wesley has had several awkward romantic encounters, including attempting to kiss a girl on a fire escape in New York who rejected him, and going in for a goodnight kiss with an actress on a date who declined, forcing him to pretend it was just a hug. He reflects that these experiences taught him valuable lessons about reading social cues. His current fiancée Natalie, whom he met at a bar in the East Village during a Brothers Bond promotional event, is European, speaks five languages, and they connected organically with the help of a friend's introduction.

Wesley proposed to Natalie at the Belmond Caruso hotel on the Amalfi Coast, where they'd spent their first trip together. He contacted the hotel and worked with a staff member named Elena to set up an elaborate surprise dinner in a private olive grove with candles and a private chef, deceiving Natalie by making her believe the hotel had arranged it.

Regarding his casting as young James Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Wesley emphasizes his interpretation differs from the stereotypical machismo portrayal, instead presenting Kirk as bookish and in a coming-of-age phase, still learning how to become a captain. He views this role as part of his broader strategy to differentiate himself from Stefan Salvatore, the character that made him famous.

The interview includes multiple humorous anecdotes: Wesley thought Madison Beer was a type of beer when asked about her, leading to viral TikTok content. He's plagued by unauthorized Halloween costume merchandise bearing his face in various absurd configurations (with upside-down mustaches, sombreros, etc.) that he couldn't legally stop because the company is based in China. He discovered through the interview that he was inadvertently part of the Jersey Shore scene in his 20s, hanging out with 'The Situation' without realizing it at the time. He also learned about the 'clam slam'—a Love Island phenomenon—with no prior knowledge.

Wesley's early career included a soap opera role on 'The Guiding Light' with Britney Snow, during which Snow's mother revealed that Wesley was Snow's first on-camera kiss. He also had a memorable one-episode role on The OC playing Donnie, a character who shot Luke (Matt Lanter) at a party, describing himself as having played the role by essentially 'being himself' as a self-described Jersey guido at the time.

The transcript reveals Wesley's pattern of discovering things long after the fact—whether it's viral moments, his own cultural contributions, or basic pop culture references—suggesting a genuine obliviousness to how he's perceived publicly and consumed by internet culture.