Who doesn’t love Stefan from The Vampire Diaries? We all do. But did you know that he was always a ladies man, growing up? No, this doesn’t mean that he had too many girlfriends; he grew up in a household full of women - his mom and his sisters. This is also why Paul Wesley is a family man and values family over anything.
Paul is an amazing actor, producer, and director. He steers away from the media and keeps his life private. This is probably why we don’t know much about him as compared to other people. However, in many ways, Paul Wesley is a lot like Stefan Salvatore. A kind-hearted, hopelessly romantic man. Here are some facts about Paul Wesley that his fans should absolutely know.
15 Paul Wesley Is Not His Real Name
Believe it or not, Paul Wesley is not his real name. The actor changed his name in 2005 to make it easier for the audience and his fans. Of course, like a good momma’s boy, he first took his mother’s permission. But his real name when he was christened was Pail Thomas Wasilewski.
14 Troubled Youth
If you look at Paul now, you are probably not going to think that he used to be a bad boy. Even by checking out the famous character that he plays on The Vampire Diaries. Stefan is such a genuinely kind-hearted all for heart person when his humanity is not turned off. Paul Wesley was once thrown out of school because he got into a terrible fight. This, in fact, wasn’t the first time that he got into trouble for causing a scene.
13 Believes In Ghosts
This has nothing to do with the fact that Paul plays a vampire in a TV series. However, this could be one of the things that help him connect with the character. He believes in ghosts. According to Wesley, he once saw a ghost in Rhode Island. He saw a woman staring out the window, and later she faded away as he called her. He is positive that she was a ghost and not a fantasy.
12 Award-Winning
We all love the trio in The Vampire Diaries. They all get along well, and regardless of what rumors say, Ian and Paul are great buddies. They have fun both on and off-screen. That being said, the cast of this top-rated TV series has been recognized and loved worldwide. Paul Wesley has also won an award as a Young Hollywood Award for Cast To Watch.
11 Initially Auditioned For The Role Of Damon
We love Stefan because he is a good boy at the end of the series. Spoiler alert: he dies so his elder brother could reunite with the love of his life. So no regrets there. Initially, when Paul was being cast for Stefan's role, he did not want to play the younger Salvatore. Instead, he read for the part of Damon and was more inclined towards playing it.
10 Proudly Polish
Even though Paul was born in America, he has solid Polish roots. This is because he spent his childhood in Poland for many years as a kid during his summer holidays with his grandparents. Polish is his mother tongue, and Paul takes pride in speaking the language. In one of his interviews with TV Insider, he expressed that his very fond memories are from Poland.
9 Love For Literature
Just like his character, Stefan Salvatore, Paul has a deep interest in literature. He loves to read and write. He spends most of his free time reading since he hates watching TV. His favorite book is J.D. Salinger’s classic novel, The Catcher in the Rye. He, in fact, goes to many readings and attends theatre shows as well.
8 Wanted To Become A Journalist
Paul always had a knack for serious journalism. He reads regularly and is always up to date with the current affairs about the world, economy, and climate. In fact, he makes sure that he is giving back to society as well. In one of his interviews with US Magazine, he mentioned that he would have been a journalist if not an actor.
7 Has Been Married And Divorced
Paul is a lover. That is very evident if you have been following his relationships over the Internet. If he falls in love with someone, he makes sure that he is trying his best to make it work. He is much like Stefan in that way. He has been married twice. His first wife was Torrey DeVitto, and then he got divorced. He later married Ines de Ramon.
6 Hopeless Romantic
Much like his character, Stefan Salvatore, Paul is a hopeless romantic in real life. He is a one-woman man, so if he is in a relationship with someone, you will not hear any other cheating rumors about him. He was dating Phoebe Tonkin on and off, and not even once did the media get a chance to say anything wrong about him.
5 Always Kidding
Paul is a very kind-hearted person. He is open-minded and an extrovert when it comes to hanging around the people he is comfortable with. He is great friends with Ian, and they both have many stories and jokes to share with the media during their press releases. Paul is also one of those members in the cast who are always cracking jokes.
4 Close To His Mom
Paul has extremely strong family roots and loves his family more than anything in the world. He is one of those kids who got all the love growing up, and that’s why he is such a sweetheart in real life. He loves and respects his mother the most, and they are very close. In fact, Paul’s mother was his first in-house director for his first model shoot ever.
3 Tattoo Gone Wrong
Just like many of us, Paul wasn’t always the smart guy that he is now. And who doesn’t mean mistakes when they were teenagers? All of us do, right. So did Paul. He got himself a tattoo of skulls and crossbones that he regrets to date. Later he made it into a rose, and now we all gawk at his biceps and feel good.
2 Fan Of Winter Sports
Paul is not like a regular soccer guy. He likes to do things differently, just like Stefan did. He is crazy about winter sports, just like any other super American jock. His favorites are snowboarding and ice-hockey. He also has a love for the mountains, and he never fails to make a trip whenever he gets a chance.
1 Surrounded By Women
Growing up, Paul was always surrounded by women. He was the only boy in all his siblings, so he is so respectful towards women that he dates, friends, or works with. He was also liked by his sisters’ friends, and they all loved to hang out with Paul. Of course, who wouldn’t?
Source: TVOverMind, Cinemaprobe, Useless Daily