Nina and Ian met on the set of Vampire Diaries in 2009 — where they played on-and-off lovers Damon and Elena — and it wasn't long before the two started dating IRL. After their breakup in 2013, both actors remained on the series until its finale in 2017 (though in 2015, Nina went from a main cast member to a guest on the series).
Even now, the actors remain close friends. As Nina told E! News in May 2015, "I've said this before, that we didn't break up because anything bad happened or because there wasn't love or friendship. I love him and the friendship is still strong and I think he's great and I care about him. And that didn't change. Yes, we're professional and that's fine. We were friends long before we dated and we still are now."
The two even hilariously addressed their split onstage after winning the best chemistry award at the 2014 People's Choice Awards. Of the moment, Nina told E! News, "I was trying to figure out, like what do you say in that situation? We were like, well, we're cool, we're friends and costars. He's a great person, I'm a great person . . . I mean, I think I'm pretty awesome. So it doesn't need to be awkward and I think everyone expected it to be so awkward. We made fun of ourselves and just had fun."