Somerhalder on Girlfriend Dobrev: 'We're the Luckiest People'

Wonderwall, Monday, September 12, 2011, 5:05pm (PDT)

By Rebecca Silverstein

• It's no secret that "The Vampire Diaries" stars Ian Somerhalder and Nina Dobrev are an off-screen couple. After years of keeping their partnership on the DL, they decided to go public with their relationship at June's MuchMusic Video Awards.

  RELATED: Will Nina and Ian last?

  Perhaps it was spending a summer of love together that pushed them out of hiding. From getting cozy at Coachella to pairing off in Paris, it seems like they took their relationship to the next level during the summer hiatus.

  RELATED: Ian and more of pop culture's sexiest vampires

  And now that the show's third season is in full swing, the couple has a lot of time on set together to look forward to. "[Elena and Damon] get a lot more time together because Stefan kind of takes off and ditches them," Ian told us at Bing Presents The CW Premiere Party.

  RELATED: What returning CW show are you most excited to see this fall? Vote now!

  So how does Ian feel about getting more on-screen time with his girl? "It's awesome. Here's the deal: We work so well together. We've been doing this for two years," he said. "We love it. We're the luckiest people in this business."

  RELATED: Why we love 'The Vampire Diaries'

  For more exclusive content on The CW premiere week, go to www.cwtv.com/bing.