Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, the stars of "The Vampire Diaries," revealed that they had to drink so much tea while filming certain scenes that they developed "the most insane anxiety issues."
According to the actors, who played brothers Damon and Stefan Salvatore on the hit show, drinking copious amounts of caffeine was necessary for their characters. However, it took a toll on their mental health.
"We drank a lot of tea," Somerhalder said in an interview with People. "It's what we call the 'tea service.' It's where someone comes around every 20 minutes with a full-on tea cart."
Wesley added that he had never experienced such high levels of caffeine consumption before working on the show. "I've never been so caffeinated in my life," he said.
The excessive amount of caffeine led both actors to develop severe anxiety issues during filming. They described feeling jittery and unable to focus during certain scenes.
"It was insane," Somerhalder said. "We were just vibrating at all times."
Despite the challenges, both actors look back fondly on their time working together on "The Vampire Diaries." The show aired from 2009 to 2017 and remains popular among fans today.
Somerhalder has since gone on to star in other TV shows such as "Lost" and "V-Wars," while Wesley has acted in series like "Tell Me A Story" and directed episodes of shows including "Shadowhunters."
While their time playing vampires may have caused them some short-term stress, it seems clear that both actors have continued thriving professionally even after leaving Mystic Falls behind.