Interview by Kristin Larmore, Relate Intern

Can you imagine knowing four different languages, living in Switzerland, appearing in multiple television shows, commercials and films, starting your own album and becoming a producer by the age of 20?

What a whirlwind! Fanta model/dancer, former Disney movie surfer and hip-hop back-up dancer Katerina Graham knows exactly what that’s like.

She’s appeared in shows including The OC, CSI: Las Vegas, Grounded for Life, Malcom in the Middle and Hannah Montana. She also recently appeared in the film 17 Again with Zach Efron and Matthew Perry. And that’s just the beginning.

Born in Switzerland, the cultured and versatile Graham moved to the states when she was about four, and started doing commercials at five. She’s been working in the business ever since, saying sadly, “I’ve never been on vacation in my life.”

With family in London, Liberia, Israel, Brazil, Portugal, northern California and Arizona, she’s not expecting a family reunion any time soon, especially as she’s living in Atlanta and working on her biggest acting opportunity yet with the popular channel CW.  She plays the role of Bonnie in their upcoming show “Vampire Diaries.”

Though she’s not able to connect much with family, she’s definitely been able to follow her dreams of being a rising star in the film and music world, and she’s very grateful for it.

In the following interview, Katerina passionately tells Relate Magazine about growing up, her experiences as a singer and an actress and the things she’s learned over the years.

And Watch Vampire Diaries, premiering on the CW Thursday, September 10 at 8/7c.

RelateMag: How did you get involved in “Vampire Diaries,” and how would you describe its feel?

Katerina: I auditioned for it. Earlier this year, around February or March, there were a bunch of auditions for pilot season. I had two auditions for another show before. I didn’t get it, and I was devastated. My next audition was a TV show called “Vampire Diaries.” I auditioned for it and got it and we shot it in Vancouver. Mind you, “Vampire Diaries” has been my fifth pilot that I’ve ever shot and it’s the first one I’ve ever shot that actually did get picked up. So it’s not an official show yet, it’s a demo, if you will, for the network. The network loved it, they picked it up, and the vibe of the show is…you know, I don’t want to use any other references because it’s different from anything I’ve ever seen or been a part of. But I guess the closest thing, the way it’s shot in terms of coloring, in terms of lighting, is kind of similar to “Twilight.” The love aspect and the warmth of the characters is similar to the small town life of, say, a “Dawson’s Creek.” It’s such a great show, great vibe.

RelateMag: It seems to be, on the surface, something similar to Twilight. How does it differ from Twilight?

Katerina: The storyline is really different. And of course, on the surface, even “True Blood” had some comparisons to “Twilight.” Anything that has to do with a vampire falling in love, anything that has to do with a girl going someplace that’s completely forbidden or where she shouldn’t be would be compared to “Twilight.” Thank God that “Twilight” was successful, because you’d hate to be compared to something that was a total flop. It’s totally different. The storyline is absolutely, completely [different] from “Twilight.” L.J. Smith, who is the writer of the books that the show is based on, wrote these books years before “Twilight” was even done, and “True Blood.” The only similarities between “Twilight” and “Vampire Diaries” are that she falls in love with a vampire.

RelateMag: How many demos/pilots have you done?

Katerina: I’ve done four or five. I’ve done a pilot for MTV that never got picked up; I’ve done one for Warner Brothers. I did one for Nickelodeon, a cartoon, that never got picked up. You basically shoot these TV shows and they play them for the network and screen them. And if the network likes them, the network orders a full series or a full season. If the network doesn’t like them, you’ll never see them out. The point about “Vampire Diaries” was that we didn’t know if it was going to get picked up. We were just out in Vancouver having fun and shooting a show, and didn’t have any idea if it was going to be as big as it’s becoming.

RelateMag: How would you describe you character, the best friend of the main character, and is she anything like you?

Katerina: The character’s name is Bonnie Bennett. She’s psychic in the show. She’s kind of like Elena’s protector. She’s this foreboding [person] about everything that’s going down in Mystic Falls, Virginia. She’s very, very different from me. Except for the fact that’s she’s very sweet and helpful. As an actor and as an artist, my whole style is retro-90s and Bonnie is very hippie. I’m really into high-fashion and music, Lady Gaga and Gwen Stafani and Bonnie still listens to the Notebook Soundtrack. We’re very, very different people. Things that bother Bonnie wouldn’t affect me in the least bit, and vice versa. Bonnie has a strong character [caring about people], and hopefully I carry that with myself and my own life, but we don’t really have that much in common. Even like me doing some press stuff with the CW, the things I wear are so outrageous and funky and wild. People look at it and are like, “Wow! I can’t believe you’re playing a character that’s so different from you.” But I think that’s the most fun of it, and I love what Bonnie wears even if it’s completely different from what I wear and who I am, I can appreciate it as an actor.

RelateMag: Is it difficult to play a character that’s so different from you?

Katerina: You just go to set as yourself, and then you become this character and you’re this character, and you go on. I have my recording studio at home with my pictures of all things that help me stay creative as a music artist. And then when I go to set, in my trailer I have pictures of all things Bonnie, things that she might like, things that she might do, all the back story, her favorite artists. So, as long as I get the essence of her, it’s good. Some days it’s easier to get into character than others, but I think that’s with any actor.

RelateMag: Describe your experience working with the cast. How has that been for you?

Katerina: We’re actually really close in real life. We’re really good friends. The girls and I, we actually hang out when we’re not on-set. We’re all a tight family, even after we did the pilot. We all still hung out and saw each other, and we didn’t even know if the show was going to go or not. They come to my shows when I do my performances. We’re really, really tight.

RelateMag: What has been your favorite acting experience so far?

Katerina: As an actor, I think I had the most range when I did the CSI because I had this prosthetic on my face, and I was supposed to be like cut and it was really intense. One of the most fun and just all-around good vibe experiences I’ve had as an actor was actually on “Hannah Montana” when I did a few episodes on that. It’s probably the sweetest set I’ve ever been on. And as far as “big thing,” I would say “Vampire Diaries” is the biggest thing I’ve ever had in my life. I’m grateful for it…to play a character that has any special powers. I think it’s anyone’s dream. I’m in hog heaven. I’m good to go.

RelateMag: You’ve been here and there in the acting world instead of focusing on a few, specific roles. Is that something you prefer?

Katerina: It’s something I prefer. I might have had more success if I would have stuck to the kind of snobby, rich popular girl, but I want to do other things. For a while, I did “Malcolm in the Middle” and “Joan of Arcadia”- a spurt of just guest stars and they were all similar characters. I just knew when I saw actors like Helena Bonham Carter or even Daniel Craig. These are people who do completely different things all the time. I want to be a character actor. I didn’t want to be a certain type of actor who only played the same character in everything.

RelateMag: Was there a star you really enjoyed working with specifically? Is there a fun experience you can share?

Katerina: I just recently worked with Ali from Ali and AJ. Ali’s in that new film “Bandslam.” We actually shot the remake together- her and me and Leighton Meester. I really loved working with both of them recently because they both do what I do, which is both music and acting. We talk about how hard it is to balance the both. I learned a lot from talking to both of them. Ali will stop every acting thing and just go on tour. And Leighton is just starting her music stuff. Plus, we just had a great time. We got along really well. When I’m around people who have similar experiences and similar goals to me, I think we hit it off really well. And then, I have some crazy, fun experiences with random celebrities and stuff like that, but as a whole, as in lifelong friend, I definitely consider Ali one of them.

RelateMag: As far as Disney, do you work with them on a consistent basis?

Katerina: No [not really]. For a while, I just auditioned for whatever was out there. I don’t think people realize acting is such a hustle. You get a call from your agent and they’re like, “Hey, go to this audition” and you’re sitting in a room with thirty other people who are auditioning. People are going in before you and after you. I’m just one of many. Just like “Vampire Diaries”- I wasn’t scouted out for the role and handed it. I had to go through a grueling audition process. With Disney, I was a kid and was fortunate enough to fit the style of what they wanted at the time for these shows. I learned a lot- Disney really took care of me early on when I was 13, 14 to like 16. I’ve been fortunate to be a part of some great companies, whether it’s Coca Cola or Disney and now CW or Warner. Disney, by far, has been one of the best experiences of my life.

Watch for more pieces of the interview in the weeks to come!