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The Vampire Diaries' Sexy New Siren Says It's Surprisingly Easy to Play Evil

Nathalie Kelley dishes on her ultimate villain

By Jean Bentley Nov 11, 2016 4:00 PMTags

You'd think that playing a character that embodies all the evil in this world might get exhausting. But for Nathalie Kelley, who plays a sexy siren in the eighth and final season of The Vampire Diaries, it's shockingly easy.

"It's surprisingly the most fun I've ever had in a role. It's the opportunity to let loose and show sides of myself that I really haven't been able to do with other characters, and surprisingly easy as the season progresses," the actress tells E! News. "I'm like, ‘this is fun and easy!'"

Sybil is a siren—you know, those mermaid-like creatures from Greek mythology that seduce men with their song. This version "does and says the things that sometimes we all dream of doing," Kelley says. "She does whatever she wants!"

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The CW

"[Sybil is] so uninhibited, so not held back by what society says we should do or think or feel. She's not restrained by any of that. She doesn't care about anyone but herself, which is really fascinating. I looked up a lot on sociopaths and narcissists" to prepare, she says—and found it wasn't as taxing to tap into that part of herself. "That shadow exists in all of us."

While Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Alaric (Matt Davis) have captured Sybil (for the time being at least), she still seems to have Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Enzo (Michael Malarkey) under her control.

"She's just trying to have some fun with some hot guys and have them do her bidding," Kelley teases—as Sybil bides her time working toward her ultimate goal.

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"There's a master plan. She wants something and it's to serve her, it's for her purposes, but at the moment her big plan, her main objective is to enjoy her freedom. This is a game for her. She's toying with these people."

In Friday's episode, we'll learn more about her past—including her sister, whom we have yet to meet. "Her sister is a big part of her backstory and I think we really go into what makes Sybil tick and why she is the way she is. Like every villain, there's a lot of tragedy in her back story. There are reasons why she was callous and unfeeling."

Kelley continues, "She was abandoned and her sister was too on this island and it's connected. [Her sister is] definitely an integral part of the story."

Watch an exclusive sneak peek at Friday's new episode above, and tune in to The Vampire Diaries on Fridays at 8 p.m. on The CW.