Teen fashionista, 100-year-old vampire and one time flame of Mark Zuckerberg – all characters played by The Vampire Diaries star Malese Jow.  Talk about diverse.

The 21-year-old actress from Tulsa, Oaklahoma is in town for The Hub Productions’ Vampire Diaires 2: A Return to Mystic Falls convention in Melbourne and Sydney this weekend and took a moment to chat to LUNA about acting, Vampire Diaries and turning 21.

When most of us were eating play dough and dancing to the Wiggles, Jow was already acting in commercials, gearing up for her destined life as an entertainer.

“I was kind of just born an entertainer.  Even down to my earlier auditions when I would be going for a cereal commercial.”

Not even 13-years-old, Jow had already scored a role as fashion savvy Geena Fabiano on Nickelodeon’s show Unfabulous.

“I did start out with Disney and Nickelodeon and that was so much fun.  I mean, I was 13, 16, 17 and it was perfect for my age.”

Obviously being on TV is a fairly impressive achievement to bandy around the playground, although it’s not always sunshine and lollipops being a child actor.

“Having my first series at 13, it was weird having to leave school and do home schooling.  There were moments, of course when prom would come around and dances and football games I definitely felt I was a little out of place,” Jow admitted.

Jow made the jump from children’s to grown-up TV when she scored a role on CW’s The Vampire Diaries, upholding the transitional right of passage that other young actors like Emma Roberts, Miley Cyrus and Amanda Bynes made before her.

“Being on Vampire Diaries, it couldn’t have come at a better time, I think I was 18 when I booked the role. So from 18 to 20 it was perfect, it came at a perfect time in my life.  And it was totally different from anything I’d ever done before.”

On The Vampire Diaries, Jow plays a 100-year-old vampire Anna whose return to Mystic Falls adds some intrigue to the already complicated lives of the locals.  But apparently, Anna was as mysterious to Jow as she was to the audience.

“Going into this project, I had no idea that I was going to be a vampire. I literally showed up on set and they said, you’re going to be fitted for contacts!  Which is pretty much code for, Oh you’re going to turn into a vampire at some point!  I wasn’t expecting it, but it was the best surprise.”

Adding to a completely vampire obsessed culture, The Vampire Diaries has a Twilight-esque love triangle, the sex appeal of True Blood and the girl power of Buffy.  What’s it like being part of the vampire zeitgeist?

“Everyone wants to be a vampire! It’s so cool to say that I am a part of that and to top it off, I actually am a vampire.  All the memorabilia that I have and all the memories that I have that I get to share, it’s just such an honour.”

Although Jow wouldn’t give us any hints about the fourth season of The Vampires Diaries, with all the vampire hype going on she can probably expect to meet some pretty excited fans this weekend.

“Just from Twitter, I can tell that there is so much excitement for this convention, I’m so happy to be here! I’ve been to conventions before and these are just diehard fans that love the show so their excitement is just infectious.”

From TV to the silver screen, Jow says being apart of The Social Network was incredible.

“Working with David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin was just mind blowing and it’s something I’ll always remember.  I would definitely love to do more film.”

Though her acting career is clearly on the up, Jow is still just a 21-year-old girl who is enjoying having a (legal) drink and looking forward to her year of 21st bashes.  We’re looking forward to seeing Jow in her up coming project with Nickelodeon called Big Time Rush. 

In the meantime, catch Jow and the rest of The Vampire Diaries crew this weekend in Sydney, Saturday 9th at The University of NSW and in Melbourne Sunday, 10th at the Sidney Myer Asia Centre.