Nina Dobrev’s Aussie Era: Filming Bear Country & Life After Shaun White

Nina Dobrev’s Aussie Era: Filming Bear Country & Life After Shaun White

If you’ve been wandering around the Gold Coast lately and thought you spotted Elena Gilbert grabbing a coffee near Broadbeach, you weren’t hallucinating. Nina Dobrev, the legacy star of The Vampire Diaries, has officially entered her Aussie era. 2026 has been a massive year of transition for the star, proving that—as she recently told paps at LAX—"change is the only guarantee".

From high-stakes filming in Queensland with Russell Crowe to navigating a very public split and a brutal injury recovery, Nina is making waves Down Under. Whether you’re a local film buff waiting for Bear Country or just keeping up with the latest celebrity goss, here is everything you need to know about Nina’s new chapter in Australia.

Filming ‘Bear Country’ on the Gold Coast

It’s no secret that Queensland has become the Hollywood of the Southern Hemisphere, and the latest production to set up shop is the action-thriller Bear Country. Principal photography kicked off in February 2025, with the Gold Coast transforming to double as Los Angeles.

The project is huge for the local industry, supported by the Australian Government’s Location Offset. But for fans, the real draw is the cast. Nina is starring as Carrie alongside adopted Aussie legend Russell Crowe, who plays Manco Kapak, an ageing club owner who gets robbed by a masked gunman. The film is based on the novel Strip by Thomas Perry and promises a chaotic chase through the "LA" underworld (aka our own sunny backyard).

Joining them are Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul and homegrown talent Teresa Palmer, making this a star-studded affair for the Sunshine State. If you’re on the Gold Coast, keep your eyes peeled—production is in full swing.

Navigating Heartbreak: The Split from Shaun White

While her career is heating up in Queensland, Nina’s personal life has seen a major cool down. In September 2025, news broke that Nina and Olympic snowboarder Shaun White had called off their engagement after five years together.

It was a shock to fans who had watched them build a life together through the pandemic. Reports suggest the split was mutual but stemmed from misaligned timelines regarding marriage and family—a classic case of wanting different things at different times. But in true 2026 fashion, Nina isn’t wallowing. She kicked off the year with a "thriving single era" trip to St. Barts, partying amicably with her ex-boyfriend Glen Powell and his new partner. It’s a masterclass in the "evolved ex" dynamic.

Era Comparison: The Vampire Diaries vs. The 2026 Aussie Era

To help you get a vibe check on where Nina is at right now compared to her breakout years, let’s look at the stats:

The "Brutal" Road to Recovery

It hasn’t all been beaches and movie sets. We need to talk about the physical toll the last year has taken on the star. In May 2024, Nina suffered a severe dirt bike accident that resulted in a torn ACL, a meniscus tear, and a fractured tibial plateau.

In recent interviews, Nina admitted that while her physical recovery is "ahead of schedule" thanks to her background as a competitive gymnast, the psychological scars linger. She candidly confessed to having a "mental fear" of getting back on a bike—even a regular bicycle.

"I haven’t been on a bicycle since the accident... there's a little bit of trepidation trying things again." — Nina Dobrev.

Her resilience is genuinely inspiring. Despite the trauma, she’s back to filming action-heavy roles in Bear Country. For anyone in Australia currently rehabbing a sports injury, Nina’s journey is a reminder that healing is a marathon, not a sprint.

Business Moves & The Creator Economy

Nina isn’t just acting; she’s mogul-ing. 2026 sees her pivoting hard into the business world. Her wine brand, Fresh Vine Wine, recently completed a massive merger with Amaze Software (now trading as AMZE). This deal positions her not just as a face on a bottle, but as a major stakeholder in a platform supporting over 14 million creators.

Simultaneously, she is executive producing and starring in the upcoming erotic thriller series Night Float, set in the dark underworld of NYC. It’s a darker, edgier role that moves her firmly away from her teen drama roots and into mature, prestige television.

And for those online trolls calling her a "yacht girl" after her luxe St. Barts trip? Nina shut that down with a sharp clapback, telling them to "get a hobby," proving she has zero patience for tall poppy syndrome.

Conclusion

From the glitter strip of the Gold Coast to the boardroom of a tech merger, Nina Dobrev is defining what it looks like to bounce back in 2026. She’s balancing a major film production in Queensland with physical recovery and a high-profile single life. If you see her around town, give her a friendly Aussie wave—she’s earned it.

Have you spotted the Bear Country cast filming in Queensland? Drop a comment below!

References:

1. Nina Dobrev's Aussie Era and Bear Country Filming

2. Nina Dobrev and Shaun White Split Details

3. Amaze Software and Fresh Vine Wine Merger

#NinaDobrev #BearCountryMovie #GoldCoastFilming #Queensland #ShaunWhite #CelebrityNews #AmazeSoftware #RecoveryJourney #Australia #RussellCrowe