Ian Somerhalder wants more than acting roles on TV shows

"The Vampire Diaries" star Ian Somerhalder wants to make use of his skill set and go beyond acting. He doesn't think he will ever take up a TV show again if he doesn't get a creative role in the storytelling.

The new show "V Wars" has him as an actor, a director and an executive producer.

"It's a perfect opportunity for me to use the skill set that I learnt on being a lead actor, eventually a producer and director on 'The Vampire Diaries'. There were about 171 episodes of that show and I learned a great deal. I honestly don't think I'll ever be on a TV show again if I didn't have a creative role in the storytelling and I have learnt too much and I love the job too much to ever be just an actor again," Somerhalder told IANS.

Of course, there are exceptions.

"If it's Tarantino or Scorsese or Spielberg, then of course I would be excited just to be an actor on their show," he said and added that "you should really dive in every way" possible.

But taking up so many roles, doesn't it take a toll on him?

"You never gonna hear me complain. I love to work. I have been working since I was 10. My mom had three jobs just to keep us going. I am not afraid of work," said the 41-year-old.

Somerhalder had also starred in Hollywood films, but it's been a while since the audience saw him in a movie. Is TV more like his space rather than films?

"Yeah I do (think it is). If you have one bad episode or two or you have writer that's not working, show director or show-runner not working, you can change it.... I have reached a certain level in my career that I don't wanna have losses. I don't want to do a film that is mediocre," said "The Rules of Attraction" actor.

So, he is happy in the TV space. Talking about "V Wars", he shared: "Initially, it seemed like going back to the vampire genre was maybe not the best idea. But my agent and manager who have been with me for long... we are like a family... My wife and team reminded me that this is an amazing departure from 'The Vampire Diaries'. This is a very different character, different take on the genre and this is also by a best selling author."

"It is such a great opportunity for me to produce, star in it and direct it. When you get into the books, you realise what an opportunity we have to turn this into a global story and that is what excited me. It is the first vampire story that has no supernatural element in it. People turn into vampires because of a disease," he added.

His wife and actress Nikki Reed plays his ex-wife in it.

"We were very lucky. She did us a very big favour by doing this show for us. When we started off the show, our daughter was just a few months old. We moved to Canada. My wife has also built a company that is doing well. She is a powerful woman. She was breastfeeding our baby, preparing her scenes for the show and dropping on set, delivering these amazing powerful performances... it is unbelievable. She is one h*ll of an artiste," he said.IANS