Nina Dobrev Goes Blonde for Her New Movie Role

Nina Dobrev has traded her signature brunette hair for blonde waves as she steps into her latest film role. The actress revealed the transformation on Instagram on August 11, giving fans a first look at her appearance as Piper Bellinger in the upcoming romantic comedy It Happened One Summer.

Photo: Instagram/@ninadobrev

Dobrev, 37, shared a carousel of behind-the-scenes photos from the set, captioning the post, “Meet Piper. Turns out blondes do have more fun.” In the first image, she appears seated in what looks like a hair and makeup chair, posing with the new blonde hairstyle and flashing a peace sign.

The blonde look is a departure from Dobrev’s usual brunette hair and reflects Piper Bellinger’s appearance in the film adaptation of Tessa Bailey’s bestselling novel.

Photo: Instagram/@ninadobrev

Dobrev also acknowledged the change on her Instagram Stories, writing that she had never thought she would be blonde and adding, “Never say never.” At the time of the reveal, it was not clear whether the actress had dyed her own hair or was wearing a wig for the role.

The actress’s carousel offered more than a glimpse at the hair transformation. It included behind-the-scenes images from the production, including shots of her co-stars Gavin Leatherwood and Virginia Gardner on a monitor, as well as Tyler Hoechlin, who plays her character’s love interest, Brendan Taggart. Dobrev was also photographed holding a clapperboard and filming a bathroom scene in a hot pink bra and lace pajama shorts. Other images showed a lake, a police car and Dobrev wearing a blue patterned bandana while posing from the makeup chair.

Photo: Instagram/@ninadobrev

It Happened One Summer is based on Bailey’s New York Times bestselling novel and is the first book in the author’s Bellinger Sisters series. The story centres on Piper, an L.A. “It Girl” whose privileged life changes after a viral incident gets her cancelled. Cut off from her wealthy family’s financial support, she is sent to a small Pacific Northwest fishing town, where she is expected to repair her late father’s dive bar.

There, Piper meets Brendan Taggart, a local sea captain who has little patience for influencers. Her time in Westport forces her to confront a life very different from the one she knew in Los Angeles.

Photo: Instagram/@ninadobrev

Hoechlin plays Brendan, while Virginia Gardner stars as Piper’s sister. Leatherwood plays Fox Thornton, Brendan’s best friend and fellow fisherman. Peter Hutchings, who directed The Hating Game, is directing the adaptation.

Hutchings previously described Leatherwood as an important addition to the cast, saying he was the “missing piece.” He also praised the chemistry between the actors, particularly Dobrev and Gardner as the Bellinger sisters, alongside Hoechlin and Leatherwood.

It Happened One Summer has sold more than two million copies in the U.S. and is the first book in Bailey’s Bellinger Sisters series. The series continues with Hook, Line and Sinker, while a third book is expected in 2027.

Production on the film is currently taking place in New York.