Nina Dobrev on her eight-year friendship with Julianne Hough: ‘We have very like-minded energy’

The Vampire Diaries alum Nina Dobrev discussed the secrets to her eight-year friendship with Emmy-winning choreographer Julianne Hough on Wednesday.

‘I think energy attracts energy and we have very like-minded energy,’ 32-year-old Nina explained on The Drew Barrymore Show.

Dobrev (born Nikolina Dobreva) revealed that it was Nine Zero One co-owner Riawna Capri who first introduced her to 32-year-old Jules back in 2013.  

‘Julianne and I were both going through a life crisis at the time and we were using that mutual friend as a free therapist,’ the Bulgarian-born, Toronto-raised beauty recalled.

‘It got to a degree where [Riawna] was so sick of hearing about our problems that were very similar that she was like, “Okay, I’m going to put you guys together and then you can use each other for therapy and I can remove myself. I feel like you will be best friends.” She just knew and she was right.’

Hough chimed in: ‘And we are still in therapy until this day we continue to lean on each other. In fact, we had a slumber party last night knowing we were coming here this morning and sitting on my floor and drinking our wine and just having our good ol’ girl chat. It’s the best…Nina has definitely been that rock for me.’ 

Dobrev’s friendship with the Utah native quickly led to a fall 2013 fling with her big brother Derek Hough, which ‘played itself out’ six weeks later – according to Us Weekly. 

Nina and Julianne’s friendship also led to co-founding their own ‘guilt-free low-carb, low-sugar, low-calorie’ wine company – Fresh Vine Wine – produced and bottled in Napa, CA.

‘Let’s just say there’s been years and years of market research that we’ve been doing together and separately, but mainly together,’ The Lucky Day actress wisecracked.

‘That connection that we talked about? It’s always been with a glass of wine in hand.’

Hough said she hopes Fresh Vine Wine offers an alternative to other ‘healthy wines’ on the market, which usually ‘taste bad.’

Their company – which launched March 22 and ships to 48 states – features a California cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, chardonnay, California rosé wine, and a limited reserve Napa cabernet.