“Shame On You All”: Vampire Diaries’ Klaus Actor Cheekily Reflects On Character’s Legacy
EXCLUSIVE: The Vampire Diaries actor Joseph Morgan cheekily reflects on Klaus Mikaelson’s legacy and support from fans after so many years.
Joseph Morgan, who portrayed Klaus Mikaelson on The Vampire Diaries, cheekily reflects on his character’s legacy. A vampire-werewolf hybrid, Klaus was introduced as an antagonist in season 2, but became a fan-favorite as the show progressed, particularly because of his relationship with Caroline Forbes (Candice King). Morgan reprised his role in The Originals, a spin-off focusing on Klaus’ family in New Orleans, and appeared during the series finale of Legacies, giving a heartwarming message to daughter Hope (Danielle Rose Russell).
In a recent interview with Screen Rant, Morgan discussed playing Klaus, and his interest in returning to the vampire genre. The actor also expressed gratitude to The Vampire Diaries fans, although he joked about supporting such a “terrible” character, stating: “Shame on you all.” Read Morgan’s full quote below:
First of all, thank you to everyone who came with me on that journey, because that was a hell of a ride, and I invested a lot of energy and emotion in that character, and I’m really glad people responded to it and to him. I think that character’s story is told.
I wasn’t even going to come back to Legacies, I just did that final episode, because it was the final ever episode, and I thought, ‘Go on, then, it’ll be nice to bring him back once more.’ It was such a beautiful speech Julie wrote for me. So I did that, but I feel like his story is told. I would, however, like to do something in that world, like the vampire world again.
My wife and I have a little production company, and we have a project in development that does take place in those sort of darker realms, so I would be excited to do something like that, certainly. More than anything, I just appreciate the fandom that invested in that terrible, terrible vampire-werewolf hybrid who did awful things. Shame on you all, by the way, for supporting him. [Laughs] “
Why The Vampire Diaries Fans Love Klaus
Klaus’ character arc throughout The Vampire Diaries and its spin-offs remains one of the most enjoyable. However, as Morgan mentioned, he has done highly questionable and immoral things. Early in the series, he terrorized Elena and forced her to witness the death of her aunt – a means to breaking his own curse and creating more hybrids – which upset viewers at the time. He was responsible for killing many others, including the entirety of his vampire-werewolf pack, and maintained conflicting relations with his siblings.
Despite his actions, Klaus was capable of growth, as evidenced by some of his personal relationships, largely with Caroline and the Mikaelsons. What began as an infatuation on Klaus’ part, his romance with Caroline turned into one of the most cherished among fans of the show. The character’s evolution continued into The Originals, where Klaus eventually died alongside his brother Elijah, in an effort to save their loved ones. Klaus’ cameo in Legacies was then bittersweet, as he considered his former existence and encouraged Hope to live a full life.
Still a fan-favorite in The Vampire Diaries universe, many audiences have voiced their love for Klaus over the years and will likely enjoy Morgan’s response to the character’s long-lasting legacy. After watching his portrayal of Klaus, and given his latest comments, it will be interesting to see what kind of vampire he might play next, should that ever come to fruition.
