Ian Somerhalder Swaps Hollywood for Farm Life: 'Vampire Diaries' Star Digs Deep Into His Roots

Ian Somerhalder, best known for his roles in "Vampire Diaries" and "Lost," is living proof that you can take the boy out of Louisiana, but you can't take Louisiana out of the boy. The actor recently revealed how his upbringing—steeped in the wetlands and farming culture of the South—shaped not only his career but his entire worldview.

In a candid interview, Somerhalder described growing up "super poor" in Louisiana, where his father's Bayou accent could puzzle even native English speakers, and his mother came from a long line of Mississippi farmers. The family might have lacked cash, but their freezers were packed with Louisiana blue crab, Gulf shrimp, and a parade of fresh fish. "We were so rich. We had freezers full," he reminisced, pointing out that only when he walked into a restaurant as a teenage Versace model did he realize just how valuable those home-caught crabs really were.

Somerhalder's perspective on wealth is refreshingly down-to-earth. While he may have struck gold in Hollywood, he argues that true richness comes from culture, community, and the land. This philosophy is front-and-center in his latest project, the documentary "Common Ground," which investigates the tangled web of money and politics in America's food system. The film shines a light on the struggles of farmers across racial lines and highlights a movement toward regenerative agriculture as a way to heal people, economies, and the planet.

“My family on both sides are multigenerational farmers going back to the 1700s. So this is very much in my blood. This is what I'm about,” Somerhalder shared, making it clear that farming isn't just a hobby—it's a legacy.

But it wasn't all bounty and nostalgia. Somerhalder also grew up in "Cancer Alley," an 80-mile stretch along the Mississippi River with around 150 petrochemical plants. The nickname isn't exactly subtle, and Somerhalder doesn't sugarcoat the impact: "They call it cancer alley for a reason, right?" He believes fixing environmental disasters like this is the key to healthier people—and a healthier country.

The solution, he says, is rooted in farming. "When you heal and build nutrient density, you build healthier people... robust economies... a healthier planet." No matter your politics, Somerhalder insists, the state of our soil should be everyone's concern. And in perhaps the most relatable moment, he admits: "Let's be honest, man, money talks, BS walks." Even farmers want their families healthy and their bank accounts full.

The actor doesn't shy away from the hard work farm life demands. He says living on a farm earns a level of respect urban dwellers might not grasp, but everyone benefits from the quality produce these communities provide. It's an ecosystem of mutual respect, he points out—a far cry from the glitz of Hollywood.

Somerhalder is joined in "Common Ground" by Jason Momoa, Laura Dern, and Woody Harrelson. The film, a sequel to 2020's "Kiss the Ground," is available for streaming worldwide on Earth Day, April 22. There's even a live global event scheduled on YouTube for the big day, promising to rally viewers around the cause of soil health and sustainable farming.

In a tip of the hat to the streaming era, Somerhalder thanked Amazon and Jeff Bezos for picking up the documentaries, declaring that "Common Ground" is going to "change the freaking planet." Now, that's a tall order—even for a vampire.