{blackbabes} 'Vampire Diaries' Kat Graham: Nina Dobrev's exit is 'gut-wrenching'

Nina Dobrev and Kat Graham sit in a restaurant in Vampire Diaries Season 6

After six action- and emotionally-packed seasons, "The Vampire Diaries" says goodbye to Nina Dobrev and her character Elena Gilbert in the Season 6 finale Thursday (May 14). Perhaps the only people who will be as heartbroken by he absence as the fans are her castmates, who have known much longer that this day would come.

"I think people need to remember that this wasn't a last-minute decision," Kat Graham tells Zap2it. "This was a decision that was made like two seasons ago. So I think if people keep that in mind, they won't feel so shocked. This was just something that was never shared with everyone."

However, just because Dobrev's exit is a long time coming doesn't mean the character's end isn't completely devastating.

"I'm really happy with the way they wrap things up," Graham says. "It is gut-wrenching, but that's the point, right? You kind of want to stick the knife in and twist a little bit, and I think they did that for sure."

How will the show bid farewell to Elena? Find out on "The Vampire Diaries" Season 6 finale Thursday, May 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.