Dobrev: Hope character helps others

Nina Dobrev has revealed she hopes her latest movie character helps girls in abusive relationships.

The Canadian actress plays a teenager in a violent relationship in Perks Of Being A Wallflower, and said she hopes her performance can empower girls in similar situations, according to the website Fansshare.com.

She said in an interview with Seventeen magazine: "It's a really heavy topic, and I hope my character gives girls some perspective."

Nina, who appears on the cover of the mag's October issue, went on: "I think more than anything, girls allow abuse to happen because they're embarrassed it happened and that they allowed it to happen. They know it's not right. There's no excuse for it. That's why it's so important to show girls that they can admit that it's not their fault."

The 23-year-old, who is dating her Vampire Diaries co-star Ian Somerhalder in real life, also opened up about fame, admitting she tries not to pay too much attention to everything she reads about herself.

"I try not to read best-dressed lists or anything like that," she said. "For every good thing, there will often be a not-so-nice thing people would say."