Before Lauren Cohan became a household name as Maggie Rhee in The Walking Dead, she was sinking her teeth into a very different kind of role. We're talking as a centuries‑old vampire on The Vampire Diaries.
It’s a piece of TV trivia that even devoted fans of the zombie drama often forget. Still, Cohan’s stint on the supernatural teen series was one of her earliest recurring roles and a glimpse into her range as an actress long before her breakout on AMC.
Lauren Cohan's early career on The Vampire Diaries
Long before her time battling walkers, Cohan was building her acting resume with a variety of television, film, and genre projects. She starred on shows such as Supernatural, where she played the memorable rogue thief Bela Talbot, and appeared in guest roles on Modern Family, CSI: NY, and Cold Case. But one of her most intriguing early parts was in The Vampire Diaries.
In 2010, Cohan joined The Vampire Diaries as Rose, a vampire over 500 years old with a long, complicated history. She appeared in six episodes in total, starting with the eighth episode of season 2. If you're not familiar with the hit supernatural series, it centers around Elena Gilbert, a teenage girl living in the small town of Mystic Falls, Virginia. She becomes entangled in a love triangle involving two vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore.
Over the course of the series, Mystic Falls becomes a battleground for supernatural beings who each have their own agendas and long histories. Into this world steps Rose, a vampire whose presence immediately adds intrigue and tension. Unlike some of the other characters, Rose is no newcomer to danger. She has survived centuries while navigating the perils of both humans and vampires.
Rose’s story is deeply tied to the lore of the show. Born in the 15th century and turned into a vampire in 1472, she has endured centuries of conflicts, loss, and betrayal. When she arrives in Mystic Falls, Rose is on the run from the Original vampires, a family of ancient and powerful vampires whose reach extends far and wide.
Her presence immediately complicates the lives of Elena, Stefan, and Damon, as well as the larger supernatural web of the series. She even briefly enters into a sexual relationship with Damon, but ultimately meets her demise at the hands of werewolf venom.
Damon would then take a stake and stab Rose in the heart to end her suffering in the twelfth episode of the second season. However, Rose would briefly return as a ghost in the nineteenth episode of season 3. That's the last time Cohan would reprise her role as Rose on the show.
While Cohan’s screen time in The Vampire Diaries might seem small compared to her 130+ episodes on The Walking Dead, her performance left an impression on fans. Rose was a stepping stone that showcased her range. Just a year after appearing on The Vampire Diaries, Cohan would then go on to join The Walking Dead in its second season, where Maggie would become one of the show’s most beloved characters.
So the next time you watch Maggie taking down walkers in The Walking Dead: Dead City, spare a thought for Rose. You know, a character you probably forgot, but one that helped shape the star you know today.
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