NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – St. Tammany Parish Louisiana native and mega superstar Ian Somerhalder of The CW’s supernatural drama “The Vampire Diaries” sat down in the News with a Twist studios and gave his fresh insights on success, his marriage to Nikki Reed, his IS Foundation, and his crusade to get millennials to the polls this Saturday in the Gubernatorial and Lt Governor’s election.

Somerhalder is very excited about “The Vampire Diaries” Season 7, which is still in production outside of Atlanta. Somerhalder gives insight on how the end of Season 6 has built to new heights this season. He says Episode 10 opens a whole new dimension to his character Damon Salvatore.

Somerhalder’s wife, Nikki Reed, accompanied her husband to the Twist studios. A private Somerhalder opened up and gave us a glimpse of his marriage to the 27-year-old Twilight star.

Both Somerhalder and Reed share a love for animals and the environment.

Somerhalder was the first celebrity to see the devastating effects of the BP oil spill off the coast of Louisiana 5-years-ago. He immediately got involved helping experts with the impact on wildlife and marshes.

In July, Somerhalder spoke out against proposed fracking in St. Tammany Parish. He told WGNO News “the fracking process does not lend itself to being in an environment that is considered a wetland. The aquifer that feeds this area is the same aquifer that is threatened by hydraulic fracking.”

Today the Ian Somerhalder Foundation continues its mission to empower, educate, and collaborate with people and projects to positively impact the planet and its creature.

And for his upcoming 37th birthday on December 8, Somerhalder has a special birthday request.

“The Vampire Diaries” Season 7 airs Thursday on NOLA 38 at 8 p.m.