Best known for his fan-favorite role as Enzo St. John on The Vampire Diaries, Michael Malarkey sat down with us to discuss his time on the hit series, his evolving music career, and what lies ahead in both acting and songwriting. Known to fans worldwide for his portrayal of Enzo St. John, Malarkey proved once again that his creative ambitions extend well beyond a single iconic role.
Fresh off an appearance at the Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Convention, Malarkey reflected on his fondness for Europe and the experience of meeting fans abroad. While he admits that big cities can feel overwhelming, he values the opportunity to immerse himself in a place by walking, observing, and engaging with his surroundings.
“I always love coming to European conventions… you get to go to a different country, eat different food, and meet all the beautiful fans from that particular part of the world.”
Having spent part of his youth in Cameroon, Malarkey retains a basic familiarity with French and makes a point of using it when visiting France. He sees the effort to communicate in another language as a sign of respect rather than convenience, an attitude that mirrors his broader approach to culture and connection.
Although Malarkey frequently attends conventions, he doesn’t see them as routine obligations. Coming from a theater background, he appreciates the immediacy of audience interaction — something television rarely offers. Conventions, he explains, provide a rare opportunity to feel audience response in real time and to give back to fans who have supported his work over the years. This sense of reciprocity, of acknowledging the audience as part of the creative exchange, is central to how Malarkey understands his role as a performer.
During the interview, Malarkey addressed the long-standing fan fascination with Enzo and the recent revelation that the character was once considered as a potential third Salvatore brother. While he finds the idea intriguing, he ultimately feels Enzo’s independence and renegade nature were essential to the character’s identity.
Rather than wishing for an alternate storyline, Malarkey expressed satisfaction with Enzo’s journey as it unfolded — a character driven by his own motivations rather than family legacy. Even years later, certain lines and moments remain memorable, especially those that balanced Enzo’s darkness with humor.
One Enzo moment still makes him laugh years later:
“I can’t remember the exact line but it was something like ‘I was trying to answer the phone but my fingers were covered in blood and the touchscreen wouldn’t work.’”
Malarkey also acknowledged the reality of being closely associated with a single character. While he once struggled with wanting recognition for his other work, he has since made peace with it.
“I’m so much more than Enzo the vampire but it just comes with the territory (…) for a while it did annoy me because I had done a lot of other stuff and I wanted to be recognized for that too but now it doesn’t bother me at all, it’s part of the job”
Being asked to use Enzo’s British accent or repeat signature lines no longer feels limiting; instead, he views it as a natural part of connecting with fans who discovered him through the show.
“They always like it when I say ‘Hello, gorgeous.’”
Music has always been a parallel passion for Malarkey, and The Vampire Diaries provided a rare moment where both worlds intersected. Two of his songs — “The Greatest Trick I Know” and “Scars” — were featured in the series, an inclusion that helped introduce his music to a wider audience. Rather than being a calculated career move, the placement came organically, making it all the more meaningful for him as an artist.
“It was a great way for people to realize that this is another thing I do.”
Malarkey’s upcoming EP, Future Tense, represents a deliberate attempt to disrupt his usual creative habits. Feeling stuck in familiar patterns, he challenged himself to stop writing on guitar and instead build songs through rhythm, percussion, and experimentation. The result is a darker, more atmospheric collection that leans into texture and mood rather than traditional structure.
Thematically, the EP reflects a complicated relationship with urban life. After moving from the city to the countryside with his family, Malarkey found himself processing feelings of restlessness, escape, and reflection. While he once described the project as a “hate letter to the city,” he now sees it as more nuanced — an exploration of both the allure and the weight of modern urban existence.
“I was initially saying this EP was like my hate letter to the city (…) I just felt like we needed to get out and be in nature. The house is surrounded by pine trees, there’s wild turkeys and deer.”
Cities, to him, represent contradiction: energy and decay, opportunity and loss. That tension quietly informs the emotional undercurrent of Future Tense.
Malarkey strongly believes that art must be honest to have value. He spoke about the importance of using one’s voice, even when it invites discomfort or criticism. For him, silence imposed by fear or expectation undermines the purpose of creativity itself. His music and acting both function as spaces where personal and social truths can surface without compromise.
“It’s not art otherwise… if somebody else is keeping you quiet.”
Despite his deep connection to music, Malarkey is increasingly disillusioned with the modern music industry. Rather than forcing momentum through constant promotion and touring, he chose to step back from the usual release cycle for Future Tense. This pause, he explained, is about creating space — allowing time for reflection, growth, and renewed intention.
“There’s a sacred space between everything that we do and I wanted to extend that sacred space and allow it to breathe — and allow myself to breathe.”
He believes that creativity requires stillness as much as action, and that stepping off the treadmill can be just as productive as constant output.
Malarkey’s musical roots lie in punk and hardcore scenes, where he began as a screamer in early bands, one of them being Shadyside. Over time, exposure to artists like Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, and Nick Cave expanded his sense of what music could be. That discovery pushed him toward solo songwriting and a more introspective approach.
“That was one of my first moments where I remember thinking music can be whatever you want it to be.”
Even today, he values imperfection and atmosphere, often leaving background sounds and ambient noise in his recordings to preserve a sense of authenticity.
“There’s some real magic in that… when things aren’t perfect.”
On the acting front, Malarkey is preparing for a new chapter with his role in season two of Netflix’s The Night Agent. Receiving all the scripts in advance allowed him to approach the character with a level of depth and planning that aligns closely with his theater training. He also appears in the independent film Degenerate, embracing smaller projects that prioritize creative freedom and collaboration.
“Season one was a massive hit (…) season two is even bigger, better, bolder.”
As the interview concluded, Malarkey shared a message rooted in optimism and responsibility. He expressed hope in the next generation’s ability to imagine and build a better world, emphasizing the importance of community, connection, and shared effort. In a time of uncertainty, his outlook remains grounded in the belief that change begins with imagination — and with people choosing to show up for one another.
“We have the power to create or uncreate anything (…) Keep the faith, keep believing, and keep imagining the kind of world that you know is possible and that you want to live in and create it. Create connections. Create community, even if it’s hard, it’s worth it because we are all we got.”
