Kat Graham

Introduction

Kat Graham (full name Katerina Alexandre Hartford Graham, born September 5, 1989) is an American actress, singer, dancer, producer, and activist. Bonnie Bennett on The Vampire Diaries (2009–2017).

Early Life & Background

• Kat was born in Geneva, Switzerland and later raised in Los Angeles, California.

• Her father, Joseph, is of Americo-Liberian descent, and her mother, Natasha, is Jewish (with roots in Russia and Poland).

• Her parents divorced when she was young. She was raised in her mother’s Jewish faith and attended Hebrew school.

• She speaks multiple languages—English, French, Spanish, and some Hebrew and Portuguese.

• Kat’s family history includes refugee narratives: her grandparents were refugees (her maternal family from the Holocaust, paternal from Liberia), which has influenced her activism.

Career & Achievements

Early Steps & Commercials

• Kat Graham began in the entertainment business at age 6, appearing in commercials for brands like Barbie, Pop-Tarts, K-Mart, and more.

• As a teenager, she also worked as a background dancer for big names in the music world: Missy Elliott, Pharrell Williams, Jamie Foxx, and others.

Breakthrough: The Vampire Diaries

• In 2009, she landed the role of Bonnie Bennett on The CW’s The Vampire Diaries. The supernatural/witch character became her signature role over eight seasons.

• Her performance earned recognition, including winning Choice TV Female Scene Stealer at the Teen Choice Awards.

Film & Television Projects

• Some of her film credits include The Parent Trap (1998) early in her career, 17 Again (2009), The Roommate (2011), Honey 2 (2011), Addicted (2014), and All Eyez on Me (2017).

• More recently, she has starred in Netflix romantic comedies and streaming films such as The Holiday Calendar (2018), Operation Christmas Drop (2020), and Love in the Villa (2022).

• She has also ventured into producing roles, expanding her creative influence behind the scenes.

Music & Artistic Ventures

• Kat has released 2 extended plays and 4 studio albums.

• In 2021, she adopted a new musical identity Toro Gato, embracing her West African roots as part of her artistic evolution.

• She co-founded a wellness company, Modern Nirvana, in 2019.

• In 2023, she published a self-help book Seasons of You.

Public Image, Values & Activism

• Kat has used her platform for advocacy, particularly around refugee rights and representation.

• Her identity as a multiracial, multilingual artist and descendant of refugees informs her public voice and mission.

• In 2025, she announced that she and her husband Bryant Wood would hold a formal Jewish wedding ceremony after having previously tied the knot in a civil ceremony.

• Despite busy schedules and diverse projects, she maintains strong bonds with her Vampire Diaries co-stars; she described them as “soulmates” and shared that they’ve never had a fight in their 16 years of friendship.

Personality, Strengths & Challenges

Kat Graham is often perceived as driven, multifaceted, and introspective. Some of her strengths and qualities:

• Versatility: She moves fluidly between acting, music, producing, and advocacy.

• Cultural awareness: Her international roots, linguistic ability, and family history give her a broad perspective.

• Resilience: Rising from early commercial work to a lead role in a major TV series, she weaves persistence into her narrative.

• Voice & purpose: She uses her visibility not just for entertainment—but to uplift causes she believes in.

Challenges she may navigate include balancing many creative outlets, evolving her public image over time, and ensuring that advocacy and artistry remain aligned.

Notable Quotes & Reflections

Kat Graham isn’t as widely quoted as some public figures, but here are a few statements and ideas associated with her that reflect her perspective:

• On embracing identity: when she reinvented as Toro Gato, she described it as reclaiming her West African heritage.

• On her beginnings: she’s mentioned that when she booked The Vampire Diaries, she had very little—she once said she had “86 cents to my name” while sleeping on her mom’s floor.

• On her approach to art: in her biography, she emphasizes working across genres and ownership of her creative path.

Lessons from Kat Graham

1. Don’t limit yourself
   Kat’s career shows that one can pursue multiple disciplines (acting, music, production, activism) and evolve over time.

2. Root your art in identity
   She draws on her multicultural heritage, language fluency, and family history to inform her creative output.

3. Use influence for good
   Her advocacy work, especially around refugees, shows how public platforms can serve meaningful causes.

4. Reinvention is healthy
   The shift to “Toro Gato” is an example of evolving as an artist to express new dimensions of self.

5. Maintain relationships
   Her enduring friendships with co-stars and collaborators show the value of personal connection in a demanding industry.