AceShowbiz -

Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Stefan (Paul Wesley) are going to get a visit from their distant relative. "The Vampire Diaries" has tapped Tristin Mays to play the real Sarah Salvatore, who is the daughter of Zach Salvatore (Chris William Martin), Damon and Stefan's distant nephew.

The show featured the faux Sarah, who is an old friend of Sarah's, earlier in the season. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the real Sarah is described as a bright and gifted student of photography, whose life is turned upside down as she unravels the mystery of her true family history. She will first appear in a January 22 episode, which marks the midseason premiere of the supernatural series.

Mays' most notable roles so far are as Shaina on Nickelodeon's series "Gullah Gullah Island" and as Robin Dixon, the daughter of Marcus Dixon (Carl Lumbly), on "Alias". She also has a role in Kevin Hart's new drama comedy movie "The Wedding Ringer", which is due January 16 in the United States.

In a new interview with TVLine, executive producer Julie Plec teases the obstacles standing between Damon and Elena (Nina Dobrev) when the show returns with new episodes. "There are a lot of emotional obstacles," she says. "Can Elena get right with her feelings for him? Is she falling in love with him all over again? As they fight the bad guys, deal with loss and grief, character exits, that kind of thing ... do they stay strong, or do they drift apart? I'd really like to see them make it and be happy for a little while."