Claire Holt Engaged: ‘Vampire Diaries’ Star Flaunts Fiance, Reveals Why She Quit ‘The Originals’ [Video]

Claire Holt is engaged. After leaving The Originals, the spinoff show of The Vampire Diaries, the actress announced that Matt Kaplan has become her fiance. Claire accompanied her announcement with a photo of her beau and her ring, reported Us Weekly.

“Yes,” wrote Holt to sum up her engaged news.

http://instagram.com/p/5GpDYMF9eE/

As to her reason for exiting The Originals, Claire, 27, cited her desire to attend to her family and close friends rather than devote her days to working on the set of The Originals in New Orleans and Atlanta, Georgia.

Holt’s engaged news photo received over 77,000 likes in six hours, reported E News.

From Australia, Claire shared that Matt guided her on the technicalities of taking on an American accent.

“My boyfriend—Matt Kaplan—is American, so any time I’m unsure of how to say something, I say, ‘Hey how do you say this?’ and he yells it out,” revealed Holt about her fiance. “I think it’s always going to sound funny to him and not quite right, but hopefully the public who watch it won’t be able to catch on!”

Claire originally soared to stardom while playing Emma Gilbert on H20: Just Add Water. She took on the role of Rebekah Mikaelson on The Vampire Diaries in 2011, then was featured in The Originals prior to departing among rumors that she was pushed out the door rather than making the decision on her own.

Holt denied those rumors.

“It’s ludicrous. I want to be very clear that they didn’t run out of material, I wasn’t pushed out, I wasn’t fed up with Rebekah, I didn’t quit mid-season, there was no drama, there was no rift between cast members; it really came down to the fact that I completed my initial commitment and made a life choice, not a career choice. This show has been so amazing for my career, and I’ve had such unbelievable material. It was just never my intention to be away from home this long.”

And when Claire reflected on how long it had been since she went home to Australia, she made the difficult decision.

“It was a tough choice that I didn’t fully make it right up until the end, because I was enjoying myself so much. But three seasons later, I realized I hadn’t been home to Australia in years, I hadn’t seen my family, and I hadn’t spent time with the people I loved,” explained Holt. “But I want to make it so clear that this show has such a special place in my heart. I am so glad I was able to do The Originals, and I want to be a part of that family for a long time.”

The engaged actress left the door open for her to come back to the series.

“I am simply looking at this as a temporary absence,” added Claire.

As the Inquisitr reported, The Vampire Diaries continues to stay strong. The popular TV show recently got a publicity boost when co-star Ian Somerhalder took a turn in the director’s seat.

[Image Via Claire Holt/Instagram]