When news broke that Melinda Clarke would be joining "The Vampire Diaries" as Kelly Donovan, Matt and Vicki's absentee mom, fans who knew her from her work on "The O.C." and "C.S.I." were thrilled.
After three episodes, Clarke has already left a considerable mark on Mystic Falls. Her character convinced Jenna to let her hair down, hooked up with Damon, preyed on Caroline's insecurities, and likely did a number on the town's liquor supply. Clarke's shining moment, however, came when Kelly Donovan learned Vicki's body had been found after months of assuming she'd just run away.
In a scene without any dialogue, Clarke made Kelly's grief believable and powerful. Thursday night's episode, "Under Control," is the last of Clake's four-episode stint on "The Vampires," but that's not to say we won't be seeing her again. Melinda sat down to talk about Kelly's chances of returning to Mystic Falls, her experiences working with the cast and crew, and even the pilot she recently shot for The CW.