YOU NEED BALANCE: TECH IS IN EVERY
ASPECT OF MY LIFE, SO I LIKE TO GET OUT
INTO WILD ENVIRONMENTS, AWAY FROMIT ALL, AND ROCK CLIMB AND PRACTICE YOGA.
THE I.T. GIRL
Nina Dobrev, the nerd with attitude
and know-how in xXx: Return of
Xander Cage, knows when to
embrace tech and when to unplug.
In a sequel to the 2002 movie
xXx, Nina Dobrev plays Becky,
a tech whiz who can write code,
hotwire any gadget, and be the
brains behind Vin Diesel’s brawn.
But her real-world skill set is even
more impressive. “I lead a double
life,” the 27-year-old says. “When
I’m not working, I’m out rock
climbing, skydiving, snowboard-
ing, or doing obstacle-course
races—anything I can do for fun.”
On a recent camping trip,
Dobrev learned to wakesurf and
MacGyvered a 100-yard Slip’n
Slide out of plastic. “I do my own
stunts and I’m not afraid to take
risks,” she says. Growing up in
Canada, Dobrev embraced
winter sports—they made the
long winters bearable and stoked
her passion for the outdoors.
“I was skiing and snowboard-
ing at age 6. I love that feeling of
being bundled up right and riding
down a mountain.”
Dobrev appreciates the way
tech makes adventures easier
and more fun—whether it’s a
waterproof fabric, long-lasting
glove warmers, or her favorite
slow-motion video mode on her
phone. “Everything is better on
Instagram in slow-mo, especially
wipeouts and face plants,” she
says. But she knows when to
unplug. “Sometimes people are
too busy chasing the moment
to actually experience it. I don’t
want to be glued to my device.
I like those private moments.”