Orlando native Candice Accola is savoring a new challenge in the second season of “The Vampire Diaries.” Her character, Caroline, has become a blood-sucker, and Accola is thrilled by the acting opportunities. The next episode, set at a masquerade ball, airs at 8 p.m. Thursday on WKCF-Ch. 18. It’s the seventh episode to be broadcast this season, and the cast is working on the 10th. I talked to Accola, a Lake Highland Prep alum, earlier this week.

Q. What was your reaction when producers said they wanted to make Caroline a vampire?

A. I got a wonderful phone call from [series creator] Kevin Williamson to prep me for the second season. He wanted to reiterate that I would go from dead to the undead. That was slightly comforting. Character-wise, it’s so exciting. In television characters often stay in a similar category. It’s fun to play something that’s completely different. Kevin prepped me that I was going to change. On this show, nobody is safe, it’s a vampire show. There will be characters who will die.

Q. Is it more fun to be a vampire than a human?

A. Oh, yeah. It’s a blast. Having the opportunity to get comfortable with a new character, I’m glad I had time to ease into becoming a vampire. I feel like I’ve learned and grown so much as actor in the past year and a half. Now I get to put on fangs and pretend to bite people and kick boys’ butts. There’s been a lot of stunt work.

Q. How is playing Caroline’s relationship with her mom, who hates vampires?

A. The writers do such a wonderful job. They keep it relatable. It’s essentially a supernatural show, but in your teen years, there are times you feel your mom won’t understand you. The teenage years are hard for a mother and daughter. I have a great relationship with my mom, but I found it would be a relatable scenario for teen girls watching.

Q. How has Caroline changed since she became a vampire? Is she stronger?

A. Throughout the first season, Caroline based her decisions on how it would affect her. What she wanted was No. 1 on her list. Now she realizes if she wants blood, people will die. Becoming a vampire, it’s made her grow up. It’s relatable to your years in high school, when you’re figuring things out. Your actions do have consequences. One constant in becoming a vampire, your emotions are skyrocketing. You’ve got a never-ending passion, you have this never-ending hunger. Everything is heightened. It made her more aware of the people around her.

Q. What kind of reaction are you getting from fans?

A. A couple of weeks ago I went to Dallas for a signing and 500 fans came in. The girls said they were excited to see Caroline stand up for herself and put Damon in his place and fight Mason in the woods. They were excited to see Caroline as a stronger girl. It was a girl power moment. I’m a big fan of girl power.

Q. What’s your family’s reaction?

A. I’m so grateful for supportive parents. It’s lovely to know they watch the show and send me texts every Thursday. This is a career path I pursued. It was unexpected and far out of what they know. It’s wonderful for them to see a result. It’s wonderful to hear that they’re enjoying it and seeing me grow.

Q. Does being a vampire show what you can do as an actor?

A. Yes, it goes back to the writers. I’m so grateful for the opportunities they’ve given me to stretch, to see where I can take her.

Q. Do you have more job security as a vampire?

A. No. All the other women who have become vampires, with the exception of Caroline, have been killed off. It raises the scary meter.

Q. How is it filming this year?

A. It’s been wonderful. It never feels routine on this show. That keeps it exciting. The running joke, it’s time to film another movie. The writers do such a great job. There are so many action scenes and cliffhangers. It makes everyone step up to the plate. It’s such a wonderful hardworking crew. I’m so proud of this show, especially this season.