'Vampire Diaries' fans meet actors in Aurora

“Vampire Diaries stars Steven R. McQueen and Michael Trevino became the first actors Maddie Weber has ever seen in person Saturday.

And Weber, 12, of Aurora, did more than just see them she also was among about 500 people who got their autographs at Westfield Fox Valley Shopping Center in Aurora.

“Oh my God, that was amazing, Weber said to her friend, Abigail Cather, 12, of Aurora, as the two left the Hot Topic store with autographed posters in hand. “My heart is thrashing.

Weber, Cather and hundreds of other fans of the television show lined the mall's pathways as early as 11 a.m. for the 4 p.m. autograph session followed by a question-and-answer session with McQueen and Trevino.

But Ruth Castelli and her daughter, Roslyn Rodriguez, of Chicago, didn't have to wait so long. They were among six winners of a WGN-TV contest to get the actors' autographs, as well as a prize package with a “Vampire Diaries DVD, a CD of the show's soundtrack, a T-shirt and jewelry.

“(Roslyn) wants to post it on Facebook, hopefully take a picture, and get everyone jealous, Castelli said about her 13-year-old daughter.

Many young female fans were ecstatic to be in the presence of McQueen, whose “Vampire Diaries counterpart is Jeremy Gilbert, a teen who started making dangerous decisions after the deaths of his parents.

“I see Jeremy, he's so cute, Becky McEvilly, 16, of Chicago Ridge, said to her sister Kim McEvilly, 12, as the two were holding their spots first in line moments before the stars began signing posters.

Natasha Soto, 26, of Bolingbrook agreed.

“He's got that baby face, she said.

And while young teenage girls dominated the crowd, older women and men also came out for their brush with “Vampire Diaries fame.

Michael Moore, 63, of Chicago said his autographed poster would go perfectly with a memorabilia collection he and his wife Judy have at home.

And Kathie Vanpuyenbroeck, 60, of Evergreen Park, came with a question for the actors:

“Where are the grandparents on the show? Vanpuyenbroeck asked. “There's a whole town with no grandparents.

The show is set in Mystic Falls Va., and filmed in Atlanta, Ga. “Vampire Diaries is in its second season and airs at 7 p.m. Thursdays on The CW.