Diane Kruger (born 15 July 1976) is a German actress and former fashion model. She is known for roles such as Helen in Troy, Dr. Abigail Chase in National Treasure and its sequel, and Bridget von Hammersmark in Inglourious Basterds.
Early life
Kruger was born as Diane Heidkrüger in Algermissen, Germany, near Hildesheim. She is the daughter of bank employee Maria-Theresa and computer specialist Hans-Heinrich Heidkrüger. She was raised Roman Catholic and attended a Catholic school. Diane did not drink alcohol until she was 20, because she saw the negative influence of alcohol on her father. She was raised in Germany with her younger brother, Stefan. Her mother sent her to student exchange programs when she was a teenager to improve her English. As a child, Kruger wanted to become a ballerina and successfully auditioned for the Royal Ballet School in London. However, after an injury ended her ballet career prematurely, Kruger moved to Paris and turned her energy toward modeling.
Acting career
Kruger soon became interested in acting and took lessons at the Cours Florent. She landed some small appearances in several French films.
She made her onscreen debut in 2002 opposite Dennis Hopper and Christopher Lambert in The Piano Player, a TV-movie by Jean-Pierre Roux. Her first major role was the same year when she starred in her then husband's directorial debut Mon Idole. She played Julie Wood in 2003's Michel Valliant and Lisa in Wicker Park (2004), alongside Josh Hartnett and Rose Byrne. One of her most notable roles to date is her portrayal of Helen of Sparta in Wolfgang Petersen's epic Troy. She was ranked 50th on the Maxim Hot 100 Women of 2005.
In 2004, Kruger starred with Nicolas Cage and Sean Bean (who co-starred with her in Troy) in the popular film National Treasure, going on to appear in movies such as Joyeux Noël (2005) and Copying Beethoven (2006). She reprised her role as Dr. Abigail Chase in National Treasure: Book of Secrets, released in December 2007.
In 2009, she co-starred as a German actress turned saboteur in Quentin Tarantino's filmInglourious Basterds. Kruger starred in 2011 in the Liam Neeson film Unknown alongside January Jones.
In December 2009, she announced the nominations of the 67th Golden Globe Awards and also picked up nominations from the Screen Actors Guild for Best Supporting Actress and Outstanding Performance by a Cast of a Motion Picture for her role in Inglourious Basterds.
Kruger made a cameo appearance in an April 2010 episode of the Fox show Fringe, in which her boyfriend, actor Joshua Jackson is a star.
In 2010, Kruger also appeared in Mark Ronson's music video for "Somebody to Love Me", where she plays Boy George.
In 2011, it was announced that she had replaced Eva Green in the role of Marie Antoinette in the French-language movie, Les Adieux à la Reine.
Endorsements
Kruger is a brand ambassador for watch manufacturer Jaeger-LeCoultre. In December 2009, she was announced as the global spokesmodel for L'Oréal. Most recently, she has become the latest face for Calvin Klein's newest fragrance line, Beauty.
Personal life
She married French actor and director Guillaume Canet on 1 September 2001. They divorced in 2006, but acted alongside one another inJoyeux Noël. She has been in a relationship with Joshua Jackson since 2006. Besides her native German, Kruger speaks English and French fluently. She is a friend of fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. Kruger divides her time between Paris and Vancouver.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Point de lendemain | Short subject | |
| 2002 | Duelles | Sabine | TV episode, Mauvaise conduite |
| 2002 | The Piano Player | Erika | |
| 2002 | Ni pour ni contre (bien au contraire) | The call-girl | |
| 2002 | Mon Idole | Clara Broustal | |
| 2003 | Michel Vaillant | Julie Wood | |
| 2004 | Troy | Helen | |
| 2004 | Wicker Park | Lisa | |
| 2004 | Narco | ||
| 2004 | National Treasure | Abigail Chase | Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 2005 | Joyeux Noël | Anna Sorensen | |
| 2005 | Frankie | Frankie | |
| 2006 | The Tiger Brigades (Les Brigades du Tigre) | Constance Radetsky | |
| 2006 | Copying Beethoven | Anna Holtz | |
| 2007 | Goodbye Bafana | Gloria Gregory | |
| 2007 | Days of Darkness | Véronica Star | |
| 2007 | The Hunting Party | Mirjana | |
| 2007 | National Treasure: Book of Secrets | Abigail Chase | Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress – Action, Adventure |
| 2008 | Anything for Her | Lisa | |
| 2009 | Inglourious Basterds | Bridget von Hammersmark | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast Golden Camera for Best International Actress Nominated—Italian Online Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 2010 | Mr. Nobody | Anna | |
| 2010 | Inhale | post-production | |
| 2010 | Fringe | Miranda Green | TV episode |
| 2010 | Somebody to Love Me | Boy George | Music video by Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. featuring Boy George and Andrew Wyatt |
| 2010 | Pieds Nus Sur Les Limaces | Clara | |
| 2011 | Unknown | Gina | |
| 2011 | National Treasure 3 | Abigail Chase | pre-production |
Awards
- 2003: Cannes Film Festival, Chopard Trophy for Female Revelation – Won
- 2004: Bambi Award for Career – Won
- 2005: Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for National Treasure – Nominated
- 2010: Golden Camera for Best International Actress for Inglourious Basterds – Won
