Diane Kruger

Diane Kruger

Diane Kruger at Venice Film Festival on September 11, 2009
Born Diane Heidkrüger
15 July 1976 (1976-07-15) (age 34)
Algermissen, Germany
Occupation Actress
Years active 2002–present
Spouse Guillaume Canet (m. 2001–2006) (divorced)
Partner Joshua Jackson (2006–present)

Diane Kruger (born 15 July 1976) is a German actress and former fashion model. In North America, she is known for her role as Helen in Troy, Dr. Abigail Chase in National Treasure and National Treasure: Book of Secrets, and Bridget von Hammersmark in Inglourious Basterds.

Contents

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.[1] She was raised Roman Catholic[2] and she attended strict Catholic school.[3] Diane did not drink alcohol until she was 20, because she saw the negative influence of alcohol on her father.[4] Her mother sent her to student exchange programmes when she was a teenager to improve her English.[4] She was raised in Germany with her younger brother, Stefan. 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.[5]

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 Number 50 on the Maxim Hot 100 Women of 2005.[6]

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.

Kruger was the hostess of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.

In 2009, she co-starred as a German actress turned saboteur in Quentin Tarantino's film Inglourious Basterds. Kruger stars in 2010 in the Liam Neeson film Unknown White Male alongside January Jones.[7]

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.

Endorsements

Kruger is a brand ambassador for watch manufacturer Jaeger-LeCoultre.[8] In December 2009, she was announced as the global spokesmodel for L'Oréal.[9] Most recently, she has become the latest face for Calvin Klein's newest fragrance line, Beauty.[10]

Personal life

She married French actor and director Guillaume Canet on 1 September 2001. They divorced in 2006, but acted alongside one another in Joyeux Noël. She has been in a relationship with Joshua Jackson since 2006.[11] Besides her mother tongue (German), Kruger speaks English and French fluently. She is friends with Karl Lagerfeld.[12] Kruger divides her time between Paris and Vancouver.

Filmography

Film
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
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
2011 Unknown White Male Gina post-production
2011 National Treasure 3 Abigail Chase pre-production

Awards

References

  1. ↑ "Diane Kruger Biography". Filmreference.com. http://www.filmreference.com/film/55/Diane-Kruger.html. Retrieved 2010-05-30. 
  2. ↑ "Diane Kruger for Marie Claire". Marie Claire. 2010-04-01. http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/fashion/ideas/26445/7/diane-kruger-cover-shoot-diane-kruger-photos.html#stop. Retrieved 2010-07-15. "This month, she speaks openly to Marie Claire about a difficult childhood, her Catholic upbringing..." 
  3. ↑ Hattersley, Giles (2009-08-02). "Diane Kruger on being a 1940s film star-turned-spy". The Times. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article6730525.ece. Retrieved 2010-07-15. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Friedlander, Noam (2009-06-02). "Diane Kruger interview". The Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/5421380/Diane-Kruger-interview.html. Retrieved January 25, 2010. 
  5. ↑ "AskMen.com". AskMen.com. 1976-07-15. http://www.askmen.com/women/actress_200/244_diane_kruger.html. Retrieved 2010-05-30. 
  6. ↑ Maxim.com Retrieved on 21 December 2007
  7. ↑ "January Jones and Diane Kruger Join Liam Neeson in Unknown White Male". Dreadcentral.com. 2009-10-26. http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/34217/january-jones-and-diane-kruger-join-liam-neeson-unknown-white-male. Retrieved 2010-05-30. 
  8. ↑ "PROFESSIONAL WATCHES™ | Watches for Men: New Boutique: Diane Kruger helps unveil Jaeger-LeCoultre's Cannes boutique". Professionalwatches.com. 2009-05-28. http://professionalwatches.com/2009/05/new_boutique_diane_kruger_help.html. Retrieved 2010-05-30. 
  9. ↑ Diane Kruger Named Global Spokesmodel for L'Oreal US Magazine. 15 December 2009
  10. ↑ 11:48 AM ET (2010-05-03). "Diane Kruger Is the New Face of Calvin Klein Fragrance – Style News — StyleWatch — People.com". Stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com. http://stylenews.peoplestylewatch.com/2010/05/03/diane-kruger-is-the-new-face-of-calvin-klein-fragrance/?xid=rss-topheadlines. Retrieved 2010-07-14. 
  11. ↑ "Kruger engaged to Jackson?". San Francisco Chronicle. 14 August 2009. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/dailydish/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=45566. Retrieved 18 August 2009. 
  12. ↑ "Diane Kruger’s found a father in Karl Lagerfeld". My Fashion Life. 2009-08-13. http://www.myfashionlife.com/archives/2009/08/13/diane-krugers-found-a-father-in-karl-lagerfeld/. Retrieved 2010-05-30. 

External links