Diane Kruger: Bio And Career Highlights

July 15, 1976

Algermissen, Germany

50 Years Old

Cancer

Diane Kruger is a German actress renowned for her striking presence and ability to deliver nuanced performances that traverse the landscapes of European art house films and major Hollywood blockbusters, establishing her as a truly international talent.


She first garnered widespread attention playing Helen in Wolfgang Petersen's 2004 epic war film Troy. This visually grand role swiftly cemented her status as a compelling leading lady.

Born Diane Heidkrüger in Algermissen, West Germany, she grew up in a middle-class family with her younger brother, Stefan. Her mother, Maria-Theresa, encouraged an early passion for ballet despite her father's alcohol addiction.


Kruger later pursued her ballet dreams at the Royal Ballet School in London, but a knee injury ended her dancing career. Undeterred, she moved to Paris and enrolled in the esteemed Cours Florent drama school, where she discovered her acting calling.

A string of high-profile romances has marked Diane Kruger's personal life, including a marriage to French actor Guillaume Canet from 2001 to 2006. She was later in a decade-long relationship with actor Joshua Jackson.


Kruger is currently partnered with actor Norman Reedus, with whom she shares one daughter. The couple welcomed their child in November 2018.

Diane Kruger anchored major films like Troy and the National Treasure franchise, demonstrating her appeal in large-scale productions. She also delivered a critically praised performance as Bridget von Hammersmark in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds.


She garnered significant critical acclaim for her role in Fatih Akin's German-language thriller In the Fade. For this powerful performance, Kruger secured the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress.

“Sometimes it takes courage and experience to allow yourself to actually go there, and it's the most liberating thing to let go.”