Queen, mother or spy: Diane Kruger's roles
The German actress's name, Heidkrüger, was deemed too complicated for her to succeed in the US. She changed it to Kruger, and found her way to Hollywood's top. She has now won the best actress award in Cannes.
Best actress award at Cannes
In the thriller "In the Fade" by Hamburg-born and -based director Fatih Akin, Diane Kruger depicts a German mother called Katja, whose Kurdish husband and five-year-old son are killed by a bomb planted by neo-Nazis. It was actually the German-American actress's first German-language role; she won best actress at the Cannes Film Festival for her performance.
Breakthrough with 'Troy' (2004)
The American epic from 2004 was directed by a German filmmaker and starred the German actress. Kruger was until then still unknown in the US, but director Wolfgang Petersen picked her among 3,000 potential candidates for the role of Helen, described as "the most beautiful woman in the world" in the Greek myths. After this film, her career quickly took off with many international roles.
A Danish soprano in 'Merry Christmas' (2005)
The anti-war film "Merry Christmas" is based on actual events that occurred during World War I on the French front, where a Christmas truce in December 1914 allowed enemy soldiers to celebrate together. Diane Kruger starred alongside the German actors Benno Fürmann and Daniel Brühl. The 2005 film was nominated for best foreign language film at the Oscars.
Spy in 'Inglorious Basterds' (2009)
Quentin Tarantino selected Diane Kruger for the role of Bridget von Hammersmark in his alternate history Nazi-resistance film, "Inglorious Basterds." It was a new challenge for the actress, as it had nothing to do with her previous roles. She embodied a film star from the 1940s who was celebrated as Nazis' icon, while actually cooperating with the Americans.
Honored in Germany (2010)
In 2010, Diane Kruger was awarded the Golden Camera award in Berlin for best international actress. The accolade recognized not only her outstanding performance alongside Brad Pitt and Christoph Waltz in "Inglorious Basterds," but also her exceptional career as a Hollywood star, born in Germany.
Chase scenes in 'Unknown' (2011)
In the thriller "Unknown," Diane Kruger is an action heroine. Filmed in Germany, the movie tells the story of a US scientist visiting Berlin for a congress. Dr. Harris (Liam Neeson) attempts to retrieve his lost briefcase; this turns into a relentless pursuit. Diane Kruger plays a taxi driver called Gina - one of the film's two lead female characters.
Marie Antoinette in 'Farewell, My Queen' (2012)
The French film "Farewell, My Queen" (original title: "Les Adieux à la reine") by Benoit Jacquot was selected for the 2012 Berlinale competition. It is set in Versailles during the French Revolution in 1789. The story is told from the perspective of Sidonie Laborde, a young servant who reads to her beloved Queen, the moody Marie Antoinette, depicted by Diane Kruger.
On the road in 'Sky' (2015)
While they are on holidays in the US, Romy (Diane Kruger) runs away from her husband and tries to survive by doing different jobs. Her Parisian grandmother's apple pie recipe is a remedy to toxic love relations. "Sky" is a French road movie from 2015. It was Kruger's third film with director Fabienne Berthaud.