Diane Kruger

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Date of Birth : Jul 15th 1976

Kruger was born Diane Heidkrüger in Algermissen, Germany, near Hildesheim, the daughter of Maria-Theresa, a bank employee, and Hans-Heinrich Heidkrüger, a computer specialist. She was raised in Germany with her younger brother, Stefan. As a child, Diane wanted to become a ballerina, so her parents sent her to London to study with the Royal Ballet. After an injury ended her ballet career prematurely, Diane moved to Paris, France and turned her energies toward modeling.

Kruger soon became interested in acting and took lessons at the Cours Florent. She landed some small appearances in several French movies. She then changed her last name to ease her movie career.

Kruger made her onscreen début 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 début “Mon Idole”. She played Julie Wood in 2003’s Michel Vaillant and Lisa in Wicker Park (2004), alongside Josh Hartnett and Rose Byrne. Her most notable role to date is her portrayal of Helen in Wolfgang Petersen’s epic Troy. She was ranked #50 on the Maxim Hot 100 Women of 2005.

In 2004, she starred with Nicholas 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 host of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 60th Cannes Film Festival, in 2007.

She will also star alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar and Lee Pace in the horror movie Addicted, scheduled for February 2008.

Kruger married French actor Guillaume Canet on September 1, 2001. They have since filed for divorce, but acted alongside one another in 2005 film Joyeux Noël. She is currently dating Joshua Jackson. They have been dating for a couple of months in 2007, despite rumors that they broke up in March 2007.