Plucked from relative obscurity to play the most beautiful woman in history, it’s no wonder that actress Diane Kruger was unsure of what to make of her celebrity. Though not a household name, Kruger managed to beat out the likes of Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman to play the woman whose face launched a thousand ships in the blockbuster epic, “Troy” (2004). After four months of interviews and screen tests, the virtually untested Kruger got a rare opportunity, even by Hollywood standards: to become a movie star overnight.
Born Diane Heidkrueger in Hildesheim, Germany, the 5’ 7†blonde-haired, blue-eyed Kruger never dreamt of becoming an actress. Though her mom wanted her to be an accountant—if only because it had a certain future—Kruger chose instead to pursue ballet. Kruger moved to London at 11 years-old to study with the Royal Ballet, but a devastating knee injury at age 13 forced her to retire young. In 1992, Kruger won a national modeling competition and a contract with Elite, a top modeling agency. Kruger soon became a top fashion model in Germany, working for such industry heavies as Armani and Christian Dior. Then director Luc Besson convinced the young Kruger to move to Paris to pursue acting, which she did.
