Diane Kruger

More than just your typical blue-eyed blonde celebrity, the uber sexy and unique-looking starlet Diane Kruger has proven her talent as a young dancer, fashion model, and critically acclaimed international actress.

Kruger was born as Diane Heidkrüger in Algermissen, Germany on July 15, 1976. As a child, she learned to speak fluent French and English in addition to her native language (German) through her education in the arts, and she also began a career as dancer. After an injury left her unable to continue, Kruger decided to pursue modeling instead, and moved to the fashion capital of the world—Paris, France—where she was able to put her learned French to good use.

As a model Kruger did well, mostly for her sensational good looks and her bold, striking blue eyes; in fact, when Kruger was only 15, she was chosen as a finalist for Elite Model Management—the agency that has handed out many a contract for the winners of supermodel Tyra Banks’ America’s Next Top Model—in its “Look of the Year” for 1992.

Kruger soon seemed to get bored with modeling and set her sights on “bigger and better” things like acting (as is typical in Hollywood—although in this case, it was France, and Kruger was able to actually prove herself as a strong and talented actress, unlike, say, Cindy Crawford, who models with the best of them but can’t seem to act her way out of a paper bag). Consequently, Kruger took acting lessons at French drama school Cours Florent, after which she landed a few minor roles in a number of French movies.

After officially changing her screen name from “Heidkrüger” to “Kruger,” Diane snagged a role in 2002’s made-for-T.V. flick The Piano Player, which co-starred Christopher Lambert and Dennis Hopper. 2004 proved to be great year for Kruger: She landed female lead roles in the films Wicker Park (as Lisa) alongside Josh Hartnett, Rose Byrne, and Matthew Lillard as Lisa; Troy (as Helen of Troy), co-starring Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, and Orlando Bloom; and National Treasure (as Abigail Chase), opposite Nicholas Cage and also starring Jon Voight.

In 2005, Kruger achieved the “honor” of being listed as #50 on Maxim magazine’s “Hot 100 Women” list, and also appeared in the films Joyeux Noël and Frankie, followed by Copying Beethoven, co-starring Ed Harris (as Beethoven) and Matthew Goode, in 2006. Kruger did have the real honor of hosting the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, during which an independent film she starred in, L’Âge des ténèbres, was featured. She’ll reprise her role as Ms. Chase in the upcoming National Treasure: The Book of Secrets (December 2007).

Kruger married French actor Guillaume Canet, with whom she acted in Joyeux Noël, in September 2001, but has since filed for divorce. The thing we love about Diane is that she is a breath of fresh air in Hollywoodland in that she doesn’t make the news for her latest stupid antics.