Tense Tarantino — expecting anything else?
SheKnows: Your co-star Christoph (Waltz) has this way of being threatening and disarming/charming at the same time. How was it to act with him and react to that? Did you rehearse
to perfect it?
Diane Kruger: No, not at all — but that’s why working with great actors makes your job a lot easier because all you do is play the scene. You react to what he puts out or what I
would put out. I had no idea who he was before this movie. I had never heard of him. The few scenes that I had with him, he was truly scary. I mean honestly, I could not have done that scene in the
office. My character knew that the minute she steps into that room, she’s not gonna come out alive. But, the cat and mouse play that he puts on was scarily real.
SheKnows: He said that Quentin was so into the physicality of it that he was talking about how the hand would approach your neck. You did a wonderful job. You do look terrified in
the scene. Were you?
Diane Kruger: Well, where he jumps at me, that’s a violent thing to do and also, being strangled by someone is probably the most violent thing you can do. Shooting somebody, you
pull the trigger and that’s it. So, the anecdote to this story is that it’s actually Quentin’s hands (on camera). He’s the one that strangles me. He did the whole thing.
SheKnows: You’re kidding? How did he approach that with you?
Diane Kruger: He came to my trailer the day of. He’s so funny. He’s so boyish at times. He comes and he’s all excited, ‘You know, Christoph is just an actor. He’s gonna squeeze too
hard or he’s gonna squeeze not enough and we’ll have to do it over and over. I think I should just do it because I know what I want.’ I was like, ‘Oh, oh, okay.’ What do you say? Then the irony is
that I can’t watch that scene and not laugh because he’s so much bigger than Christoph and none of his costumes obviously fit Quentin, so they had to make strap-on SS sleeves for him that wrapped
around his head while he’s on top of me squeezing. A ‘hands on’ director… literally.
Quentin’s que
SheKnows: Hilarious. Do you remember the first Tarantino film you saw and the effect it had on you?
Diane Kruger: It was Pulp Fiction. That was the first one I saw because I didn’t discover Reservoir Dogs until later on. I remember when it came out. I was like
14 or 13 maybe. You watch so many movies when you’re growing up, and so few actually stay with you. It really left an impression on me for whatever reason. It was shocking, the violence and Uma was
cool.
SheKnows: That’s for sure. What’s next for you?
Diane Kruger: I’m going to do a French-speaking movie next… because I can (laughs). The movie was just selected at the Venice Film Festival, which is really cool. I’ve
never had a movie in competition there. So, I’m going to go do that.
SheKnows: You were just at the TCAs supporting Josh (Jackson) which is great. When he is shooting his TV show, he’s
stuck in one place so how are you two working that out?
Diane Kruger: A lot of flying. Whenever we can. He’s in Vancouver. But, just recently, we were in New York for a year which was easier. But, I actually really like Vancouver. I’d
never been before and he’s from there so it makes it easy. He knows where to go. All his friends are there so they take me out. It’s a lovely city.
SheKnows: What are the chances of you dropping in on the TV show (Fringe)?
Diane Kruger: You know what? I’d love to be a gooey monster. I actually did say that. Like a day thing where my eyes are popped out of my head or something. That would be fun. Just
some gooey thing.
SheKnows: Are you doing any more National Treasure movies?
Diane Kruger: I don’t know. I hear rumors, but who knows? If it goes, I think it would go next year because I know Jon Turteltaub is doing a movie for him right now in New York.
Some wizard movie.
SheKnows: Yeah. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.
SheKnows: Have you gotten your dream role yet? Who or what is it?
Diane Kruger: It’s the next part. It is. You never know. This was definitely a highlight. I would love to go back and play her again. If he does a prequel, that would be awesome.
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