It seems like Norman Reedus and Diane Kruger have always been together because they are such a tight unit, but that wasn’t always the case. Their love story started like many other actors — on the set for indie film, Sky. Of course, there were a few obstacles in the way, like other relationships. So the dating didn’t begin immediately, even if the chemistry did.
It was a hard thing to deny the attraction while they were promoting the film, especially when Reedus was calling Kruger “the prettiest of co-stars” (uh, not awkward at all for her then-boyfriend Joshua Jackson) on his social media pages. Alleged hookups and sightings began to happen as early as December 2015 between Reedus and Kruger, but it took until July 2016 for her relationship with Jackson to end for good.
Moving forward it was just the two of them and it looks like a deep, romantic love has developed over time.Kruger embraced Reedus’ son, Mingus Lucien, 21, from his former relationship with supermodel Helena Christensen, and the duo started their own family together, welcoming a daughter in 2018. With the news of their engagement recently breaking, it’s time to take a look back at how this beautiful love story began — and where it is headed next.
On the Set of ‘Sky’ (2015)
Just from the movie still alone, you can feel the electricity between the two of them. The plot of the movie somewhat mirrored their real-life romance as Kruger’s character leaves her husband to take up with Reedus’ character — and by the way, Jackson also co-starred in this film. Kruger admitted she was a bit apprehensive before working with The Walking Dead star.
I didn’t know [Reedus] before the film,” Kruger told People. “We share a lot of intimate scenes. I was really nervous about meeting him and not being able to have a drink with him, or talk with him.”
An Alleged Affair (December 2015)
In public, Kruger was still dating Jackson, but the New York Daily News reported a very affectionate sighting between her and Reedus in the wee hours of a dark bar in December 2015.
“They were laughing and having fun and then she just literally got out of her chair and straddled him and we were all like, ‘what the hell,'” said a source to the publication. “They were all over each other. She was a lot more aggressive than him.”
At the time, Jackson was conveniently out of the country on a 21-day trip around the world.
The Split (July 2016)
After 10 years together, Kruger and Jackson called it quits in July 2016 after last being spotted together at the opening of his Off-Broadway show, Smart People, in February. The couple released a simple statement, via People, “Diane Kruger and Josh Jackson have decided to separate and remain friends.”
Jackson went on to marry actress Jodie Turner-Smith in 2019, and their daughter, Janie, was born in 2020.
Dating on the Sly (2016)
Reedus and Kruger didn’t confirm their relationship at all during this time, they preferred to stay away from the glaring lenses of the paparazzi as much as possible. That doesn’t mean people didn’t get a glimpse of them together from time to time.
She showed up across the pond in Paris, France at his photography exhibit opening to promote his book, The Sun’s Coming Up… Like a Big Bald Head. That’s a long way to travel for someone who is just their pal, but People called her “one supportive friend” — that’s for sure!
U.S. Open (September 2017)
By 2017, it was hard not to believe that a full-on relationship was happening. They were often seen making out all over Manhattan, and a cozy September 2017 sighting at the U.S. Open tennis tournament only fueled the speculation even more. This romance was on blast by now.
Red Carpet Debut (January 2018)
The guessing game was finally over as the couple finally made their red carpet debut at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards. Their love was out in the open for everyone to witness.
Pregnancy Speculation (May 2018)
If you’re attending the Cannes Film Festival, imbibing in champagne and wine is often expected, but eagle-eyed sources noticed Kruger often opted for water during her time in France.
“She’s been wearing super billowy dresses at three events here in Cannes so far, and also at the Met Gala,” a source told Page Six. That news turned out to be true as the couple welcomed their first child in November — a daughter, whose name they keep out of the press.
Nesting Together (2020)
Reedus and Kruger have been a united front ever since they went public with their love. While they keep their daughter’s face away from social media, they do often express gratitude for the life they share together.
“I have A LOT to be thankful for this year and I count my lucky stars to have met you @bigbaldhead and for sharing life’s many blessings with you,” Kruger wrote on Instagram.
The couple even settled down in a Hollywood Hills castle in 2020, with amazing views of the city and a sweet playroom for their daughter to enjoy. But the duo is on the move again after flipping the property to their neighbor in the summer of 2021.
Engagement (August 2021)
But maybe their home sale had something to do with their recent news — an engagement. In being their usual private selves, the couple has not confirmed the milestone event, but sources are saying a wedding is their next big stage of life.
And for the couple who met as co-stars on the set of Sky, it seems like their destiny was planned for them, thanks to the plot of a movie script.
Name Reveal (May 2022)
In early May, Kruger revealed the name of their three-year-old daughter after the couple had kept her name under wraps since her birth. Her beautiful name is Nova Tennessee. “I had her late in life at 42, and [Norman] had a child when he was much younger (son Mingus, 22, with Helena Christensen),” she shared with People. “‘Nova’ in Latin means new beginning, and a nova star keeps changing and is reborn. And we love Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains; we do motorcycle trips there.”
Cannes 75th Anniversary Dinner (May 2022)
Reedus and Kruger spent the week together at the Cannes Film Festival, making quite the splash at the couple to see on the red carpet. They showed up in complementary tuxedos that showed off their chic sense of style in France.
Cannes Film Festival (May 2022)
The dynamic duo dazzled on the red carpet for the premiere of The Innocent at the Cannes Film Festival. Wearing a gorgeous red Oscar de la Renta gown with billowing fabric around her legs and a beautiful halter neckline, Kruger shined in a Chaumet overlapping ribbon-design necklace. She summed up the night (and her “hot date”) in an Instagram caption.
“The celebration of 75 years of the @festivaldecannes was a night to remember. I owe a lot to this festival, the people that come here to celebrate the artistry that is cinema is unparalleled,” she wrote. “It felt wonderful to be here for this special evening and to remember for one moment in time that the dream of telling stories and live and experience it collectively is still very much alive. And I had a pretty hot date of [sic] I may say so myself.”
Cannes Closing Ceremony (May 2022)
Reedus and Kruger stole the show with the closing ceremony red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, wrapping up a week of rare appearances together. She wore a stunning metallic AMI gown, designed by Alexandre Mattiussi, and Reedus cut a handsome figure in his classic tuxedo.
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