Diane Kruger, a woman of peace: In romantic war movie 'Merry Christmas'

German actress Diane Kruger, who had a breakthrough streak starring opposite some of the hottest Hollywood leading men such as Brad Pitt, Eric Bana and Orlando Bloom in "Troy," Josh Hartnett in "Wicker Park" and Nicolas Cage in "National Treasure," is going back to her European roots for the inspirational war film "Merry Christmas" ("Joyeux Noël") which premiered to standing ovations in Cannes last May.

The film, which will open soon in in theaters nationwide, is also France's official entry to the Best Foreign Language award at the Oscars next year. Kruger plays Anna Sorensen, a Danish soprano, but more than anything a woman who will do everything to snatch the man she loves away from the war.

In the film, when war breaks out in the lull of summer 1914, it surprises and pulls millions of men in its wake. Nikolaus Sprink, exceptional tenor at the Berlin Opera House, will have to give up his prestigious career and the one he loves: Anna, his singing partner... Palmer, Anglican priest, has volunteered to follow Jonathan, his young church aide. They leave Scotland, one as a soldier, the other as a stretcher-bearer Lieutenant Audebert has had to leave his wife, pregnant and bedridden, to fight the enemy. But the Germans now occupy the small town of Northern France where the young bride has probably given birth. Unless the worst has happened.

Having no news is the suffering that haunts Lieutenant Audebert's every night And Christmas arrives, with its snow and multitude of family and army presents. But the surprise won't come from inside the generous parcels which lie in the French, Scottish and German trenches. That night, a momentous event will turn the destinies of Nikolaus, Anna, Palmer and Audebert around. Because the unthinkable will happen: rifles will be left at the trenches to go, candle in hand, to see those on the opposite side, shake their hands, exchange a cigarette and a piece of chocolate, wish them Merry Christmas...

Diane Kruger talks about the critically acclaimed film, as well as her promising career, in the following interview:

Question: "Merry Christmas" was the toast of Cannes this year. What's the film about?

Diane Kruger: It's an emotional film based on a true story about a Christmas truce that brought German, French, and British soldiers out of their World War One trenches. It happened one Christmas Eve 1914. The opposing soldiers put down their weapons, buried their dead and played soccer in no man's land. It's a really famous story.

Question: And you play an opera singer. How challenging is that?

Diane: I had to sing opera in German, which I never have, so I was really excited about that.

Question: You live in France but you're from Germany. How did you start getting roles in America?

Diane: I've lived in France for nearly 10 years and I did three French films, including "Merry Christmas." Getting roles in American films happened by coincidence. I didn't have an agent in the U.S. I had never been to Hollywood, actually. [The "Wicker Park" producers] were in Paris having lunch with Luc Besson, who I was working with for a movie, and he recommended me to them. So they actually called me, which I thought would never happen so it's really by coincidence.

Question: You've had a tremendous start in Hollywood. How are you prepared for the possible onslaught of celebrity?

Diane: I'm not prepared for it. I don't know how you prepare for something like that. I cannot imagine living in a fishbowl like that. I don't live in Hollywood so I don't know if it will be that bad anyway because I live in Paris and we don't have that sort of phenomenon there. So I don't know, we'll see what happens.

Question: Is there any pressure for you to move to the United States?

Diane: No, not really because I did a movie right after. Maybe, at one point, I will have to take up a place in L.A. But I think once people know you and know your work...

Question: What made you decide Paris out of all places?

Diane: I started modeling there. They brought me over from Germany to model. I love Paris. I love the language, I love French movies.

Question: Did the press give you a hard time about betraying them and moving to another part of Europe?

Diane: Not so far because they don't really know who I am. They will now but so far...and I'm German and I love Germany because my family is there.

Question: What language do you like to work with the most?

Diane: English. It's just because it's easier because I speak in English and it's a great movie language. I love French but you need a lot more work to say the same things.

Question: Where did you learn your English?

Diane: Well I learned in school. I was in the U.S. for four years and I work on it a lot. Just trying to get better the accent. It's really hard.

Question: Are there any directors you would like to work with?

Diane: I really want to work with Paul Thomas Anderson. He's my favorite filmmaker. Steven Spielberg obviously, Soderbergh for sure.