Diane Kruger

Born: July 15 1976

Where: Hildesheim, Germany

The former ballerina was catapulted into the limelight after being cast as Helen in Wolfgang Petersen's epic blockbuster Troy.

Born Diane Heidkrueger, she studied ballet with the Royal Ballet in London before an injury ended her career.

She returned to Germany and became a top fashion model and later switched to acting and relocated to Paris at the suggestion of filmmaker Luc Besson.

She made her screen debut in the French TV movie The Piano Player with Christopher Lambert and went on to appear in the movies Mon Idole and Michel Vaillant.

In 2004, she starred alongside Josh Hartnett in the romantic thriller Wicker Park and played opposite Nicolas Cage in the Disney adventure National Treasure.