EYNTK about how Diane Kruger built her body and stays healthy
The actor is in phenomenal shape
At the age of 45, Diane Kruger (a mum-of-one) is in the best shape of her life, having been through some of the toughest training to prepare for her role in new film The 355, which was shot in London during the summer of 2019.
In it, she plays a spy from her native Germany in an all-female team (portrayed by Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Lupita Nyong’o and Fan Bingbing) that comes together to prevent a device with the potential to unleash global catastrophe from falling into dangerous hands.
The movie is fun, exhilarating and packed with women (all over 30, by the way, which feels like a palate cleanser) doing uncontrived, no-holds-barred action scenes – and Diane’s action sequences in the film are particularly savage. Her particular style of fighting (which is meant to mimic how a German spy would be trained in real life) is gritty, inspired by the self-defence system Krav Maga.
She is brusque and unforgivingly strong for the entire two hours of the film, sprinting through Paris and facing off with Chastain in a walk-in freezer in one especially memorable scene.
So, how did get strong enough for this role – and all the other exciting ones she plays? Women's Health caught up with her to find out all about Diane's healthy habits, favourite workouts and how she stays in the wellness zone.
She Works Hard to Perform at her Best
Diane is, unmistakably, a grafter.
'I think I innately strive to do things well and properly and follow through. And when I was younger, I was certainly very guarded; I think that’s part of our [German] culture.’
To prepare for her role in The 355, Diane added boxing and running to her fitness routine. ‘I really hate running,’ she says, ‘I like to walk – I live in New York. We walk everywhere.’
Then, five weeks before filming started, Diane arrived in London, where she embarked on daily two-hour training sessions. Some days it was fight training, in which she cultivated her hitting power with boxing drills and kicks, as well as practice in wrestling, grappling [a combat skill] and basic gymnastics.
She also did military drills, during which she and her co-stars moved with various weapons through a house constructed from empty cardboard boxes.
Serious business!
She Mixes Up Her Training - Even When Not Prepping for a Role
Diane shared her current weekly gym routine with us, in which she does the elliptical, burpees, box jumps, sit-ups, planks and 20-pound squats.
'It’s the moments when I don’t have to talk to anyone that help me the most,’ she says, of just how important those gym sessions are to her health - both physical and mental.
‘I’m a little socially awkward; I’m not good at schmoozing with people, so I’ve always looked for moments to be by myself.'
We hear you, Diane.
She's Mindful of her Own Stress
You know those things you catch yourself doing that mean you're struggling? Nail biting, head scratching et al? A-list actresses have them, too. Sometimes, when Diane feels imbalanced, she realises that she’s been clenching her jaw.
‘I always feel tense, like I’m forgetting 5,000 things a day. I often feel like I don’t take enough time to stop for a second and take care of me, so I’m trying to get better about that.’
As for what her self-care looks like? When she can, she books a massage or a foot rub. Tasty.
She Chooses Work in Which She's Valued - and Heard
Of her experience on The 355 she says: 'It felt great to work with girls, and there was no weirdness on set. Jessica [Chastain] made sure all of the actresses were paid the same; we all own a piece of the movie.'
'Everyone felt valued and happy to be there, she continues. 'Regardless of how the film does, it was one of the most complete experiences. Being able to be heard and valued is so important – not just in what I do, but everywhere.'
Yes and yes again to this.
She Tops Up Her Nutrition with Supplements that Work for Her
After Diane became a mother, there was a period when no matter how much she (hypothetically) slept, she ‘always looked tired’. So, she started complimenting her daily fare by taking vegan multivitamins, which she says help her feel less depleted.
She's Reframed her Relationship with Exercise since her 30s
As any woman will know, the way we think and feel about fitness, food and healthy living is always evolving; the same is true for Diane.
‘I was naturally skinny when I was younger, and I did a lot of ballet and ballroom dancing, so I didn’t work out traditionally,' she recalls. 'But by the time I hit about 32, I felt my metabolism change. That’s when I thought I needed to work out to be able to eat what I wanted – and I dreaded it.’
Working out because you feel like you need to 'work off' calories? Not exactly the strongest - or healthiest - motivation.
But then, as Diane got older and busier, she realised that exercise was time for herself and began to savour it, properly. She educated herself on science-backed training approaches - like how strength training would help keep her metabolism ticking along and then she ‘witnessed my body change’.
She's Celebrates Her Body - and How Empowering it Feels to Work On It
The past few years have seen Diane truly embracing that head-to-toe shift and acknowledging the versatility of a body that not only brought her a baby, but rebuilt her for an unprecedented role and consistently provided a mental safe haven.
‘There are so many things you don’t have control over in life,’ she says. ‘But to be able to change your body – there’s something thrilling about that.’
Building physical strength and mental clarity to remind yourself just how powerful you are, in every role you play? Sounds like the healthiest motivation.
Roisín Dervish-O’Kane is Women’s Health’s multi-award-winning Features Director and Chief Interviewer. From her zeitgeist-capturing commissions to profile interviews that spark global media conversations, her journalism gets right to the heart of the biggest talking points across health, society, culture - and their fascinating intersection.
Heading up WH’s industry-leading features offering, she plans, commissions and edits longform features across the site and magazine on everything from why medical sexism leads women to self-diagnose online and the lasting biological harms of emotional self-suppression to whether the booming longevity industry’s claims tally with the research base. She also launched Well Opinionated, the home of incisive, reactive comment on health news, politics and the latest wellness world controversies.
An experienced presenter - she’s hosted The Women’s Health and Intelligence Squared podcasts - you can find her in front of the camera, drawing out the health stories of WH’s cover stars.
Roisín has been named Writer of The Year by the PPA and made their 30 under 30 list. Her writing has also been recognised by the Medical Journalists Association and Guild of Health Writers, while The Women's Health Podcast, which she produced and hosted, earned a highly commended for 'Best Health Podcast' at the Publisher Podcast Awards.
She is also a regular news review contributor on BBC radio, an experienced panel host - and speaker.
These £28 gym leggings ‘hold you in perfectly’
21 butt-sculpting leggings for a perky bum
Flared yoga pants are the comfiest piece of gym kit
Primark’s £20 gingham gym set is so on trend
![“they're so much weaker”: pts on how "skinny jabs" have impacted their client's training](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/they-re-so-much-weaker-pts-on-how-22skinny-jabs-22-have-impacted-their-client-s-training-697b4b3481b9d.jpg?crop=0.668xw:1.00xh;0.141xw,0&resize=360:* "“They're so much weaker”: PTs on how "skinny jabs" have impacted their client's training")
