Diane Kruger says Quentin Tarantino didn’t want her to star in Inglourious Basterds

German actress Diane Kruger has lashed out at Quentin Tarantino, after the duo disagreed over casting for his 2009 film, Inglourious Basterds.

German-born actress Diane Kruger has claimed that her Inglourious Basterds director Quentin Tarantino originally didn’t want her to be in the 2009 World War II film.

Kruger, 45, played the role of Bridget von Hammersmark, a German actress who doubled as a spy for the allies, the New York Post reports.

She explained on an episode of the Reign with Josh Smith podcast that Tarantino, 58, wasn’t too keen on casting her and had his doubts about her abilities.

Kruger alleged that she had to jump through “hoops” to get cast in the part in the ensemble movie.

“He auditioned everyone. He didn’t want to audition me because he saw a movie that I was in he didn’t like. So he didn’t believe in me from the get-go,” the National Treasure star said.

Quentin Tarantino with Diane Kruger and Christoph Waltz at the premiere of film Inglourious Basterds at the State Theatre in Sydney in 2009.

“Literally, the only reason he auditioned me is because there was no one left to audition,” Kruger said.

“I had to pay for my own flight from New York to go to Germany because he wouldn’t, even though, obviously, he’s American, but he wouldn’t see me in the US. So I had to jump through all these hoops that definitely put my nose out of joint, but I was like, ‘You know what? F**k him! I’m just gonna do that and prove to him that I can do it.’ And thankfully it all worked out.”

Kruger received much acclaim for her role and even scored a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role.

Kruger in scene from film Inglourious Basterds.

Kruger added that things may seem “unfair” at moments, however, “You’ve gotta change the narrative.”

The mother-of-one added that she believes the situation educated the Oscar-winning filmmaker.

“I think for him, too, that must have been a lesson. Sometimes you are the one that puts – and I’m sure I’m guilty of that too – you put people in boxes. You think they’re gonna be one way and then they’re not at all.”

She came to the defence of the legendary Kill Bill director back in 2018 when allegations of him mistreating stars on set surfaced.

In an Instagram post, Kruger wrote: “I would like to say that my work experience with Quentin Tarantino was pure joy. He treated me with utter respect and never abused his power or forced me to do anything I wasn’t comfortable with.”

The Post has reached out to Tarantino’s reps for comment.

This story originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Diane Kruger says Quentin Tarantino didn’t want her to star in Inglourious Basterds