German actress Diane Kruger made a stunning style statement at the Paris premiere of her new HBO series, Merteuil, on Wednesday night, perfectly matching her outfit to the show's historical setting.
A Fashionable Homage
The 49-year-old actress paid tribute to 18th century France, where the drama is set, wearing a white lace minidress featuring a frilly neckline and structured skirt. She completed the look with black pop socks and heels, posing for photographs on the pink carpet alongside her fellow cast members.
Return to French Screens
This marks Kruger's return to French-language screens for the HBO production, which is titled The Seduction in all countries outside France. Her last French film role was in Farewell, My Queen back in 2012.
In the series, which premieres on Friday, Kruger portrays Madame De Rosemonde, a prominent figure within the French elite. The plot unfolds during the Ancien Régime era in 18th-century France, following the schemes of the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, played by Vincent Lacoste.
Overcoming Language Challenges
Despite being fluent in French, Kruger revealed she faced significant challenges filming The Seduction due to the historical nature of the dialogue. She told Tech Radar: 'It was a hard muscle to flex because it's old French. I mean, I barely speak French, but this type of French is impossible, and my biggest preparation was just to be able to say it.'
The actress described extensive preparation to master the dialect, including exercises with a pen in her mouth to relax her muscles. She added that constant rewrites made learning lines in advance particularly difficult.
The series serves as a prequel to Dangerous Liaisons, tracing the rise to power of young Isabelle de Merteuil, portrayed by Anamaria Vartolomei. The official synopsis states: 'To be the hero of your own story, you sometimes have to be the villain in others. Marquise de Merteuil embarks on a daring journey to become Paris' leading courtesan.'
Kruger was joined on the pink carpet by co-stars including Lucas Bravo, who made a statement in a dramatic bow shirt, alongside Vincent Lacoste, Anamaria Vartolomei, Fantine Harduin, Julien De Saint-Jean, and Noée Abita.
