CANNES, France – Diane Kruger loves making smaller-budget European movies, partly because the experience is more authentic than shooting Hollywood blockbusters. Just don't ask her to sleep in a yurt.
The "Inglourious Basterds" star stayed in one of the traditional Central Asian felt tents for a month and a half while filming her latest movie, "Special Forces" - about a French journalist kidnapped by the Taliban.
To prepare, Kruger said she'd interviewed several female reporters who've survived kidnapping in various parts of the world.
"It was an eye-opener," she told The Associated Press in an interview on the terrace of Cannes' seaside Martinez Hotel. "It made me appreciate journalism a lot more. I realized how jaded I was. How many times have I been at home cooking dinner and the news comes on and you go, 'Oh, turn that off. I don't want hear what's going on.' I'd never really thought of what it takes for journalists to feed us that information."
Under director Stephane Rybojad, who has made documentaries in the past, the shoot in Tajikistan mimicked the hardships of warzone journalism as closely as possible.
"It was an interesting experience, Kruger said - far from the over-the-top luxuries of Hollywood super-productions.
Still, asked whether she was ready to rough it again, she demurred.
"Honestly, I've had my fair share of yurts," laughed the German-born actress, who's also a spokesmodel for L'Oreal cosmetics.
Kruger was in for a stiff dose of French Riviera glamour later Thursday, when she walks the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival ahead of the screening of a 20-minute-long excerpt from "Special Forces."
Kruger said Cannes holds a special place in her heart because "my first red carpet ever was here."
Also see: Diane Kruger Pictures
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