Photo: Diane Kruger/Instagram
Diane Kruger is celebrating the power of a name.
Growing up in Germany, Kruger says “Diane” was an uncommon name there.
“I remember coming home crying because kids were making fun of my name,” she tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week’s issue. The actress’s mom read her a book about the Roman goddess Diana, whom she was named after.
“It truly changed my life,” adds Kruger. “And how I see myself today.”
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When it came time to name — and empower — her own daughter, Kruger and Reedus decided on Nova Tennessee.
“I had her late in life at 42, and [Norman] had a child when he was much younger,” she says. " ‘Nova’ in Latin means new beginning, and a nova star keeps changing and is reborn. And we love Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains; we do motorcycle trips there."
For the actress, it’s also been “wonderful to rediscover firsts,” she adds. “So many things at my age, you’ve done a thousand times, but just seeing it through her eyes again. Whether it’s having ice cream for the first time or seeing snow for the first time there’s just something so refreshing and simple about that life as mother and daughter that I’ve just found magnificent.”
Now the actress is most grateful for her own journey to motherhood.
“[Nova] was a surprise. I thought it wasn’t going to happen, and she came into my life when I was ready,” Kruger adds. “I’m grateful that happened for me and our family. She’s changed my world and the way I look at everything.”
For more of Kruger’s exclusive interview, pick up this week’s issue onPEOPLE,on newsstands Friday.
source: people.com
