Kruger danced to escape family torment

Diane Kruger was so distraught at her father's descent into alcoholism, she became obsessed with ballet to take her mind off her traumatic home life.

The Troy star grew up in Germany but has not seen her dad for 13 years since his drink problem ripped the family apart.

And she was so desperate to escape her hellish home life, she plunged herself into dancing as a coping mechanism.

She says, "My dad was an alcoholic and we left him. It was a bad situation at home and my mum, my brother and I left overnight... Ballet helped me through many things in life, gave me discipline and hope - something beautiful."

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