Diane Kruger Recounts Her 'Uncomfortable' Screen Test for 2003's 'Troy': 'I Felt Like Meat'

Diane Kruger is looking back at one of the more uncomfortable moments in her career.

The actress recently spoke with Variety to promote her new series Swimming With Sharks, in which she plays a caustic movie executive willing to do anything to close a deal.

In the interview, Diane reflected on her own experiences in Hollywood and how they informed her character.

“I’ve definitely come across the Weinsteins of this world from the get go,” she told the outlet.

She continued, “I remember testing for Troy and having to go to the studio head in costume. And I felt like meat, being looked up and down and was asked, ‘Why do you think you should be playing this?’”

While she didn’t name the executive behind the Warner Bros. release, sources told Variety that it’s relatively uncommon for a star to have to attend an interview at a studio in costume.

“I’ve been put in situations that were so inappropriate and so uncomfortable. I think when I fist started out, it just felt like, this is what it’s like. This is what Hollywood is like. Also I come from modeling and believe me, they have their moments,” Diane said.

She also recounted filming one of the more intense scenes in Swimming With Sharks, in which her boss (played by Donald Sutherland) demands that she perform a sexual act on a young female who is acting as his nurse.

“Shooting that scene was just a reminder of how disgusting and acceptable bad behavior was at a certain time in our society, not just Hollywood,“ Diane said. “What really drew me to this part is that it is the Hollywood of 2022. So women have careers, they put their families or their desires on the back burner. What does that mean once you are in a position of power? How do you complete your life? The vulnerability of this character, combined with this excessive abusive of power, was really intriguing to me.”

Swimming With Sharks is set to premiere on Roku on April 15.

In case you missed it, Diane recently revealed something surprising about her role in Inglourious Basterds.