Sci-fi fanatic Diane Kruger plays dream role in 'The Host'

LOS ANGELES — Diane Kruger is such a fan of science fiction that she once attended the Comic-Con in San Diego wearing a Darth Vader mask so she wouldn’t be recognized.

Despite her love of the genre, Kruger’s acting career has stayed on more traditional paths with roles in the action film National Treasure and the mystery Unknown.

“I always wanted to make a sci-fi film because I feel like, for an actor, your imagination can run wild. Those characters are larger than life. You really can do so much and make bold choices,” Kruger said.

She finally stars in a sci-fi movie with The Host, which opened Friday.

In the film, based on the Stephenie Meyer novel, aliens take over the bodies of most humans. Kruger’s character — the Seeker — is determined to track down any last remaining humans. That task is complicated by a possessed human who keeps both her human and alien personalities.

Kruger was drawn to the role because she is a Twilight fan and wanted to work with director Andrew Niccol. His Gattaca is one of her favorite science-fiction movies.

“While I was reading the script, I thought she was this cool villain. Then this whole reveal happens, this evolution for the character. I didn’t see it coming at all,” Kruger said.

Being a fan of Star Trek, Kruger understands what it means to have to go Spock on a role. So she was in full agreement with Meyer and Niccol that the character would have a tight rein on her emotions.

“That’s because the jury’s still out as to who is evil.”

She said the film not only gave her a great character to play, it also asks lofty questions, such as: When it comes to humans, is it the thing that makes us great that also makes us very flawed?