Nastassja Kinski
Nastassja Kinski is a German actress and model whose international film roles include Tess, Cat People, and Paris, Texas.
Tess: Roman Polanski’s 1979 film follows a young woman in rural England whose life is shaped by class and sexual exploitation. Kinski’s performance as Tess earned her a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year.
Roman Polanski: A Polish-French film director whose works include Chinatown, Tess, and The Pianist. He directed Kinski in Tess, a role that brought her major awards attention.
Berlin: Germany’s capital and largest city, with a central role in the country’s cultural and political history. Kinski was born in West Berlin in 1961.
Peter Lindbergh: A German fashion photographer known for influential editorial portraits and fashion campaigns. His 1980 photograph of Kinski with a boa constrictor became a widely recognized image.
Cat People: Paul Schrader’s 1982 horror film reimagines a story of people who transform into panthers. Kinski starred as Irena Gallier in this sensual, stylized Hollywood film.
Wim Wenders: A German filmmaker known for road movies and films including Wings of Desire and Paris, Texas. His Paris, Texas gave Kinski one of her most enduring screen roles.
German cinema: The film industries and traditions associated with Germany, from early cinema to contemporary filmmaking. Kinski’s career began in European productions before expanding into Hollywood.
Richard Avedon: An American fashion and portrait photographer known for stark studio images. He photographed Kinski for a celebrated 1981 portrait featuring a snake.
Paris, Texas: Wim Wenders’s 1984 road drama follows a man rebuilding ties with his young son and estranged wife. Kinski’s portrayal of Jane anchors the film’s intimate final encounter.
Paul Schrader: An American screenwriter and director whose films include Taxi Driver and American Gigolo. He directed Kinski in Cat People, pairing her performance with a distinctive horror aesthetic.