Diane Kruger regards Karl Lagerfeld as her "stepfather".

The German-born actress - who got to know the legendary designer when she started her modelling career in Paris at the age of 15 - explained she continues to see the Chanel creative director as "a big inspiration" in her life.

She said: "He's like my stepfather; I love Karl. He's the funniest person I know. He's a big inspiration actually."

Despite being fluent in three different languages, the 35-year-old star insists she is "not a very good impersonator" of others and the only person who she can imitate well is Karl.

She told the Independent newspaper: "I'm not a very good impersonator, my friends maybe, but not famous people. I can do Karl very well, Karl Lagerfeld, because he speaks the same in every language."

Diane has previously praised Karl for being a "mentor" to her.

She has said: "I had modelled for Chanel quite a bit when I was younger, and I've known Karl since I was 16. When I started to act, they'd lend me clothes, and Karl designed a haute-couture gown for me that I wore to the premiere of 'Troy' in Cannes. I still have the sketch. I look at him as a mentor."