Norman Reedus and Diane Kruger's Daughter: Everything They’ve Said About Nova

Mar. 15, 2025

Left: Diane Kruger and Norman Reedus attend The 23rd Annual Critics' Choice Awards on January 11, 2018 in Santa Monica, California. Right: Norman Reedus and his daughter Nova.Photo:Kevin Mazur/WireImage ; Diane Kruger Instagram

Kevin Mazur/WireImage ; Diane Kruger Instagram

Norman ReedusandDiane Kruger’s daughter,Nova Tennessee, has influenced her parents' careers.

When Kruger revealed her daughter’s name via her children’s book in May 2022, she also shared about the joy of caring for Nova.

“[She] was a surprise. I thought it wasn’t going to happen, and she came into my life when I was ready,” Kruger said. “I’m grateful that happened for me and our family. She’s changed my world and the way I look at everything.”

As Nova continues to grow, she’s meeting fun milestones, including writing notes to the tooth fairy. In December 2024, Kruger shared a photo of a note from her 5-year-old daughter onInstagramthat read, “Dear Mouse, I would really like tokeep my toothfor my dad for Christmas. Please, please, please would you let me keep my tooth. Love, Nova.”

From the origin of her name to how she’s influenced her parents' careers, here’s everything Norman Reedus and Diane Kruger have said about their daughter, Nova Tennessee.

Her parents announced her birth in November 2018

Nova Tennessee.Diane Kruger Instagram

“She’s very little, but I’m tired,” the SAG Award winner toldExtra. “I feel like a superhero right now.”

Nova has an older brother

Norman Reedus with his kids, Nova and Mingus.Helena Christensen Instagram

Helena Christensen Instagram

Nova has an older brother,Mingus Lucien Reedus, from her dad’s relationship with Christensen.

In 2021, the Danish modelgave a shout-outto her ex onInstagram. “Happy Father’s Day to the father of our son (and his lil sis),” she wrote of Reedus. “We raised a good one.”

In 2019, Kruger said that Mingus had taken to his role as an older brother despite the sibling’s age gap. “He’s great!” she told PEOPLE. “Nineteen years is a big gap so he’s really stepping up to be thisprotective big brother.”

Her name has a special meaning

Diane Kruger and daughter, Nova.Diane Kruger Instagram

Nearly three years after her birth, Kruger revealed their daughter’s name: Nova Tennessee. She also shared that the moniker has special meaning for her and Reedus.

“I remember coming home crying because kids were making fun of my name,” she said. But Kruger’s mom read her a book about the Roman goddess Diana, after whom she was named. “It truly changed my life and how I see myself today,” the actress added.

The Cannes Film Festival award winner shared that she and Reedus chose to name their daughter Nova because it means “new beginning” and “a nova star keeps changing and is reborn.” As for Nova’s middle name? “We love Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains,” Kruger said. “We do motorcycle trips there.”

She was a welcome surprise

Reedus was already a dad when the couple started their relationship and Krugerhadn’t planned on having children.

The actress went on to say she was glad she had Nova when she did, especially because she found such a strong partner.

“He teaches me a lot [about parenting], because he’s done it before,” Kruger said of Reedus. “There’s definitely something to be said for being with someone who is doing it for the second time.”

She loves Paris

In 2019, Krugercelebrated her 43rd birthday in Pariswith Reedus and their daughter.

At the time, Nova was only 8 months old, but according to Kruger, she had already been to the City of Light once before. In a later appearance onLive with Kelly and Ryan, Kruger shared that Nova “loves Paris.”

Her mom has talked about her personality

Six months after giving birth, Kruger spoke with PEOPLE about her daughter’s emerging personality. “She’s not really girlie, she’s kind of a dude,” the new mom shared at the Tribeca Film Festival.

In 2022, Kruger shared more about Nova’s interests. The proud mom told PEOPLE that her daughter was “obsessed with Mulan.”

“She’s taking martial arts to be like Mulan,” Kruger added.

She influenced Kruger’s career

After welcoming Nova, Kruger’s career and priorities shifted.

“Everything changed with motherhood,” Kruger toldWomen’s Healthin 2021. “The way I look at work is different. I love to work; in fact, I cherish it more today than I did before, but at the same time, you look at everything from a different angle.”

Kruger stayed home with Nova for six months beforereturning to work. “I was ready to get back to me, and to get out of the house,” she said after her maternity leave. At the same time, it was nerve-wracking: Kruger shared that she had “extreme separation anxiety” when she began working again. “I was just worried, is she going to forget about me?” she recalled toExtrain 2022.

When Reedus was busy filmingThe Walking Deadin Atlanta, Kruger often brought Nova with her to work. “That’s probably a reason I work less,” she said in herWomen’s Healthinterview. “Things just change when you have a family. You want to keep everyone together.”

Her parents are engaged

Norman Reedus and Diane Kruger attend the closing ceremony red carpet for the 75th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 28, 2022 in Cannes, France.Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty

In August 2021, PEOPLE confirmed thatReedus and Kruger were engaged. The following month, Krugerdebuted her engagement ringon the Met Gala red carpet.

This will be the first marriage for Reedus and the second for Kruger, who was previously married to French actor and directorGuillaume Canetfrom 2001 to 2006.

In 2022, the actress toldThe Telegraphthat she and Reedus hadn’t started planning their wedding just yet.

“Who knows when we’re going to get married,” Kruger said. “But just the symbolism of that ring. It’s like a family heirloom, you know, because it’s going to be [Nova’s] one day. I still look at my ring and think, ‘Wow, this is crazy!’ "

She is a daddy’s girl

Diane Kruger/Instagram

source: people.com