Nastassja Aglaia Nakszynski, known professionally as Nastassja Kinski, was born on January 24, 1961, in Berlin, Germany. She is the daughter of renowned German actor Klaus Kinski. Her early life was marked by a chance meeting with acclaimed director Roman Polanski in 1976, who encouraged her to study method acting with the esteemed Lee Strasberg in the United States.
Kinski's breakthrough role came in 1978 with the Italian romantic drama Stay as You Are, starring alongside the legendary Marcello Mastroianni. The film's release on December 21, 1979, brought her recognition in the United States. She then played the title character in Polanski's adaptation of Thomas Hardy's classic novel "Tess of the d'Urbervilles," released in 1979.
In 1981, Kinski appeared in Francis Ford Coppola's romantic musical One from the Heart, her first film produced in the United States. Unfortunately, the film became a box office bomb and resulted in significant financial losses for Coppola's production company, Zoetrope Studios. Kinski also starred in the erotic horror movie Cat People in 1982, a remake of the 1942 classic, alongside Malcolm McDowell.
Kinski's subsequent roles included Wim Wenders' critically acclaimed drama Paris, Texas in 1984, alongside Harry Dean Stanton and Dean Stockwell. This film won the prestigious Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) at the Cannes Film Festival. Throughout the 1990s, Kinski appeared in a range of American films, including the action movie Terminal Velocity opposite Charlie Sheen, One Night Stand, Your Friends and Neighbors, Susan's Plan, and The Lost Son.
Throughout her illustrious career, Kinski has appeared in over 60 films in both Europe and the United States, solidifying her status as a talented and versatile actress.
