Lena Herzog on Werner Herzog’s Acting and Their Love Story

• Mar 17, 2025

Lena Herzog first met Werner Herzog in the mid-1990s while studying philosophy at Mills College in California. At the time, she had no idea he was a famous filmmaker, as she had never seen his movies. Instead of revealing his true identity, Werner told her he was a stuntman, a story he maintained for months—even after they moved in together.

Lena recalled the moment she realized she was falling in love, saying, "It's too bad he's a stuntman. What am I going to say to my mother?" Eventually, Werner told her the truth, and the couple has been together ever since, now living in California. Werner explained his reason for settling in Los Angeles simply: "I live in Los Angeles because I fell in love."

Lena, a visual artist and photographer, has often traveled with her husband on his film shoots. Her work includes documentary-style photography of actors such as Nicolas Cage, Christian Bale, Chloë Sevigny, and Michael Shannon. She told Anderson Cooper that their travels align well with her artistic career: "Wherever he goes, I find a subject."

Cooper also asked Lena about her husband’s acting career, particularly his roles as villains in The Mandalorian and Jack Reacher. She admitted, "He's very proud of it. He brags about it." In Jack Reacher, Werner played Zek Chelovek, a ruthless Russian gang leader shaped by years in Soviet gulags. Lena recalled receiving panicked calls from friends in Paris after they saw his performance: "They said, ‘You're married to that man! Remember, we're only one flight away.’"

She believes her husband enjoys playing into his public image as an obsessive, intense filmmaker, which has led to his casting in such roles. However, she insists that perception doesn’t reflect who he really is. "He's the sweetest man… a really, really sweet, good man," she said.

Lena’s insights offer a personal look at Werner Herzog beyond his cinematic reputation, showing a man who is both passionate about his craft and deeply devoted to his family.