Famke Janssen

Famke Beumer Janssen[2] (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈfɑmkə ˈbøːmər ˈjɑnsə(n)]; born c. 1964[3][4][5]) is a Dutch actress, director, screenwriter, and former fashion model. She played Xenia Onatopp in GoldenEye (1995), Jean Grey / Phoenix in the X-Men film series (2000–2014), Ava Moore on Nip/Tuck, and Lenore Mills in the Taken film trilogy (2008–2014). In 2008, she was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for Integrity by the United Nations. She made her directorial debut with Bringing Up Bobby in 2011. She is also known for her role in the Netflix original series Hemlock Grove and for her role in ABC's How to Get Away with Murder. Janssen starred in the 2017 NBC crime thriller The Blacklist: Redemption.

Famke Janssen
Famke Janssen at WonderCon, 2013
Born
Famke Beumer Janssen

c. 1964 (age 56–57)
Amstelveen, North Holland, Netherlands
Alma materColumbia University
Occupation
  • Actress
  • director
  • screenwriter
Years active
  • 1984–1992 (model)
  • 1992–present (actress)
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1995; div. 2000)​
RelativesAntoinette Beumer (sister)
Marjolein Beumer (sister)

Early life and education

Famke Beumer Janssen[2] was born c. 1964[3][5] in Amstelveen, the Netherlands.[4][6][7] She has two sisters, director Antoinette Beumer and actress Marjolein Beumer, both of whom changed their surnames to Beumer after their parents divorced.[8]

In addition to her native Dutch, Janssen speaks English and French. She learned German, but has not kept up with it.[9] Following her high school graduation, Janssen studied economics for a year at the University of Amsterdam, which she later called "the stupidest idea I ever had."[8] In the early 1990s, she enrolled at Columbia University's School of General Studies to study creative writing and literature.[10][11]

Career

Modelling and early 1990s

In 1984, Janssen moved to the United States to begin her professional career as a fashion model. She signed with Elite Model Management and worked for Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, Chanel, and Victoria's Secret. She starred in a 1988 commercial for the perfume Exclamation by Coty, Inc.[12] Her looks have been compared to Hedy Lamarr and other 1940s films stars.[6]

After retiring from modelling in the early 1990s, Janssen had guest roles on several television series, including a starring role in the 1992 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Perfect Mate", as empathic metamorph Kamala, opposite Patrick Stewart, with whom she later starred in the X-Men film series.[6] That same year, Janssen was offered the role of Jadzia Dax in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, but turned it down to pursue film roles.[13] Her first film role was alongside Jeff Goldblum in the 1992 crime drama film Fathers & Sons.

1990s
Janssen in October 2008

In 1995, Janssen appeared in Pierce Brosnan's first James Bond film, GoldenEye, as femme fatale Xenia Onatopp. She appeared in Lord of Illusions with Scott Bakula. In an attempt to fight against typecasting after her Bond girl performance, Janssen began seeking out more intriguing support roles, appearing in John Irvin's City of Industry, Woody Allen's Celebrity, Robert Altman's The Gingerbread Man, and Ted Demme's Monument Ave.[14] Denis Leary, her co-star in Monument Ave., was impressed by how easily she blended in, initially not recognizing her, as she was already in character.[6] In the late 1990s, she appeared in The Faculty, Rounders, Deep Rising, and House on Haunted Hill.

X-Men films

In 2000, Janssen played superhero Dr. Jean Grey in the Marvel Studios film X-Men. She later reprised the role in the 2003 sequel, X2, where her character shows signs of increasing powers, but at the end of the film, she is presumably killed. Janssen returns as Jean, whose death in X2 awoke her dark alternate personality, Phoenix in X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). For that role, she won a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress.[15] She returned as Jean in the 2013 film The Wolverine as a hallucination of Wolverine.[16] In 2014, Janssen reprised her role of Jean Grey in a brief cameo for X-Men: Days of Future Past.[17][18]

2002–present
Janssen at the 2013 WonderCon

In 2002, Janssen landed the role of villainess Serleena in Men in Black II, but had to abandon the film due to a death in her family and was replaced by Lara Flynn Boyle.[19] Janssen had a prominent role in the second season of the TV series Nip/Tuck, as the seductive and manipulative life coach Ava Moore, which earned her Hollywood Life's Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award.[20] She reprised her role in the final two episodes of the series.

In 2007, she starred in Turn the River, for which she was awarded the Special Recognition Best Actress Award at the Hamptons International Film Festival.[21] The following year, she starred in Luc Besson's Taken. Janssen continued to work in television, appearing in TV pilots for NBC's police drama Winters and Showtime's The Farm, a spinoff of The L Word set in a women's prison. Both pilots were rejected by their networks. Janssen provided the Dutch language narration for the Studio Tram Tour at all Disney theme parks.[14]

In 2011, Janssen made her directorial debut with the drama Bringing Up Bobby. She wrote the screenplay to the film, which stars Milla Jovovich, Bill Pullman, and Marcia Cross.[22] She reprised her role as Lenore Mills in Taken 2 (2012) and Taken 3 (2014). She starred as the main villain Muriel in Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013).

Janssen has starred in the Netflix original horror thriller television series Hemlock Grove since 2013, wherein she plays the role of family matriarch Olivia Godfrey.[23] Janssen had a recurring role in the ABC crime thriller television series How To Get Away With Murder, appearing in 9 episodes throughout the series, beginning her role in season two of the show and concluding it in the series finale.

Janssen was cast in a starring role in the NBC crime thriller, The Blacklist: Redemption, a spin-off of the NBC series The Blacklist, in March 2016;[24] it was picked up to series in May 2016.[25] In 2019, she served as a juror for the Tribeca Film Festival.[26]

Personal life and activism

Janssen was married to writer and director Kip Williams, son of architect Tod Williams, from 1995 to 2000.[4] She has stated that she does not want to have children.[27]

Janssen appeared with her dog, Licorice, a brindle Boston Terrier, in a 2007 PETA campaign to raise awareness for animal rights. The campaign used the slogan "Be an Angel for Animals."[28] On 28 January 2008, she was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for Integrity for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime at a United Nations anticorruption conference held in Nusa Dua, Bali.[29]

In 2016, Janssen showed frustration in not being cast in the new X-Men movie X-Men: Apocalypse, saying Hollywood was sexist toward older women.[30] She said, "Women, it's interesting because they're replaced, and the older versions are never to be seen again... whereas the men are allowed to be both ages."[30]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1992 Fathers & Sons Kyle Christian
1994 Relentless IV: Ashes to Ashes Dr. Sara Lee Jaffee Direct-to-video film
1995 Lord of Illusions Dorothea Swann
1995 GoldenEye Xenia Onatopp
1996 Dead Girl Treasure
1997 City of Industry Rachel Montana
1998 Monument Ave. Katy O'Connor
1998 The Gingerbread Man Leeanne Magruder
1998 Deep Rising Trillian St. James
1998 RPM Claudia Haggs
1998 Rounders Petra
1998 Celebrity Bonnie
1998 The Adventures of Sebastian Cole Fiona
1998 The Faculty Miss Elizabeth Burke
1999 House on Haunted Hill Evelyn Stockard-Price
2000 Love & Sex Kate Welles
2000 Circus Lily Garfield
2000 X-Men Jean Grey
2001 Made Jessica
2001 Don't Say a Word Agatha "Aggie" Conrad
2002 I Spy Rachel Wright
2003 X2 Jean Grey
2004 Eulogy Judy Arnolds
2005 Hide and Seek Dr. Katherine Carson
2006 X-Men: The Last Stand Jean Grey / Phoenix
2006 The Treatment Allegra Marshall
2007 The Ten Gretchen Reigert
2007 Turn the River Kailey Sullivan
2008 The Wackness Kristen Squires
2008 Taken Lenore "Lenny" Mills
2008 100 Feet Marnie Watson Direct-to-video film
2010 The Chameleon Jennifer Johnson Direct-to-video film
2011 Down the Shore Mary Reed
2012 Taken 2 Lenore "Lenny" Mills
2013 Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters Muriel
2013 The Wolverine Jean Grey
2013 The Being Experience N/A Originally titled In the Woods
2014 A Fighting Man Diane Schuler Direct-to-video film
2014 Unity Narrator (voice) Documentary
2014 X-Men: Days of Future Past Jean Grey Cameo
2014 Taken 3 Lenore "Lenny" Mills
2015 Jack of the Red Hearts Kay
2017 The Show Ilana Katz
2017 All I Wish Vanessa [31]
2017 Once Upon a Time in Venice Katey Ford
2018 Status Update Katherine Alden [32]
2018 Bayou Caviar Nic Originally titled Louisiana Caviar[33]
2018 Asher Sophie [34]
2019 The Poison Rose Jayne Hunt [35]
2019 Primal Dr. Ellen Taylor
2020 The Postcard Killings Valerie Kanon [36] [37]
2020 Endless Lee Douglas [38] [39]
TBA The Vault TBA Originally titled Way Down[40]
TBA Redeeming Love Duchess [41]
TBA Dangerous TBA [42]

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1992 Star Trek: The Next Generation Kamala Episode: "The Perfect Mate"
1994 Melrose Place Diane Adamson Episode: "Michael's Game"
1994 Model by Day Lex / Lady X Television film
1994 The Untouchables Cleo Episode: "Voyeur"
2000–2001 Ally McBeal Jamie Episodes: "The Man with the Bag", "The Ex-Files"
2004–2010 Nip/Tuck Ava Moore Recurring role, 11 episodes
2007 Winters Christie Winters Television film
2008 Puppy Love Maya Web series
2009 The Farm Valentina Galindo Television film
2013–2015 Hemlock Grove Olivia Godfrey Main role
2015–2020 How to Get Away with Murder Eve Rothlow Recurring role, 9 episodes
2015 SuperMansion Frau Mantis Voice role; 2 episodes
2016 Robot Chicken Jean Grey Voice role; episode: "Joel Hurwitz"
2016–2018 The Blacklist Susan Hargrave Recurring role, 5 episodes
2017 The Blacklist: Redemption Susan Hargrave Main role
2019 When They See Us Nancy Ryan Netflix miniseries; 2 episodes[43]
2019 The Capture Jessica Mallory BBC series; 1 episode[44]

As director

Awards and nominations
Year Award Nominated Work Results Refs
1995 MTV Movie Award for Best Fight (shared with Pierce Brosnan) GoldenEye Nominated
1999 Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actress – Horror House on Haunted Hill Nominated
2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actress – Science Fiction X-Men Nominated
2006 Teen Choice Award for Choice Liplock (Shared with Hugh Jackman) X-Men: The Last Stand Nominated
2007 Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress X-Men: The Last Stand Won
2007 Hamptons International Film Festival for Special Recognition Turn the River Won
2007 Hamptons International Film Festival for Special Prize Turn the River Won
2016 Gold Derby TV Award for Drama Guest Actress How to Get Away with Murder Nominated

References
  1. Famke Janssen at Fashion Model Directory
  2. "Famke Janssen- Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  3. College Tour: Famke Janssen kijk je op. npo.nl. 26 September 2014. Event occurs at 30:36. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  4. "Famke Janssen Biography (1964?-)". FilmReference.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  5. Shattuck, Kathryn (17 February 2017). "Famke Janssen Plays Another Lethal Woman in a 'Blacklist' Spinoff". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 February 2017. So how old are you? ... I’m 52.
  6. Elias, Justine (15 November 1998). "Famke Janssen; Transformations As a Way of Life, Not Just on Screen". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  7. "Famke Janssen [1965] Stage and Screen Performer". New Netherland Institute. Retrieved 2 May 2016. Also note that Famke retained her family name Janssen but her sisters changed their family name to Beumer.
  8. Malanowski, Jamie (20 August 2000). "A Scene Stealer's Big Score". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  9. Toal, Drew (7–13 May 2008). "The Hot Seat: She's a hustler, baby". Time Out New York. Archived from the original on 26 July 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  10. Ruyle, Megan (8 May 2012). "Famke Janssen". TheHill. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  11. "The Owl Magazine" (PDF). Columbia University School of General Studies. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  12. "Famke Janssen Exclamation perfume commercial". Retrieved 16 October 2011 – via YouTube.
  13. "Famke Janssen". BuddyTV. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  14. "Famke Janssen on Tavis Smiley". PBS. 6 May 2008. Archived from the original on 23 May 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  15. "Famke Janssen [1965] Stage and Screen Performer". New Netherland Institute. Retrieved 2 May 2016. In 2007, she won three awards, the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress...
  16. Robert Yaniz Jr. "'The Wolverine': Hugh Jackman on Jean Grey's Return". Screen Rant. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  17. Rob Keyes. "Famke Janssen on 'X-Men: Days of Future Past' Return: 'Stay Tuned'". Screen Rant. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  18. Malkin, Marc (30 May 2014). "X-Men: How Famke Janssen Kept Her Days of Future Past Cameo a Secret". E! News. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  19. Brodesser, Claude (18 July 2001). "Inside Move: Janssen out of 'MIB:2'". Variety. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  20. "Famke Janssen at the Hollywood Life Magazine's Breakthrough of the..." Getty Images.
  21. "2007 Hamptons International Film Festival Awards". HamptonsFilmFest.org. 4 January 2008. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  22. Gilmore, Joan (5 August 2010). "Around Town: Bobby crew at JRB gallery". The Journal Record. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  23. Gina McIntyre (27 May 2014). "'Hemlock Grove' first look: Famke Janssen, Bill Skarsgard in Season 2". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  24. Andreeva, Nellie (29 March 2016). "The Blacklist Spinoff Starring Famke Janssen In the Works At NBC". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  25. Andreeva, Nellie (14 May 2016). "The Blacklist Spinoff Picked Up To Series, NBC, Cruel Intentions Alive". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  26. Lewis, Hilary (16 April 2019). "Tribeca: Aaron Rodgers, Angela Bassett, Sheila Nevins Among Jurors". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  27. "Famke Janssen says 'no' to kids". OK Magazine. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  28. "Famke Janssen Is an Angel for Animals". PETA. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  29. "UN Anti-Corruption Conference Opens in Bali". United Nations Information Service Vienna. 28 January 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  30. Child, Ben (25 April 2016). "Jansen said she could not understand why other X-men actors have been given older versions of themselves". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  31. Ritman, Alex (7 October 2016). "Sharon Stone's 'A Little Something for Your Birthday Rounds Out Cast (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  32. D'Alessandro, Anthony (19 July 2016). "Rob Riggle, Famke Janssen, Wendi McMcLendon-Covey & More Round Out 'Status Update' Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  33. Fleming Jr, Mike (19 June 2017). "Cuba Gooding Jr's Helming Debut Is 'Louisiana Caviar'; Richard Dreyfuss & Famke Janssen Star". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  34. Busch, Anita (27 April 2017). "Famke Janssen Joining Cast Of Michael Caton-Jones' Movie 'Asher'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  35. McNary, Dave (15 May 2018). "Famke Janssen Joins John Travolta's Crime Thriller 'The Poison Rose' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  36. Barraclough, Leo (15 May 2019). "Famke Janssen Joins Jeffrey Dean Morgan in 'The Postcard Killings,' First Look Image (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  37. Harvey, Dennis (12 March 2020). "'The Postcard Killings' Film Review". Variety. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  38. D'Alessandro, Anthony (27 November 2018). "'X-Men' Star Famke Janssen Boards Scott Speer's Drama 'Endless'". Deadline. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  39. Kennedy, Lisa (12 August 2020). "'Endless' Review: A Young Adult 'Ghost' Story". Variety. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  40. {cite news| url=https://variety.com/2020/film/global/saban-films-the-vault-tf1-studio-1234830527/%7C title=Saban Films Takes 'The Vault' as TF1 Studio Closes U.K, Italy (EXCLUSIVE)| website=Variety.com| last=Hopewell| first=John| date=12 November, 2020| access-date=27 January 2021}}
  41. N'Duka, Amanda (29 April 2020). "Logan Marshall Green, Abigail Cowen, Nina Dobrev, Famke Janssen & More Star In 'Redeeming Love' Adaptation From 'Eagle Eye' Helmer D.J. Caruso". Deadline. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  42. {citew news| url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/scott-eastwood-tyrese-gibson-famke-janssen-kevin-durand-mel-gibson-action-thriller-dangerous-afm-1234613447/%7C title=Scott Eastwood, Tyrese Gibson, Famke Janssen, Kevin Durand & Mel Gibson Set For Action-Thriller - AFM| website=Deadline| last=Wiseman| first=Andrea| date=12 November 2020| accessdate=27 January 2021}}
  43. Hermanns, Grant (24 August 2018). "Famke Janssen & More Join Ava DuVernay's Central Park Five miniseries". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  44. Clarke, Stewart (5 March 2019). "Ron Perlman, Famke Janssen, Laura Haddock Join BBC's 'The Capture' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
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