Famke Janssen

About

Famke Janssen is a Dutch actress, director, screenwriter, and former fashion model, born on November 5, 1964 in Amstelveen, Netherlands. She began her career as a model and worked with high-profile brands around the world before shifting to acting in the early 90s. Janssen is best known for her roles in blockbuster films such as Jean Grey/Phoenix in the X-Men film series, and as the Bond girl, Xenia Onatopp in "GoldenEye". Not only limited to acting, Janssen has ventured into the realm behind the camera and made her directorial debut with the 2011 drama film "Bringing Up Bobby".

Associated With

Famke Janssen, celebrated for her roles in "X-Men" and "Taken" film series, is quite well-connected in Hollywood. Early in her career, she worked with director Robert Rodriguez and writer Quentin Tarantino on the acclaimed movie “From Dusk Till Dawn”. Along with Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, and Ian McKellen, she became a known entity due to Bryan Singer's 'X-Men' series. Her time on the "Taken" films let her work closely with Liam Neeson and director Luc Besson. In terms of personal associations, Janssen was in a romantic relationship with director and writer Tod Williams from 1995 until 2000. She has also collaborated with various directors and actors in both television series like “How To Get Away with Murder”, “Blacklist” and included in the cast of Netflix Series “When They See Us” directed by Ava DuVernay.

Career Highlights

• Famke Janssen's career took off when she made her film debut in "Fathers & Sons" in 1992.
• She played a memorable role as villain Xenia Onatopp in the James Bond film "GoldenEye" in 1995.
• Janssen continued her villainous streak in the big-budget superhero movie "X-Men" in which she portrayed the character of Jean Grey in 2000.
• She reprised her role in X-Men's sequel "X2: X-Men United" in 2003, which was followed by "X-Men: The Last Stand" in 2006, and "X-Men: Days of Future Past" in 2014.
• In 2007, she took on the role of Lenore Mills in the action-thriller "Taken", which she reprised in its sequels "Taken 2" in 2012, and "Taken 3" in 2014.
• Janssen starred in the horror film "100 Feet" and she also made her directorial debut with the drama film "Bringing Up Bobby" in 2008.
• She became a part of the Netflix series "Hemlock Grove" where she played the character Olivia Godfrey from 2013 until 2015.
• Janssen joined the cast of legal drama series "How to Get Away with Murder" in 2015.
• She had a notable role in the NBC crime thriller "The Blacklist: Redemption" in 2017.
• She won the Hamptons International Film Festival Special Recognition for Excellence in Acting award in 2007.
• She received the Best Actress award at the Boston Film Festival for her performance in "Turn the River" in 2007.
• Janssen won the Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actress – Drama Series for her role in "Hemlock Grove" at the Monte-Carlo Television Festival in 2016.

Notable Awards

• Famke Janssen is a well-respected actress, but she has not won any notable awards to date. However, she has been nominated for several, including a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in "X-Men: The Last Stand". She has also received recognition and acclaim for her roles in "GoldenEye," "Nip/Tuck," and "Hemlock Grove," among others.

FAQs

What Is the Most Popular Famke Janssen Movie/TV Show?

Famke Janssen is a talented actress who has contributed to many successful films and TV shows, but she is perhaps best known for her role in the "X-Men" movie franchise. In these films, she played the character Jean Grey/Phoenix, a mutant with powerful psychic abilities. The "X-Men" films gained worldwide recognition, making them one of the highest-grossing film franchises to date. Therefore, due to the extensive popularity and commercial success of these films, her role in the "X-Men" is considered to be Famke Janssen's most popular movie appearance. On television, her role in Netflix's crime drama series, "The Blacklist" as Susan Hargrave, is also quite popular among viewers.

How Did Famke Janssen Get Famous?

Famke Janssen gained fame through her successful acting career, particularly in Hollywood. The Dutch actress, screenwriter, director, and former fashion model saw her career take off substantially when she was cast as the mutant superheroine Jean Grey / Phoenix in the "X-Men" film franchise. Starring in these globally popular movies from 2000 till 2014, she garnered international acclaim and recognition. Additionally, her portrayal of Xenia Onatopp in the James Bond film "GoldenEye" and her appearances in hit TV series like "Nip/Tuck" and "How to Get Away with Murder" have also contributed significantly to her fame.