‘Fun, Revenge, Crime, A Bit Of Comedy’: Famke Janssen On Amsterdam Empire
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2 hours ago
All episodes are streaming now on Netflix
From GoldenEye (1995) to X-Men (2000), Taken (2008) to How To Get Away With Murder (2015–20), Famke Janssen is a certified scene stealer. But the Dutch star shines in the spotlight of Amsterdam Empire, Netflix’s new crime drama centring on a one hit wonder on the brink of marital collapse who threatens to expose the dark secrets underpinning her husband’s coffee shop empire.
Boasting a stellar career Stateside, the seven-part drama marks Famke’s very first experience acting in her native Dutch, which she describes as ‘a fun challenge and ultimately very liberating’. We sat down with the star to find out more.
Q&A: Famke Janssen
Hi Famke, how’s life going at the moment?
Amazingly well! Amsterdam Empire is out on Netflix and I not only star but also executive produced and designed my own costumes.
What can viewers expect from the show?
Fun, revenge, crime, a bit of comedy and a uniquely Dutch show set in Amsterdam.
You play Betty – how would you describe her?
Betty is colourful, emotional, deeply hurt, resourceful and a force to be reckoned with. And she has a unique style.
What was it like playing her?
I loved playing her. I loved every flaw. I loved how unapologetically authentic she is.
‘Betty is a force to be reckoned with.’ (Famke Janssen in Amsterdam Empire © Netflix)
How did you get into character, and did you do anything special to prepare for the role?
Betty is a former one-hit-wonder from the ‘90s which informs a lot about who she is today. I learned to sing and dance to record a music video of her one hit. It was the most sensational experience of my life.
What was it like to film in your hometown?
Amsterdam is not an easy place to film logistically speaking, but it’s so beautiful and I loved filming there.
Any standout locations?
The red-light district is ironically one of the most beautiful parts of Amsterdam and we filmed there at night, which was a lot of fun.
Anything you can tease about a possible season 2?
Not yet. Stay put….
You’ve worked such a broad career to date, including X-Men, Lord of Illusions and Bond opposite Pierce Brosnan. What is that like to look back on?
I am grateful beyond my wildest imagination for all the amazing projects I’ve been part of and the talented people I’ve worked with.
If you could give any advice to the next Bond cast, what would you say?
Be your beautiful authentic self and have a blast.
Anything you especially hope they will or won’t do next time?
They’ve successfully remained relevant and reinvented themselves for 60 years. I don’t think they need anyone’s advice.
‘I am grateful beyond my wildest imagination for all the amazing projects I’ve been part of.’ (Famke Janssen as Dorothea in Lord of Illusions [1995] © United Artists Pictures)
Love and Sex is a movie I love and did many years ago with Jon Favreau.
Any roles in the pipeline that you’re excited about? (if you’re allowed to tell us!)
I have two movies coming out: Turnbuckle and One Second After, which I just finished filming in Bulgaria.
Who has been your favourite actor to work with in the past?
Impossible to answer. I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many amazing actors.
Which co-star did you learn the most from?
I’ve been in 80 projects and have worked with so many talented people – they’ve all taught me something.
What’s your dream role?
I would love to play a role for which I am trained to do something I don’t know how to do yet. It’s one of the joys of being an actor to be trained to sing, dance, horse ride, play the piano – you name it.
What’s a genre you’d like to do more of?
Comedy, and I really want to be in a beautiful period drama.
Who is an actor, writer or director you’d love to work with?
Tom Ford, the Coen Brothers, Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan, Daniel Day-Lewis, Ava Duvernay (I’ve already worked with her but love her!), Jane Campion… Just to name a few.
‘Now that I’ve sung and danced in a music video, I want to find out what else I can do.’ (© Netflix)
Do you live in the town or the country? Which do you prefer?
I’m a city girl.
Do you get to spend much time at home? What do you like to do there?
NYC is home. I love hanging out with my friends, having coffee, eating dinner, visiting museums, going to Pilates and dancing.
What’s your interior design style?
I design everything myself in my life from my interiors to my clothes. It’s colorful, unique, and eclectic.
How do you find balance in your personal and work lives?
I’m still trying to work that out.
How can we all live a little bit better?
Put our phones away and be present!
Anything fun in the pipeline – professionally or personally?
I am excited about where my life and career are headed, being an actor travelling the world, being an executive producer and being a costume designer (in addition to designing Betty’s costumes in Amsterdam Empire, I designed my costumes on One Second After). And now that I’ve sung and danced in a music video, I want to find out what else I can do. What a privilege and joy! I am so grateful.
‘Put our phones away and be present!’ (© Tim Verhallen/Netflix)
What Famke Janssen Is Loving Right Now
I’m currently watching… Kathryn Bigelow’s House of Dynamite.
What I’m reading… Someone in Bulgaria gave me a beautiful copy of Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby so I’m rereading it.
The last thing I watched (and loved) was… Victoria Beckham’s documentary.
What I’m most looking forward to seeing… Othello in London.
Favourite film of all time… The Wiz (1978), Dog Day Afternoon, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), The Untouchables (1987) – just to name some.
Favourite song of all time… Impossible. There are so many: ‘For The Love Of You’ by The Isley Brothers, ‘As’ by Stevie Wonder, ‘Let Me Show You’ by The Jackson 5, ‘Midnight Train To Georgia’ by Gladys Knight & The Pips, ‘Knee Deep’ by Funkadelic…
Band/singer I always have on repeat… Michael Jackson.
My ultimate cultural recommendation… The MOMA, The National Gallery, Neue Gallery in Berlin, Noguchi Museum in Long Island City.
Cultural guilty pleasure… Dance movies.
Famke Janssen stars as Betty in Amsterdam Empire. All episodes are streaming now on Netflix.
Photoshoot Credits
- Photography: Tim Verhallen/Netflix
- Styling: Xaviera Aubri at By Jane Kate
- Make up: Natasha Fagri
- Hair: Hester Wernert at Ballsaal Artist Management (using Authentic Beauty Concept & Ukysah)
- Set Design: Marieke van Warmerdam at Amoy Group
- Styling assistant: Puck Zeegers
- Photography Assistants: Arnaud Szalai, Nico Swartz
