Famke Janssen and Pierce Brosnan in <em>Goldeneye </em>(Credit: EON Productions)
Dutch actress Famke Janssen took the stage for an introspective Q&A session at the Montreal Comiccon, offering fans like myself a glimpse into her diverse acting career—from her breakout role in Goldeneye (1995), which was my very first step into the world of James Bond, to her very first Dutch-language film at 60 years old. Her reflections touched on everything from behind-the-scenes anecdotes to the evolving nature of the roles she chose—and why versatility is key to longevity in show business.
To most fans at the Comiccon, Janssen is the original live-action Jean Grey in the X-Men franchise. For me, she will always be Xenia Onatopp from Goldeneye, the first movie where Pierce Brosnan first wore the 007 tuxedo. Menacing, dangerously fatal and a murderous killing machine using her legs to squeeze her victims, Xenia is a highly memorable henchwoman in the whole franchise, all thanks to Janssen’s superb on-screen presence.
Breaking Out as Xenia Onatopp
Famke’s international breakthrough came in 1995 with Pierce Brosnan’s debut film as James Bond 007 Goldeneye, where she played the iconic and intense Russian Bond villain Xenia Onatopp. Janssen’s father, a big Bond fan himself (the man had taste), would have been thrilled, she noted with a smile. Though she was daunted by the British press during that first promotional tour, the role opened many doors for her: film, television, streaming—it all began with that key secondary role. Interestingly, she credited her earlier role in Lord of Illusions (1995) with landing her the part, as both films were produced by MGM Studios. In a charming anecdote, she recalled seeing that film’s director, Clive Barker, crying on a plane while watching Bambi—a touching contrast to his famously dark sensibilities. Let’s not forget that Barker is responsible for Hellraiser.
Famke Janssen and Pierce Brosnan in Goldeneye (Credit: EON Productions)
Considering my deep love for the James Bond franchise, and also the fact that Goldeneye is the very first franchise film I’ve seen with my dad in the third grade, I decided to go to the mic to ask Famke Janssen my fanboy question. Although I’m happy that I did go, I wish I had formulated my question just a bit differently. When I asked her for personal insights and advice for actresses who would become “Bond Girls” in future installments of the franchise, now under the Amazon MGM studios umbrella, she acknowledged that the term “Bond Girl” might feel dated to the next generation. “I expect the new female leads will be strong and interesting because of the times,” she said, expressing optimism about how these roles will continue to evolve.
Famke Janssen as Xenia Onatopp in Goldeneye (Credit: EON Productions)
Later asked about her preference in playing heroes or villains, Famke doesn’t play favourites. “We all have shadows,” she said. “Different people bring out different sides of us.” She enjoys both types of roles, especially when they allow her to tap into hidden layers of emotion or go bold and theatrical, as villains often allow. Even in characters like Xenia, she insists there’s always “a bit of herself” in her performances.
Her long run as Jean Grey & Dark Phoenix
Of course, the occasion called for it, Janssen spoke at length about her time in the X-Men franchise between 2000 and 2014, a role she loved despite the ambiguity of her character’s fate (even to this day). “She may be dead, but who knows?” she mused, responding to speculation about a potential return in Avengers: Doomsday (most of her co-stars from the original X-Men movies are set to return). Her vague answer tells us that anything is possible…she might be returning, and we don’t even know it yet. She praised Bryan Singer’s (now a cancelled director) approach to comic book films, which grounded fantastical powers in emotional realism and made the characters more relatable. Though she joked that Jean Grey might have been “bored with Cyclops” as a love interest, she seemed quite proud of the role, particularly in The Last Stand (2006), where she finally got to embrace the darker and more powerful Dark Phoenix side. Ironically, this movie was the lesser entry in the original trilogy.
James Marsden and Famke Janssen in X-Men: The Last Stand (Credit: 20th Century Studios)
When asked about the more recent X-Men movies until 20th Century Studios was acquired by Disney, she also commented on Sophie Turner’s portrayal of the young Jean Grey, saying Turner was so confident in the role that she never needed advice. “The stories can go in any direction,” Janssen noted, “but I’m proud of what we both brought to the character.” The last time we saw Famke Janssen’s Jean Grey in a live-action X-Men film was in Days of Future Past (2014) when the character of Wolverine comes back in a new version of his own timeline after succeeding in changing the past. So, that is to say, there’s a reality somewhere in which Jean Grey is alive. Who knows what will happen…
Famke Janssen and Halle Berry in X2: X-Men United (Credit: 20th Century Studios)
Acting in a Dutch production for the first time!
As her most recent project, Famke was very excited to talk about her new project: Amsterdam Empire, a TV series coming soon to Netflix. It marks a personal milestone—her first time acting in her native Dutch. She plays a washed-up actress with only one hit to her name who finds herself caught up in a battle to control a cannabis empire in Amsterdam. “Netflix is opening up international productions to the world,” she said, adding that it’s thrilling to be part of this global storytelling shift. Although happy to discuss her previous roles in Hollywood, we could tell that Amsterdam Empire meant so much to her.
From green screen work on X-Men to learning to dance for Amsterdam Empire, Janssen also emphasized that acting constantly requires new skills to learn. “Actors have to do it all,” she explained. Whether it’s action, drama, or comedy, adapting how you play is part of the job. The industry tends to typecast actresses like her, she acknowledged, but she’s worked hard to build a career full of varied and surprising roles.
Famke Janssen in Amsterdam Empire (Credit: Netflix)
Other roles & the action lifestyle
The mood on set can often be chaotic, especially in high-stakes action movies where she appeared a lot during her 30-year career, so Janssen stressed the importance of finding moments of humour and levity with her colleagues during filming. She fondly recalled working with co-stars like Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson, and while she mastered most accents with ease, she admitted that Dougray Scott’s Scottish brogue gave her a bit of trouble. Funny enough, Dougray Scott was supposed to play Wolverine before Hugh Jackman ultimately got the part.
Speaking of Liam Neeson, she called him “the loveliest man” and shared how filming the three Taken movies as the protagonist’s ex-wife took her to stunning locations across Europe. The production’s improvisational nature often meant shooting on the fly and enjoying long meals with wine between takes—a perk of European filmmaking.
Famke Janssen and Liam Neeson in Taken 2 (Credit: 20th Century Studios)
With much integrity, Famke mentioned that she tries not to envy other actors’ roles, preferring instead to admire the performances that are given. She spoke highly of young Dakota Fanning’s professionalism during the production of the horror movie Hide and Seek (2005) and marvelled at the surreal experience of acting alongside Robert De Niro. Even when she took on her role in Nip/Tuck without knowing how wild the story would get, she embraced it with openness, crediting creator Ryan Murphy’s flexibility and brilliance in adapting the show on the fly.
Famke Janssen in Hide and Seek (Credit: 20th Century Studios)
Whether talking about her most challenging scenes or how she prepares emotionally for a role, the Q&A concluded on a charming note as a young fan (or maybe her father?) asked her if she’ll ever return as Jean Grey in future X-Men movies. With a warm smile, she simply replied: “What do you think? Should I return?”. Overall, Hollywood and now Dutch TV legend Famke Janssen came across as thoughtful, passionate, and refreshingly self-aware during her discussion with fans. Her journey has now spanned three decades, genres, and languages—and if Amsterdam Empire is any indication, she’s far from finished.
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