Dutch actress Famke Janssen reveals her emotional and transformative return to the Netherlands to film Netflix’s new series, Amsterdam Empire, was “the biggest learning curve” of her life after living in the United States for decades. Beyond her starring role, Janssen embraced significant creative control as an executive producer and co-costume designer, signaling a pivotal new chapter in her distinguished career.
For fans of Famke Janssen, her career has always been a testament to versatility and a captivating screen presence. From her iconic roles in the X-Men franchise and Taken to her memorable turns in GoldenEye and How to Get Away with Murder, Janssen has left an indelible mark on Hollywood. Now, the 60-year-old Dutch actress is returning to her roots in the Netherlands for a new Netflix series, Amsterdam Empire, a move she describes as “the biggest learning curve” of her life, according to an exclusive interview with Us Weekly.
A Journey Home: Decades Apart, Cultures Unseen
Janssen’s journey back to Amsterdam, the city where she was born and raised in the suburb of Amstelveen, comes after nearly four decades in the United States. She left the Netherlands at 18 to pursue international modeling, eventually transitioning to acting in America at age 22. This long separation created a unique perspective upon her return.
“I don’t think I realized quite how much I had changed by living abroad,” Janssen explained. “I don’t think you understand your own culture until you’re able to remove yourself from it and see it through a different set of eyes. Now that I’ve lived so long in New York and went back, I could see my changes. I could see how the country probably changed too.” This sentiment highlights a common experience for many who live abroad, revealing a deeper understanding of identity and cultural evolution.
Beyond the Screen: Famke Janssen’s Multirole Mastery
Her role in Amsterdam Empire as Betty, a scorned wife determined to take over her adulterous husband’s coffee shop organization, is significant not only for its dramatic scope but also because it marks Janssen’s first-ever performance in Dutch. Having built her entire acting career on English-language projects, this return to her native tongue presented its own set of challenges and opportunities.
Janssen’s commitment to this project extends far beyond her on-screen presence. She serves as an executive producer and co-costume designer, roles that provided her with the creative control she desired for her homecoming project. “If I come back to my country of birth, I want to come back as an executive producer,” she stated. Her vision for Betty’s wardrobe, inspired by the character’s history as a former pop star, became a creatively fulfilling experience, earning her co-costume designer credit.
Roots in the Scene: Understanding Amsterdam’s Cannabis World
The plot of Amsterdam Empire delves into the city’s cannabis scene, a topic Janssen is intimately familiar with from her upbringing. She emphasizes the nuanced reality of cannabis in the Netherlands, contrasting public perception with the legal framework.
“There’s this misconception about the legalization of cannabis. I think most people who are not from the Netherlands think that everything is legalized, and it’s not. You can buy it in what’s called a coffee shop. You can’t grow it, which means there’s an illegal, criminal aspect to the growing of cannabis. That is what the show very much centers around,” Janssen clarified, providing crucial context that enriches the series’ narrative depth.
A Full Circle Moment: Reflecting on a Storied Career
For Janssen, Amsterdam Empire represents a “full circle moment” in her illustrious career. Her extensive work in Hollywood includes memorable performances such as Jean Grey in the X-Men films, Xenia Onatopp in GoldenEye, and Olivia Godfrey in Netflix’s Hemlock Grove. Her long-standing dedication to her craft and her thoughtful approach to role selection have been key to her career longevity.
Beyond acting, Janssen is also a passionate painter, environmentalist, and animal advocate, showcasing her multifaceted interests outside of the entertainment industry. Her return to her home country allowed her to reflect on the complexities and beauty of life, ultimately expressing pride in her accomplishments. “Life is never that beautifully executed,” she mused. “[It’s] sort of messy. Sometimes you don’t realize you’ve learned something until you’re way past it. So, I’m very proud. I worked very hard and I’m proud of the accomplishment.”
A Legacy of Versatility and Creative Control
Janssen’s drive for creative control is not new. As highlighted by Discover Benelux, she pursued creative writing and literature at Columbia University, always seeing writing as a potential fallback. This academic background, coupled with her modeling experience, provided a strong foundation for her acting career and her eventual move into producing and directing.
Her family has also been a part of her recent homecoming. Janssen will star in her first Dutch-language movie, De Held, based on a novel by Jessica Durlacher, with the screenplay written by her younger sister Marjolein Beumer and directed by her older sister Antoinette Beumer. This collaborative family effort truly ties her current professional endeavors back to her personal roots. Furthermore, she is involved in New Amsterdam, a historical adventure where she plays Dutch settler Agatha Van der Donck, connecting directly to the origins of her long-time home, New York.
Amsterdam Empire, streaming October 24 on Netflix, is more than just a new series for Famke Janssen; it’s a testament to her enduring spirit, her quest for creative fulfillment, and a deeply personal journey of rediscovery that resonates with fans worldwide.
