Born in Amsterdam, Holland on the 1st of January, 1964, Famke (which means "little girl" in Frisian) Janssen was an Economic student at the University of Amsterdam, and a model before making it to the big leagues as a Hollywood actress.
She lived in Amsterdam with her parents and her two sisters until 1984, when she decided to move to New York City and pursue a modeling career. Although she signed with the Elite modeling agency, she continued with her studies at Columbia University, where she majored in writing and literature.
While a student, she decided to try her hand at acting, and took acting classes with Harold Guskin.
Wanting to pursue a full-time acting career, Famke picked up and moved to Los Angeles, the hub of aspiring actors. There she continued to take acting lessons, and finally landed her first onscreen film role in the 1992 movie Fathers and Sons.
More film roles didn't pour in, probably due to the film's poor performance, but Famke was offered a role on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. Almost foreshadowing her role as a superhero in this summer's X-Men, the Dutch beauty played the role of Kamala, the threatening "metamorph".
With an appearance on Melrose Place in 1994 as a hooker and a role in the made-for-TV movie Model By Day that same year, Famke had yet to see the success that was soon to come her way.
After a female leading role in the film Lord of Illusions, Famke received the coveted role of Bond Girl Xenia Onatopp, a Soviet mafia assassin who crushes her victims to death with her thighs.
Her role in the 1995 Bond film GoldenEye opposite Pierce Brosnan was a box-office success, and can be considered the breakthrough role that made audiences and the film industry more aware of Famke's talents. It also won her an MTV movie award nomination for Best Fight Scene in a movie.
Despite the success of the film, and the role that fellow soon to be Bond girls Michelle Yeoh and Denise Richards were yet to see, Famke was afraid that she would be pigeonholed into the role of the femme fatale.
It was for this reason that Famke then decided to work on more independent films, rather than mainstream films. In the years that followed, Famke had roles in the following films: Dead Girl, R.P.M., City of Industry, Snitch; The Leading Man, co-starring Mission: Impossible 2's Thandie Newton; Rounders, opposite Matt Damon and Edward Norton; and The Faculty, which also starred the beautiful Salma Hayek. She also had a role in the Woody Allen film, Celebrity.
Putting her writing degree to good use, Famke has written a screenplay but has not done anything with it yet. Fluent in German, French, English, and Dutch, Famke claims to be a huge fan of such authors as The Bronte sisters and Vladimir Nabokov. As an actress, Famke prefers playing roles of characters from novels, since they have more depth.
Although X-Men is a movie adapted from a comic book series rather than a novel, this film is sure to increase Famke's star quality as mind-reading Jean Grey. Famke joins fellow superheroes Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and Halle Berry.
The film not only reunites her with her Star Trek co-star Patrick Stewart, it'll surely make everyone aware of Famke's superpowers as an actress.
Famke was married to director Todd "Kip" Williams, who directed her in the film The Adventures of Sebastian Cole, but they are reportedly separated.
As soon as the X-Men hype dies down, be sure to see Famke in her next film, entitled Love and Sex, co-starring Jon Favreau. She is also slated to star in Favreau's Made, also starring swingers Favreau and Vince Vaughn.
Buy the DVD:TheCelebrityCafe.com, NYAfter some persuasion from his ex-wife, Lenore (Famke Janssen), Bryan gives his daughter permission to go to Europe. To his horror, he receives a phone call from Kim saying that her friend, Amanda, has been abducted and that the men are coming for her
New This WeekPhiladelphia Inquirer, PALiam Neeson, Famke Janssen, Maggie Grace. PG-13 (for intense sequences of violence, disturbing thematic material, sexual content, some drug references and profanity) Passengers (Sony Pictures, '08) $24.96. 94 mins. A novice psychologist treating
Neeson's Taken gives little in returnThe Banner-Graphic, IN - Caine Gardner, Caine GardnerAs with every tale as such, one of the biggest obstacles in his way of building the relationship is a bitter ex-wife, played by Famke Janssen, who would rather give in to her daughter's whims than be a parent. After learning that his daughter wants him
Taken Sequel In the WorksMoviesOnline, CanadaIt starred Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace and the very sexy Famke Janssen. Liam Neeson plays a father whose daughter (Grace) is kidnapped in Paris. Neeson isn't up for any negotitations though and goes on a manhunt. The trailer looks really bad ass.
'Iron Man 2': Scarlett Johansson cast as Black WidowEntertainment WeeklyBut I don't agree that Famke Janssen would be any better. She's alreay been a super hero, Jean Grey, hello!!! She can't play two or we'll have a spoof on our hands. Rena Russo or Julian Moore or damn, Kimberly Williams. Oh hell, somebody other than
Now showing in the Vail Valley: 'Race to Witch Mountain'Vail Daily News, COLiam Neeson stars as an ex-government operative with less than four days to find his daughter, who has been kidnapped while on vacation in Paris. With Maggie Grace, Leland Orser, Jon Gries and Famke Janssen. Written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen.
Liam Neeson is thriller's one bright spotLexington Dispatch, NC'Taken,' directed by Pierre Morel, stars Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, Xander Berkeley and Maggie Grace. It is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing thematic material, sexual content, some drug references and language.
Action flick Taken leaves moviegoers behindMcGill Tribune, CanadaStar power was certainly not an issue, as the film features Liam Neeson (Schindler's List), Famke Janssen (Golden Eye, X-Men trilogy), Maggie Grace (Lost), and perhaps most fittingly, 24 alum Xander Berkeley. However, not even these famous faces can
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