Famke Janssen is a Dutch-born actress, producer, and former model whose versatile career spans film, television, and international productions. Born in Amstelveen, Netherlands, Janssen began her career as an international fashion model before transitioning to acting in the early 1990s. She studied literature at Columbia University prior to pursuing acting, making her feature film debut in Fathers & Sons (1992).

Janssen rose to global prominence with memorable roles in major Hollywood franchises and acclaimed television series. She gained early attention as Xenia Onatopp in the James Bond film GoldenEye (1995), and solidified her status as a leading actress portraying Jean Grey / Phoenix across the X-Men film series (X-Men 2000; X2 2003; X-Men: The Last Stand 2006), earning a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for X2.

In addition to blockbuster film work, Janssen has delivered notable television performances. She played the enigmatic Ava Moore on Nip/Tuck (2003–2010), starred in Netflix’s supernatural drama Hemlock Grove (2013–2015), and appeared as Eve Rothlow on How to Get Away with Murder (2014–2020). Her TV credits also include recurring and guest roles on The Blacklist, The Capture, When They See Us, and Long Slow Exhale.

Janssen expanded her creative footprint behind the camera with her directorial debut Bringing Up Bobby (2011), a comedy-drama she wrote, produced, and directed.

Most recently, Janssen returned to her roots with Netflix’s Dutch-language drama series Amsterdam Empire (2025–), in which she stars as Betty Jonkers, a former pop diva battling personal and criminal upheaval in Amsterdam’s coffee-shop world. She also serves as an executive producer on the series, marking her first major Dutch-language role and production credit. Amsterdam Empire premiered globally on Netflix on October 30, 2025.

Across film and television, Famke Janssen has built a dynamic and enduring career, blending blockbuster appeal with complex, character-driven work in both English and Dutch. Whether on screen or behind the scenes, she continues to evolve as a creative force in international entertainment.