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Famke Janssen has built a career defined by evolution. From fashion runways and Hollywood franchises to creativity behind the camera, the Hollywood icon consistently leads with curiosity. With Netflix\u2019s Amsterdam Empire<\/em>, Janssen steps into her most expansive role yet\u2014starring, executive producing, designing costumes and even performing music\u2014proving reinvention isn\u2019t a phase, but a lifelong practice.<\/p>\n Set in the heart of Europe\u2019s criminal underworld, the show explores the rise of a global cannabis syndicate. Janssen stars as Betty, a former one-hit wonder whose \u201990s anthem, \u201cForever Pour Toujours,\u201d still shapes her public identity. When Betty discovers her husband\u2019s infidelity, the betrayal ignites a very public divorce battle, followed by a high-stakes fight for control.<\/p>\n While the story delivers intrigue and spectacle, Janssen, who also serves as an executive producer, was determined to give Betty depth beyond revenge. \u201cIt\u2019s fun to watch,\u201d she says. \u201cBut at some point, you have to have empathy for her. I fought for that.\u201d<\/p>\n When Janssen left her home in the Netherlands at just 18, it took a leap of faith. She began her career as a model, working with iconic houses, including Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani and Chanel, which were all experiences that ultimately brought her to the United States.<\/p>\n When she first arrived to New York in her early 20s, she says the city \u201cfelt overwhelming.\u201d Influenced by films and television, she admits she was initially afraid to even leave her hotel room. \u201cI thought it was going to be like the movies, and I was really scared to leave,\u201d she recalls. Once she stepped outside, the city revealed something else entirely\u2014a raw energy that would become home.<\/p>\n The cultural adjustment was just as striking. In contrast to the more reserved Dutch approach, she found American openness confusing. \u201cWhen people said, \u2018Let\u2019s have dinner,\u2019 I thought it was literal,\u201d she says with a laugh. Over time, she learned to navigate those differences, eventually embracing the city\u2019s directness, spontaneity and openness.<\/p>\n Now based in New York, Janssen credits the city with shaping her. \u201cI just start talking to people now,\u201d she says. \u201cThat\u2019s something I learned from being a New Yorker.\u201d<\/p>\n With a filmography that spans some very recognizable roles, Janssen broke out globally as the lethal and unforgettable Xenia Onatopp in GoldenEye<\/em>, before bringing emotional nuance to Jean Grey\/Phoenix in the X-Men franchise. She later anchored the commercially successful Taken<\/em> films as Lenore Mills.<\/p>\n Her career continues to evolve with roles in films such as Boy Kills World<\/em>, The Postcard Killings<\/em> and Hansel & Gretel<\/em>. On television, she has delivered acclaimed performances in Nip\/Tuck<\/em>, How to Get Away With Murder<\/em>, Hemlock Grove<\/em> and The Blacklist: Redemption<\/em>\u2014each role reinforcing her ability to balance strength with vulnerability.<\/p>\n Fashion has always been part of Janssen\u2019s language. A Columbia University graduate and polyglot fluent in English, Dutch, French and German, she approaches character-building with both intellectual precision and visual instinct.<\/p>\n For Amsterdam Empire<\/em>, she found herself naturally stepping into the role of costume designer. Betty\u2019s wardrobe is bold, colorful and unapologetically expressive, reflecting her past in the music industry and her refusal to fade quietly. \u201cShe\u2019s childlike,\u201d says Janssen. \u201cShe hangs on to her past from the \u201990s. I wanted that reflected in the clothing.\u201d<\/p>\n Janssen stitched details herself, curated looks scene by scene and worked closely with her team to bring her vision to life. \u201cI knew exactly who she was,\u201d she says. \u201cIt didn\u2019t feel difficult\u2026it felt right.\u201d<\/p>\n Serving as an executive producer allowed her to shape more than just her character. Returning to work in the Netherlands after decades abroad highlighted the importance of representation and diversity both in front of and behind the camera. \u201cIt felt like the right moment to bring awareness,\u201d she says. \u201cThere are women behind the camera, and diversity matters in every aspect.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the most joyful surprises of Amsterdam Empire<\/em> is its music video, in which Janssen stars, sings and dances. Trained by acclaimed choreographer Vincent Vianen, she embraced the challenge fully, even playing a younger version of herself onscreen.<\/p>\n The result is a fully \u201990s-coded moment via bold costumes, nostalgic sound and playful confidence intact. \u201cYou can\u2019t fake dancing,\u201d she says. \u201cYou have to do the work. But I guess that goes for everything.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nFrom the Netherlands to New York<\/h2>\n
An Iconic Career, Still Expanding<\/h2>\n
Fashion as Storytelling<\/h2>\n
A Reclaimed \u201990s Fantasy<\/h2>\n