The Netflix series “Amsterdam Empire” offers Famke Janssen the role she was waiting for – and she can finally speak Dutch!
Famke Janssen won an important role in the next police series centered around cannabis, Amsterdam Empire, which will be broadcast on Netflix later this year. Asked about the subject during the Monte-Carlo television festival by Variety, the actress unveiled the intrigue of the project.
“” “My character, Betty, is a former 90s pop star who was a success entitled 'Forever'. Her husband has the biggest cannabis empire. Then she discovers that he deceived her with a younger woman and that she is pregnant. He wants to buy it with money, but she doesn't want money: she wants to attack the whole cannabis empire. And destroy it in passing.»
Betty has accounts to settle, but Famke Janssen explain : “She is not constantly angry. I wanted to make sure, because it could be a little boring. But I also said to myself: 'Go for it and go ahead!'”She said laughing.
Challenge and complexity
With this role, Famke Janssen wanted to raise a challenge: “I wanted to challenge myself, even by making a clip and learning to dance and sing. We were inspired by everyone, Paula Abdul And all these other women who were performing at the time. Their outfits, their choreographies.»
And the complexity of her character is no coincidence: after Goldeneye and the X-Men saga, in which she played Jean Gray who became Dark Phoenix, the film industry saw the Dutch actress as a nasty for far too long.
“” “I think some actors are cataloged. I don't know, it may be due to the fact that I am a woman, or maybe that I am foreign. I am a strong woman. I at least look like it. But the interest of this profession is to show different facets of self“She said.
“” “We have a career by playing this type of role, whether in a romantic comedy or in a great action film. I have constantly deflected towards other horizons. I made X-Men, then all these small independent films. It means that we earn less money and that we are less known, but we have to do what his integrity requires. I chose to be very discreet, and it also has a price. But my private life is my protection.»
She added: “I had a career by transforming characters into two dimensions into characters into three dimensions, because I have not been given much, do you understand?»
Back to its origins
Amsterdam EmpireCreated by Piet Matthys, Nico Moolenaar and Bart Uytdenhouwen – – will also see Janssen return to his mother tongue.
“” “Suddenly, after an entire career spent in English, I play in Dutch. Speaking English is another facet of self. We are no longer the same person. It was different. And it was fun.»
Industry is “much more international now“She said later.”These are not just these big American productions: people look at everything and anything. I think they are simply attracted to authenticity. I really like that, and that's why it was the right time to come back and do something in Dutch. I have Netflix behind me and it is the kind of project in a foreign language that interests people more than ever.»
“” “I find myself watching these series and immersing myself completely“She continued.”One might think that as an actor, one becomes jaded by this profession. I have certainly seen too much, but give me a good story and soon I will think that these characters live with me, at home.»
Famke Janssenwho signed for two seasons, will also occupy the position of executive producer of the series.
“” “It was time. As an actor, we see what is happening on the set, we rub shoulders with each department, which makes us unique. Most of us, if we pay attention to it, thus acquires excellent training. Producing and realizing seems to me a natural progression. If you want it and it gives you more control, why not?»
Amsterdam Empire should see the light of day online on October 24, 2025 in the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Netflix producing the project, it can be assumed that the list of the countries concerned will grip, with ours in particular.
In the meantime, you can find Famke Janssen in the X-Men saga available on Disney+.
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