Famke Janssen shares details about her new Netflix series at the Monte-Carlo TV Festival
Famke Janssen was one of the many celebrities who graced the blue carpet at this year’s Monte-Carlo TV Festival. The Dutch actress, producer, and director took part in a wide-ranging press conference about her career, her new Netflix series Amsterdam Empire, and the evolution of the entertainment industry. The former Bond girl from GoldenEye who also played Jean Grey in the X-Men franchise shared personal anecdotes, reflections on her journey, and insights into her latest project—a darkly comedic Dutch-language drama set in the world of Amsterdam’s cannabis trade. The project is her first performance in Dutch, her native language, and her most personal and multifaceted role to date.
Returning to Monte-Carlo
Janssen, who first visited Monaco decades ago while filming GoldenEye, reflected on how much the principality has changed. "I filmed GoldenEye here. It was very strange because yesterday I went to the casino. Not to gamble, but outside where we filmed it. Just to, you know, have that moment. Wow, this happened all those years ago." She also noted the city’s dramatic transformation, joking, "How many buildings can you put there? I don't know who the city planner is. How much can you squeeze into one little place?"
A New Chapter with Amsterdam Empire
The focus quickly shifted to Amsterdam Empire, Janssen’s upcoming Netflix series, in which she serves as both star and executive producer. Describing the show as a mix of War of the Roses and The Sopranos, she revealed, "It's basically a couple who's in a custody battle because the husband cheats with a younger woman and knocks her up. And my character is a one-hit wonder from the 90s. She was a pop star in the 90s, and now she's given up her life to be with this man who owns the biggest weed empire in the Netherlands."
When the affair is exposed, her character refuses a quiet settlement—instead, she demands control of the empire itself. "She's so distraught with the news that she decides to not just take whatever he wants to give her, but she wants the weed empire. And so it becomes a battle over this weed empire… She’s just out for revenge. I'm not just going to take whatever money. I want the weed empire.”
Adding another layer to the project, Janssen recorded a music video for the series, channeling her character’s pop-star past. "I sang and danced. So I was trained for that. And that's really the most incredible part of that entire experience, was learning all these new things. We were in Amsterdam for eight months filming. I'm executive producing, as well as I co-designed my costumes on it,” she shared.
The experience of working on her home turf was both strange and meaningful. “I left Holland when I was 18 to work as a model all over Europe… So, you know, it was sort of a homecoming.” Yet, the filming pace in the Netherlands proved a cultural adjustment. “In America, I'm used to 16-hour days, five, six days a week. But they don't do that there... You're done working at six o'clock, and all of a sudden, you go, ‘Wait, I have an evening?’”
Behind the Scenes: Producing and Returning to Her Roots
For Janssen, Amsterdam Empire marks a homecoming—her first major acting role in her native Netherlands. "I left Holland when I was 18 to work as a model all over Europe. And then by the age of 22, I came to America, and I didn't start acting until later on in my 20s. So it was sort of a homecoming."
In a full-circle moment, the series is being launched on Netflix worldwide, offering a Dutch-language story with global reach. “Even though it’s in Dutch, to have a larger audience because it will be Netflix international launched all on the same day,” Janssen explained.
Amsterdam Empire also reflects Janssen’s passion for creating opportunities behind the scenes. “To have a say when it comes to diversity and all sorts of other important parts of the business. So I’m very excited about that.” Taking on an executive producer role was crucial for her. "It was very important to me because I came back to my country where I'd never acted before... I felt doing that with the help of Netflix, a humongous company behind it, would be a great way to have a larger audience."
Reflections on Career and Legacy
Janssen also reflected on her decades-long career, from X-Men to Taken and her groundbreaking role in Nip/Tuck. When asked about returning to franchises like X-Men, she laughed, "I've done five of them, including the Wolverine film. So I really feel that I've done my share of it… I have competition. There’s another Jean Grey too... I’m happy where my journey is taking me next in different directions.”
Still, she hasn’t ruled out the right opportunity — even directing again, if the right project and production team aligned. “I think the next one would have to be with a really good production team… Because I just had to play too many parts in (Bringing Up Bobby - the movie she directed)… and so I didn’t get the full experience of just having the enjoyment of directing… It would have to be the right thing... I like the producing aspect of it because with directing, I stopped working for three years as an actor."
Asked what legacy she hopes to leave, Janssen grew visibly emotional. “As a human being, I think now more than ever, it’s just… oh, it’s making me cry… just connecting, you know, people being real and connecting with each other… having compassion, being kind.” She spoke passionately about the evolution of women’s representation in Hollywood which has been a recurring theme at this year's festival. "We see more women behind the camera. We see women as they grow older in front of the camera. Can we do better? Always! But I see a huge progress."
Fashion, Future Projects, and Personal Growth
Beyond acting, Janssen is developing a sustainable fashion line called Project FJ, where she reimagines existing designer pieces. "I'm using different existing brands, and that can be high ones like Gucci and Vera Wang... It's kind of a sustainable way of looking at fashion and reimagining brands that already exist."
Closing the press conference, Janssen reflected on her journey with gratitude. "I was born in a small little country in a small town, and I've traveled the world... I've worked hard, but I've also been incredibly lucky."
With Amsterdam Empire set to premiere later this year, Famke Janssen continues to push boundaries proving that her career is as dynamic as ever.
Janssen, who first visited Monaco decades ago while filming GoldenEye, reflected on how much the principality has changed. "I filmed GoldenEye here. It was very strange because yesterday I went to the casino. Not to gamble, but outside where we filmed it. Just to, you know, have that moment. Wow, this happened all those years ago." She also noted the city’s dramatic transformation, joking, "How many buildings can you put there? I don't know who the city planner is. How much can you squeeze into one little place?"
A New Chapter with Amsterdam Empire
The focus quickly shifted to Amsterdam Empire, Janssen’s upcoming Netflix series, in which she serves as both star and executive producer. Describing the show as a mix of War of the Roses and The Sopranos, she revealed, "It's basically a couple who's in a custody battle because the husband cheats with a younger woman and knocks her up. And my character is a one-hit wonder from the 90s. She was a pop star in the 90s, and now she's given up her life to be with this man who owns the biggest weed empire in the Netherlands."
When the affair is exposed, her character refuses a quiet settlement—instead, she demands control of the empire itself. "She's so distraught with the news that she decides to not just take whatever he wants to give her, but she wants the weed empire. And so it becomes a battle over this weed empire… She’s just out for revenge. I'm not just going to take whatever money. I want the weed empire.”
Adding another layer to the project, Janssen recorded a music video for the series, channeling her character’s pop-star past. "I sang and danced. So I was trained for that. And that's really the most incredible part of that entire experience, was learning all these new things. We were in Amsterdam for eight months filming. I'm executive producing, as well as I co-designed my costumes on it,” she shared.
The experience of working on her home turf was both strange and meaningful. “I left Holland when I was 18 to work as a model all over Europe… So, you know, it was sort of a homecoming.” Yet, the filming pace in the Netherlands proved a cultural adjustment. “In America, I'm used to 16-hour days, five, six days a week. But they don't do that there... You're done working at six o'clock, and all of a sudden, you go, ‘Wait, I have an evening?’”
Behind the Scenes: Producing and Returning to Her Roots
For Janssen, Amsterdam Empire marks a homecoming—her first major acting role in her native Netherlands. "I left Holland when I was 18 to work as a model all over Europe. And then by the age of 22, I came to America, and I didn't start acting until later on in my 20s. So it was sort of a homecoming."
In a full-circle moment, the series is being launched on Netflix worldwide, offering a Dutch-language story with global reach. “Even though it’s in Dutch, to have a larger audience because it will be Netflix international launched all on the same day,” Janssen explained.
Amsterdam Empire also reflects Janssen’s passion for creating opportunities behind the scenes. “To have a say when it comes to diversity and all sorts of other important parts of the business. So I’m very excited about that.” Taking on an executive producer role was crucial for her. "It was very important to me because I came back to my country where I'd never acted before... I felt doing that with the help of Netflix, a humongous company behind it, would be a great way to have a larger audience."
Reflections on Career and Legacy
Janssen also reflected on her decades-long career, from X-Men to Taken and her groundbreaking role in Nip/Tuck. When asked about returning to franchises like X-Men, she laughed, "I've done five of them, including the Wolverine film. So I really feel that I've done my share of it… I have competition. There’s another Jean Grey too... I’m happy where my journey is taking me next in different directions.”
Still, she hasn’t ruled out the right opportunity — even directing again, if the right project and production team aligned. “I think the next one would have to be with a really good production team… Because I just had to play too many parts in (Bringing Up Bobby - the movie she directed)… and so I didn’t get the full experience of just having the enjoyment of directing… It would have to be the right thing... I like the producing aspect of it because with directing, I stopped working for three years as an actor."
Asked what legacy she hopes to leave, Janssen grew visibly emotional. “As a human being, I think now more than ever, it’s just… oh, it’s making me cry… just connecting, you know, people being real and connecting with each other… having compassion, being kind.” She spoke passionately about the evolution of women’s representation in Hollywood which has been a recurring theme at this year's festival. "We see more women behind the camera. We see women as they grow older in front of the camera. Can we do better? Always! But I see a huge progress."
Fashion, Future Projects, and Personal Growth
Beyond acting, Janssen is developing a sustainable fashion line called Project FJ, where she reimagines existing designer pieces. "I'm using different existing brands, and that can be high ones like Gucci and Vera Wang... It's kind of a sustainable way of looking at fashion and reimagining brands that already exist."
Closing the press conference, Janssen reflected on her journey with gratitude. "I was born in a small little country in a small town, and I've traveled the world... I've worked hard, but I've also been incredibly lucky."
With Amsterdam Empire set to premiere later this year, Famke Janssen continues to push boundaries proving that her career is as dynamic as ever.
