Actress Famke Janssen has poured cold water on fan theories about her suiting up as Jean Grey for Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday, opting instead to let the blockbuster speak for itself. In a revealing chat with Variety, the Dutch-born star, famed for her fiery Phoenix portrayal in the early 2000s X-Men trilogy, dismissed speculation of a multiverse cameo alongside former co-stars like Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart. “I’m just gonna wait for the movie to come out and, you know, people can see for themselves,” she said with a wry smile, signaling her focus has shifted to more grounded, personal projects.
Janssen’s latest venture, the Netflix limited series Amsterdam Empire, marks a homecoming of sorts. Playing Betty Jonkers—a faded pop icon entangled in her husband’s cannabis empire—she not only stars but executive produces, crafts costumes, and even belts out an original tune. Filming entirely in Dutch for the first time in her career, Janssen relished the authenticity: “I really hope that it will reach a large audience.” The role, she added, allowed her to infuse real cultural nuances, drawing from her Amsterdam roots.
Reflecting on her blockbuster past, Janssen fondly recalled her villainous turn as Xenia Onatopp in GoldenEye (1995), advocating for bolder female antagonists in future Bond films. “I hope that there are more female villains, because they are fantastic characters,” she mused, offering sage words to aspiring spies: “Be authentically yourself.” As for the next Jean Grey—previously embodied by Sophie Turner in later X-Men entries—Janssen demurred on advice, expressing genuine curiosity: “No. I’m excited to see who they’re getting next.”
From Taken‘s high-octane thrills to X-Men‘s mutant mayhem, Janssen’s path has been a whirlwind. “It’s just been an amazing journey,” she reflected, grateful yet ready for reinvention. With Amsterdam Empire poised for a global rollout, her pivot to multilingual storytelling could redefine her legacy beyond capes and claws.
