In Her Own Words: Reframing an Iconic Label
Famke Janssen has long been known to fans as one of the most compelling actors to measure up to James Bond’s shadowy world. Yet in a candid discussion about her career and the industry’s expectations, Janssen challenges the legacy of the term that often follows female action leads: the so-called “Bond girl.”
Speaking in conjunction with the promotion of the Netflix crime drama Amsterdam Empire, Janssen addresses how the shorthand labels can limit an actor’s range. “I’ve always believed that terms like ‘Bond girl’ reduce the complexity of a woman who is capable of leading scenes with intelligence, agency, and nuance,” she says. “If we’re serious about portraying women as fully realized characters, we need to move beyond the shorthand and celebrate the craft.”
Acting, Craft, and the Road to Ambition
Janssen’s career spans a diverse spectrum—from iconic screen moments to intimate, character-driven performances. When asked about ambition, she emphasizes a continuous process of learning and adapting. “Ambition for me is not about a destination; it’s about growing as an artist and choosing projects that challenge me,” she explains. Her approach blends rigorous preparation with a willingness to take risks—even when it means stepping outside a familiar franchise orbit.
The Netflix series Amsterdam Empire offers a fresh canvas for Janssen to explore moral ambiguity, power dynamics, and sharp dialogue. She notes that the show’s strength lies in its multi-layered characters and morally complex situations, allowing her to bring subtleties to the screen that go beyond surface allure. “Ambition, for me, is about staying curious and resisting the pull toward easy answers,” she says. “That curiosity keeps the work alive.”
Amsterdam Empire: Character, Style, and a New Era
In Amsterdam Empire, Janssen embodies a character whose attire reads as much as her dialogue. For a recent press shoot in Covent Garden, she chose a look reminiscent of her onscreen persona: lacy, floral, tailored, and mini with long school socks—a style that captures both vulnerability and control. The wardrobe becomes a narrative device, signaling a character who is at once alluring and calculating. Janssen believes clothes can reveal as much as dialogue, and she uses fashion to sharpen the storytelling.
Beyond fashion, the show’s setting—modern crime with a European sensibility—allows Janssen to examine how power is negotiated in high-stakes environments. “The drama unfolds through conversations, choices, and consequences,” she notes. “That is where true psychology lives on screen.”
Critiques, Collaboration, and Woody Allen
As questions turn to broader industry discussions, Janssen is clear about her stance on collaboration and the reputational debates surrounding certain creators. When asked about Woody Allen, she reflects on the balance between artistic collaboration and personal accountability in the industry. Janssen acknowledges the complexity of public opinion and emphasizes the importance of separating an artist’s work from personal controversy where appropriate, while also recognizing the ongoing conversations that shape a healthier, more responsible industry culture.
The Bigger Picture: Representation, Respect, and the Future
For Janssen, the evolution of female representation in genre drama hinges on authenticity, earned credibility, and a broader range of roles beyond the traditional hero’s arc. She champions female-led narratives that respect intelligence, moral complexity, and emotional depth. As Amsterdam Empire builds its audience, Janssen hopes the conversation around “Bond girl” labels will shift toward recognizing the full spectrum of women’s talents in film and television.
Looking Ahead
With future projects in the pipeline, Janssen remains focused on roles that challenge her and conversations that push the industry toward more nuanced portrayals. Her message to aspiring actors is simple: stay curious, demand complexity, and choose roles that reflect the breadth of human experience. In Janssen’s view, ambition is a lifelong craft—one that rewards those who pursue truth in performance as passionately as they pursue visibility on screen.
