Famke Janssen’s Best Roles

Famke Janssen has built an impressive and varied career in Hollywood, captivating audiences with her striking presence and versatile acting. From her early days as a model, she transitioned seamlessly into acting, quickly making a name for herself with memorable roles. She has demonstrated a remarkable ability to portray a wide range of characters, from powerful villains to compassionate heroes, in both blockbuster films and acclaimed television series. Her journey through the film industry is marked by a series of iconic performances that have solidified her status as a talented and respected actress.

Throughout her career, Janssen has taken on roles that are both commercially successful and critically appreciated. She is perhaps best known for her part in a major superhero franchise, but her filmography extends far beyond that, encompassing independent dramas, thrilling action movies, and suspenseful television shows. Her performances often showcase a deep understanding of her characters, bringing complexity and nuance to each role she undertakes. Exploring her best roles reveals a dedicated artist who is not afraid to tackle challenging material and leave a lasting impression on viewers.

‘When They See Us’ (2019)

In this powerful miniseries, Famke Janssen portrays Nancy Ryan, an Assistant District Attorney involved in the prosecution of the Central Park Five. The series dramatizes the real-life case of five teenagers from Harlem who were wrongfully convicted of a brutal assault in 1989. The narrative follows the boys from their initial arrest through their trials and eventual exoneration years later.

Janssen’s character is depicted as a key figure within the legal team that pursued the convictions. The show explores the intense pressure and public outcry surrounding the case, highlighting the systemic failures and racial biases that led to the miscarriage of justice. Her performance contributes to the series’ critical examination of the law enforcement and judicial processes at the time.

‘How to Get Away with Murder’ (2015–2020)

Famke Janssen joined the cast of this popular legal thriller for a recurring role as Eve Rothlo. She is a brilliant and accomplished defense attorney who shares a complicated past with the main character, Annalise Keating. Her introduction adds new layers to Annalise’s backstory, revealing a significant romantic relationship from their time at Harvard Law School.

Throughout her appearances, Eve becomes entangled in the various legal crises and murder plots that define the series. She serves as both a legal ally and a personal confidante to Annalise, providing her expertise to help navigate dangerous situations. Janssen’s portrayal of Eve showcases a character who is confident, intelligent, and deeply connected to the show’s central protagonist.

‘The Blacklist’ (2016–2018)

In ‘The Blacklist’, Famke Janssen plays Susan “Scottie” Hargrave, the formidable leader of a covert mercenary organization. Her character is introduced as a brilliant and dangerous antagonist who has a mysterious connection to one of the main characters, Tom Keen. This relationship becomes a central focus of her storyline, driving much of the plot forward.

Janssen’s role was significant enough that it led to a spin-off series, ‘The Blacklist: Redemption’, where her character takes center stage. In both shows, she portrays a morally complex figure who operates in the shadows of international espionage. Scottie is a master strategist and a powerful woman in a world dominated by secrets and high-stakes operations.

‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ (2014)

Famke Janssen makes a poignant cameo appearance in this installment of the ‘X-Men’ franchise, reprising her role as Jean Grey. The film’s plot involves time travel, with Wolverine being sent back to the 1970s to prevent a future where mutants are hunted by powerful robots called Sentinels. This act of changing the past creates a new, altered timeline.

In the final moments of the film, a successful mission into the past results in a brighter future where characters who had previously died are now alive. Janssen’s appearance as Jean Grey, alongside James Marsden’s Cyclops, provides a touching and satisfying conclusion for fans of the original trilogy. It signifies that the dark events of ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’ have been erased.

‘The Wrestler’ (2008)

In this critically acclaimed drama, Famke Janssen plays Cassidy, a single mother who works as a stripper. The film centers on Randy “The Ram” Robinson, an aging professional wrestler who is forced into retirement after a major health scare. As he struggles to adapt to a life outside the ring, he attempts to build a relationship with Cassidy.

Janssen’s character is a compassionate yet world-weary woman who is trying to balance her demanding job with raising her son. She forms a connection with Randy, but she is cautious about getting involved with him due to the chaotic nature of his life. Her performance provides a grounded, emotional counterpoint to the film’s exploration of fame, aging, and redemption.

‘Nip/Tuck’ (2004–2010)

Famke Janssen took on a memorable and challenging role in this drama series as Ava Moore, a seductive and manipulative life coach. Her character is introduced in the second season and quickly becomes one of the show’s most talked-about figures. Ava’s storyline involves her complex and often disturbing relationships with other characters, including the show’s main plastic surgeons.

A major twist in her character arc reveals that Ava is a transgender woman, which adds another layer to her intricate and controversial actions. She becomes deeply involved with the son of one of the main doctors, leading to a series of dramatic and shocking events. Janssen’s portrayal of Ava was praised for its complexity and for pushing the boundaries of television storytelling at the time.

‘X2’ (2003)

Famke Janssen returns as Jean Grey in this popular sequel, where her character’s powers begin to grow in unpredictable ways. The film follows the X-Men as they are forced to team up with their enemy, Magneto, to stop a military leader who plans to eradicate all mutants. Jean’s telepathic and telekinetic abilities become crucial to their survival.

Throughout the movie, Jean struggles with a surge in her power, hinting at the emergence of a darker, more powerful personality known as the Phoenix. In the film’s climactic sequence, she sacrifices herself to save her teammates from a collapsing dam, using her immense power to hold back a wall of water while fixing their jet. Her apparent death sets the stage for the major storyline of the next film in the series.

‘X-Men’ (2000)

In the film that launched the successful superhero franchise, Famke Janssen introduced audiences to Dr. Jean Grey. She is a powerful mutant with telepathic and telekinetic abilities and serves as the medical doctor for the X-Men at Professor Xavier’s school. Jean is a core member of the team and is in a committed relationship with Cyclops.

The movie follows the X-Men as they try to protect a young mutant named Rogue from Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants. Jean plays a vital role in the team’s efforts, using her powers to help locate and rescue Rogue. Her character is established as a compassionate and formidable hero, laying the groundwork for her significant character arc in the subsequent films.

‘GoldenEye’ (1995)

Famke Janssen had a breakout role as the villainous Xenia Onatopp in this James Bond film. She portrays a Georgian fighter pilot and deadly assassin who enjoys suffocating her victims between her powerful thighs. Working for a rogue MI6 agent, Xenia is a classic femme fatale who proves to be a formidable and memorable adversary for Bond.

Her character is known for her sadistic nature and the pleasure she takes in violence, making her one of the most distinctive henchwomen in the Bond series. She engages in several action-packed confrontations with James Bond, including a thrilling car chase and a brutal fight in a jungle. Janssen’s performance as the deadly and seductive Xenia left a lasting impact on audiences.

‘Taken’ (2008)

In the action-thriller ‘Taken’, Famke Janssen plays Lenore Mills-St. John, the ex-wife of the main character, Bryan Mills. She has remarried a wealthy man and lives with their teenage daughter, Kim. Despite her reservations, Lenore allows Kim to travel to Paris, a decision that leads to the central conflict of the film.

When Kim and her friend are kidnapped by human traffickers, Bryan, a former CIA operative, springs into action. Lenore’s role is primarily one of a worried mother, who must rely on her ex-husband’s particular set of skills to rescue their daughter. She appears throughout the trilogy, often finding herself and her family in perilous situations.

‘The Capture’ (2019)

Famke Janssen appears in the second season of this British mystery thriller, playing Jessica Mallory. The series explores the world of digital surveillance, misinformation, and “correction,” where video footage can be manipulated in real time. The show questions whether seeing is truly believing in an age of deepfakes and advanced technology.

Janssen’s character is a high-level and influential figure who becomes involved in the complex web of intrigue that the main characters are trying to uncover. Her role adds to the international scope of the series, as the plot delves into the political and ethical implications of using technology to alter reality for intelligence purposes.

‘Rounders’ (1998)

In the cult classic poker film ‘Rounders’, Famke Janssen plays Petra, a card room manager and friend to the main character, Mike McDermott. The story follows Mike, a talented law student and gifted poker player who quits the game after losing his entire savings in one hand. He is drawn back into the world of high-stakes underground poker to help a friend pay off a dangerous debt.

Petra runs the game room at a well-known club and often deals the cards in high-stakes games. She has a friendly, professional relationship with Mike, offering him a seat at her table when he makes his return to the game. Her character is a stable and familiar presence in the unpredictable and often risky environment of the underground poker scene.

‘Long Slow Exhale’ (2022)

Famke Janssen is part of the ensemble cast in the drama series ‘Long Slow Exhale’, where she portrays Dr. Melinda Barlow. The show is set in the competitive world of women’s college basketball and centers on a successful head coach who finds herself in the middle of a sexual abuse scandal. As the truth begins to unravel, the scandal threatens to destroy the university and the lives of those involved.

Janssen’s character, Dr. Barlow, is the athletic director of the university, a powerful and influential figure who must navigate the fallout from the accusations. She is tasked with managing the crisis while protecting the reputation of the institution and its lucrative sports program. The role places her in a position of authority, dealing with the complex ethical and professional dilemmas that arise.

‘The Vault’ (2021)

In the heist thriller ‘The Vault’, Famke Janssen plays Margaret, an agent from the British government. The film follows a brilliant engineering graduate who is recruited by a master art dealer to break into the seemingly impenetrable vault at the Bank of Spain. The team plans to use the distraction of the 2010 FIFA World Cup final to pull off their daring robbery.

Margaret’s character represents an organization with a vested interest in the contents of the vault. She works alongside the art dealer, Walter Moreland, to retrieve a treasure that was confiscated from him by the Spanish government. Her role is that of a determined and resourceful operative who helps facilitate the complex and high-stakes heist.

‘Hemlock Grove’ (2013–2015)

Famke Janssen stars as Olivia Godfrey in this supernatural horror series. She is the wealthy and mysterious matriarch of the powerful Godfrey family, which controls the former steel town of Hemlock Grove. When a series of brutal murders occur, secrets about the town’s strange and supernatural inhabitants begin to surface.

Olivia is a manipulative and enigmatic character who is revealed to be an Upir, a type of vampire-like creature. She exerts immense control over her two children, Roman and Shelley, and the town itself. Janssen’s performance captures the character’s cold, calculating nature and her deep, dark secrets that are central to the show’s mysterious and often gruesome plot.

What are your favorite Famke Janssen roles? Let us know in the comments.