Whether you know her from The X-Men, Hemlock Grove, or Nip/Tuck, you simply can’t forget a performance from actress Famke Janssen. The star attended FanExpo 2017 in Toronto earlier this month, and we were lucky enough to attend her panel, where we learned all sorts of fascinating things about her.
She loves strong female characters
“I guess I gravitate towards those characters,” Janssen said at her panel when asked about why she tends to be cast as very driven characters, though she did go on to say that part of it may also have to do with type casting. “I just look like I could handle most guys if I met them in a dark alley.”
She also went on to say that the resurgence of TV has helped a lot with the creation of great female characters for actresses to play, and that she’s so excited to see where the industry will go next.
Her primary influence is artist Louis Bourgeois
You may be surprised to learn that her main inspiration doesn’t come from another actor, but from an artist. Janssen loves the work of Louis Bourgeois, saying, “She was just somebody who really followed her heart and didn’t go in anyone else’s footsteps. She was a unique individual who made the most beautiful art, and I’ve always liked that, because I want to be my own person, and I really don’t want to take examples.”
Sophie Turner asked her for advice on playing Jean Grey
“I think she’s amazing,” Janssen said when asked about her younger X-Men counterpart. “She reached out to me, which I thought was so lovely…and I said you’re amazing. Just follow your gut like you always do, and you’re going to be incredible, and that’s exactly what she’s done.”
She’s an animal lover
Janssen is very passionate about animals and protecting them, even working with the UN to counter poaching.
“Just to know how much money is being made on poaching, how many animals are being slaughtered, how many species we’re about to lose as a result of that…it’s been really interesting to work with them.”
She wants to direct again
Janssen has one directing credit to her name–Bringing Up Bobby–and she looks forward to doing it again, though she acknowledges that it can be a difficult process. “It’s not easy to get films off the ground, it’s hard to find the money, the resources and all of it, but that’s certainly never stopped me. I’ve always liked a hurdle, I suppose, so I will continue down that path at some point…I’m always developing material.”
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