Famke Janssen Craves Authenticity in Fashion

      With 30 years of experience and 80 credits in film and television, Famke Janssen has established herself as a significant presence in Hollywood. She has taken on various roles, from playing a telepathic mutant in X-Men to a Bond villain in GoldenEye, and even a vampire in Hemlock Grove. In 2011, she ventured into filmmaking by writing, producing, and directing Bringing Up Bobby. Yet, Janssen continues to evolve in her career. In her latest endeavor, the Netflix crime drama Amsterdam Empire, she adds yet another function to her repertoire: costume designer.

      Fashion has been a long-standing passion for Janssen, stemming from the handmade clothes her grandmother crafted for her and her sisters, her modeling days in the '80s, and the costumes of her diverse characters. Fashion is not just a means of self-expression for her; it is also essential for maintaining her authenticity. When she was offered the chance to return to her native country and act in Dutch for the first time, Janssen saw it as a unique opportunity for greater creative involvement. While the role of Betty, a former pop star seeking revenge on her unfaithful husband, was intriguing, the prospect of designing a vibrant fashion identity for the character, mirroring her personal style, was equally appealing. Her vision included playful baby-doll dresses, bold jackets, and patent-leather Mary Janes. With more costume design projects ahead and plans for her own collection, Janssen is entering an invigorating phase in her career. We spoke with her about her enriching experience in costume design for Amsterdam Empire, her vision for Betty’s style, and her plans for reorganizing her packed wardrobe.

      In the Netflix series Amsterdam Empire, you not only act but also serve as an executive producer and costume designer. What made you take on so many roles in this project? I was born in the Netherlands and left at 18 to pursue modeling, which took me around the world and ultimately to the States, but I started acting only when I got to New York and had never acted in Dutch before. Now, with nearly three decades of experience and 80 films to my credit, when this project came along and I was offered the role of Betty, I expressed my interest because I found her character captivating and colorful. I also wanted to return as an executive producer to exert more creative influence since I'm going back to my homeland equipped with my wealth of experience. This added excitement to the project, and I didn't realize how substantial the learning curve would be. The task of overseeing the costumes was time-consuming yet enjoyable and creatively rewarding. It felt like all my experiences over the years culminated in this role. I had previously written, directed, and produced a feature film with Milla Jovovich about a decade ago, so I already had some behind-the-camera experience. Fashion has always been integral to my life, stemming from my modeling background and my inclination to create my own clothing. Being a woman in a male-centric environment, I felt I had a unique perspective to bring to the table, and I appreciated the opportunity to contribute significantly.

      You've portrayed many different characters in your career. What made Betty feel fresh and exciting to you? There were numerous factors. When I read the initial episodes, I found it intriguing that we were entering a War of the Roses scenario, albeit one skewed in favor of Jack, who has this lavish lifestyle depicted in the series. We see his new relationship, his ex-wife Betty, his professional life, and his children, while Betty is essentially alone, even resorting to stealing a dog for companionship. I urged the writers to view the story from a female perspective, pointing out the imbalanced nature of the setup. I realized that if the writing couldn't fully convey that, I would embody Betty’s character richly in her emotional journey. My extensive experience in the 80 films I have worked on now served me well, especially since I was more involved as an executive producer with creative authority. I collaborated with the writers to flesh out Betty as a multidimensional character.

      Additionally, her fashion reflects a lot of my own style. What I loved is that in music award shows, the industry embraces vibrancy and boldness. There’s a freedom to dress however you want, whereas the film industry tends to be more conservative. I sought to capture that essence for Betty, who is a former one-hit wonder desperate for attention and reluctant to transition into adulthood, which is mirrored in her wardrobe. It was exhilarating to explore that creatively. We included many bright baby-doll dresses paired with Mary Jane shoes and socks—which happens to be my own style as well. I have this cherished photograph of my grandparents with my sisters and me, and I was around five years old in it. I look at how I dressed back then and realize I still embrace that style today. Betty's wardrobe reflects her hesitance to mature and take responsibility, as she embarks on a journey to discover her power and