Famke Janssen On Building Amsterdam Empire Character & Hopes For Season 2

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Famke Janssen is joining Netflix for a new series called Amsterdam Empire, and she’s excited to be a part of it. Best known for her roles in films like X-Men (as Jean Grey) and the Taken movies, Janssen has also found success on television. She previously appeared in Netflix’s Hemlock Grove, and had recurring roles on shows like How to Get Away with Murder and The Blacklist, even starring in a short-lived spin-off of the latter.

In the film Amsterdam Empire, Janssen plays Betty, the wife of a wealthy Dutch coffee shop owner named Jack van Doorn. Their long marriage is shaken when Jack asks for a divorce, revealing he’s in love with someone else. Determined to save her relationship, Betty fights back, threatening to reveal Jack’s hidden business dealings and secrets if he doesn’t reconsider.

The cast of Amsterdam Empire, a crime drama similar to The Sopranos, includes Jacob Derwig as Jack, Elise Schaap, Jade Olieberg, and Bart Slegers, alongside executive producer Janssen. Created by the team behind Undercover – Piet Matthys, Nico Moolenaar, and Bart Uytdenhouwen – this seven-episode series provides a fresh perspective on crime in the Netherlands.

So, to celebrate the show launching, I chatted with Famke Janssen over at ScreenRant about Amsterdam Empire. It was really cool to hear her talk about filming in Denmark – her home country! – for the first time. She also shared how much creative freedom she had, getting to do everything from filming a music video to actually designing her own costumes. We also talked about what she’s hoping for with the show going forward, and it sounds like she’s really excited about its potential.

Warning: SPOILERS lie ahead for Amsterdam Empire!

There Are “A Lot Of Things In The Works” For Amsterdam Empire’s Future

Wow, the finale of Amsterdam Empire was a wild ride! So, Jack, who we thought was a goner after being shot, actually survived – he’s in a coma, though. Meanwhile, Betty formed this unexpected alliance with Jack’s daughter, Katja, and his ex-wife, Shanti, and together they went after Jack’s ruthless partner, Gijs, wiping out the entire Tichelaar family. But here’s the kicker: Betty’s still playing the long game. She’s holding onto proof that Jack was involved in Guido’s murder, hoping to seize control of The Jackal if he ever wakes up. Talk about a complicated situation!

You know, as a big fan, I was really interested in what Courtney Janssen had to say about where her character ends up. She kept emphasizing to the creators throughout filming that this wasn’t meant to be a standalone movie – those usually tie everything up neatly with a perfect ending. Instead, she wanted Betty’s journey to feel like part of something bigger. While Betty definitely learns some important lessons this season, they deliberately left things open-ended, hinting that there’s still room to continue the story in a potential next season. It’s cool that they’re thinking long-term like that!

Regarding plans for a second season of Amsterdam Empire, Janssen explained that Netflix usually waits at least three weeks to evaluate a show’s performance before deciding whether to renew it. While she emphasized that “a lot of things are in the works” for the future of the series, the final decision will depend on how many people watch it.

Betty Has Far More Complexity Than Just Being A Villain

Initially, Betty appears quite spiteful towards Jack, demonstrated by her damaging his car and aggressively confronting his new partner, Marjolein. However, as the show unfolds, we see a more complex side to her. Moments of vulnerability suggest her anger over the divorce stems from both hurt feelings and a desire to regain control.

When Janssen first started discussing the project with Moolenaar, the characters for Amsterdam Empire were still in early development – they hadn’t written much yet. Janssen made it clear that she didn’t want her character to be simply portrayed as constantly angry, explaining that audiences had seen that type of character many times before, even though she understood why writers might choose that approach. She wanted a more nuanced portrayal.

Janssen joked about the incredibly painful scenario of being publicly cheated on and then learning the new partner is pregnant. She acknowledged the immense heartbreak and understandable anger that would result, but also emphasized the deep hurt involved. Janssen was closely involved in developing her character, Betty, from the beginning, ensuring she was a fully developed and vulnerable person, allowing audiences to connect with her emotional journey.

She shared that she’s particularly proud of how she collaborated with the writers and directors to deepen and enrich her character beyond what was originally written. She always seeks roles that allow her to create complex, multi-faceted characters, and she feels a responsibility – as a woman and an actress – to bring nuance and depth to every part she plays, especially those of characters like Janssen.

I found my experience really valuable,” Janssen said. “Having acted in nearly 80 films, I’d often been asked to play characters that felt incomplete or were written from a limited perspective. It was great to be able to use all that knowledge on this project. We all enjoy watching a flawed character, but it’s crucial that the audience can still connect with her.

When exploring Betty’s anger – whether it stems from a desire for control or genuine pain – actress Janssen drew on her own experiences, recalling times when feeling powerless led to reactive behavior. She believes this emotional complexity is central to Betty’s development, particularly because Betty has historically viewed herself as a victim.

Janssen observed something beautiful happening in people’s lives right now: a shift away from feeling like victims. She believes taking ownership of your choices and their results is crucial for personal growth, and she especially wanted to see that reflected in the character’s development.

What Else We Learned From Janssen About Amsterdam Empire

ScreenRant says Amsterdam Empire is a really great show and they’re completely captivated by the characters and the way the world is built. They’re curious about what it would be like to film a show in Amsterdam using the Dutch language, especially compared to all the English-language projects the creators have worked on.

This is the first time I’ve acted in Dutch, which is strange because I moved from Holland when I was 18, long before I became an actress. I’d been offered Dutch roles before, but nothing ever felt quite right. Ultimately, I think Netflix was the main reason I decided to do it now – it allows a global audience in a way that wasn’t possible before. The success of shows like Squid Game really changed things; people are now much more open to watching content with subtitles. It feels like a perfect time for an international production in another language, and I’m hoping that will really help ‘Amsterdam Empire’. I put a lot of effort into this project, and I ended up doing a lot of different things. I played the lead role of Betty, but I was also an executive producer, helped design my costumes, and even made a music video – I had to learn to sing and dance! I’m really excited about how it all came together.

ScreenRant commented on how a single project opened up many new doors for you. They also wondered about the experience of developing the character’s voice and mannerisms while working in a different language, though they didn’t want to dwell on the language aspect too much.

Famke Janssen found working in the Netherlands very different from the US or UK. The work culture was simply different, and she had to adjust. While she was initially most worried about speaking Dutch – it’s her native language, but she hadn’t used it daily in years – she discovered it was actually the easiest part of the experience. The shoot took eight months, in part because she was an executive producer from the start, requiring a lot of travel at first. Eventually, being back in the Netherlands felt natural, and she enjoyed being close to her family in a way she hadn’t been able to for a long time, allowing for spontaneous dinners and quality time.

ScreenRant: By the way, how satisfying was it smashing up that car?

It felt really good to smash a golf club into that expensive car – it was incredibly satisfying! I actually checked to make sure the actor was alright afterwards. Every time I watch the scene, it looks so realistic that I wince and wonder if I actually hit him! It’s one of those moments where you think, ‘I wish I could do something like that in real life!’ I was relieved that no one got hurt, which is rare for me – I usually end up bumping or bruising myself during action scenes, more often than others. But I also really enjoyed working with the costume designers to create my character’s outfits.

Betty is a flamboyant and attention-grabbing character, largely because she’s known for just one popular song. I really wanted to capture that vibrant personality, and also her refusal to act her age. She dresses like a child – think socks, shiny shoes, and cute dresses – and seems hesitant to grow up. As the show progresses, we explored letting her mature a bit. It was a very imaginative process, and I enjoyed it immensely. I also incorporated lots of butterfly imagery throughout.

This is something I’m truly passionate about. I believe it’s all about being genuine and making things your own, which is especially important today when we have access to so much. It’s hard to stand out when everyone can get the same things, so I’ve always tried to be authentic in my own way. And the fact that it also lets me express my creativity is a huge bonus.

I really appreciated how they showed her growth through what she wore. It struck me that her clothes in the flashback scenes were so similar to her style at the beginning of the show – it really highlighted how far she’d come.

Famke Janssen described her character as someone feeling a bit adrift, which she related to the experience of being a one-hit wonder. When a single success defines you, it’s tough when that fades. Careers aren’t always a steady climb – they have ups and downs. But Betty specifically struggles with letting go of her past glory. A highlight of the project was filming the music video, which felt like a dream come true. She had a fantastic choreographer who focused on making every movement visually striking, and she worked incredibly hard to perfect it. The fact that the video was a flashback, showing Betty 20 years younger, was also a fun challenge, and thankfully she was in good enough shape to pull it off.

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2025-10-30 19:01