Amsterdam Empire Star Famke Janssen Gets Candid About Returning to the Netherlands & Acting In Dutch

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The new Netflix series, Amsterdam Empire, centers on Jack Van Doorn, a successful and charming coffee shop owner played by Jacob Derwig. His life gets complicated when he decides to divorce his wife, Betty (Famke Janssen), especially since she discovers he’s been having an affair with Marjolein Hofman (Elise Schaap).

The new Netflix series is set entirely in Amsterdam, a city Famke Janssen left as a teenager. Now, she’s returned to the Netherlands with this project. In a conversation with Russ Milheim of TopMob, Janssen discussed the show and how the city of Amsterdam almost acts as a character in the story.

Jan Janssen noted that after appearing in eighty films over the years, she had never performed in Dutch, her native language. This was a major reason she decided to take on the project, and she was thrilled to finally have the opportunity.

She noted that when she first arrived in the United States, there was little interest in subtitled content. However, things have changed, and now, particularly with popular shows like Squid Game, people are craving genuine experiences. Janssen believes viewers are eager to watch content in any language – Korean, Chinese, Dutch, Danish, and more – to gain a real sense of different cultures and places they might never have the opportunity to visit.

The actor described Amsterdam as a central part of the show’s atmosphere, calling it a city that’s both rough around the edges and incredibly stylish, with a little bit of everything you could want.

I just finished reading more of the interview with Famke Janssen, and it’s a bummer she won’t be in Avengers: Doomsday. She really dives into her role as Betty in Amsterdam Empire, and it’s fascinating to hear her talk about it. You can find the full interview below.

Famke Janssen on Finally Returning to Amsterdam and Acting In Dutch

“I’ve Never Once Acted In Dutch, In My Own Language.”

  • TopMob: “What was it like filming in Amsterdam?”

Famke Janssen moved away from Amsterdam at 18, and despite appearing in around 80 films, she’d never acted in Dutch until now. When offered this new show, she was intrigued. She’d turned down projects before, but the combination of it being a Netflix production and a current desire for genuine stories made this opportunity stand out.

Shows like ‘Squid Game’ are a great example of how popular international content has become. These shows are filmed in their original language and location, giving viewers a genuine feel for the culture and people. It’s a big change from when I first came to the US – back then, people avoided anything with subtitles, thinking it was too difficult to follow. Now, there’s a real demand for these kinds of shows, and it’s exciting to see.

Having traveled the world through my work as a model and actress, the best part of my journey has been experiencing different cultures, languages, and meeting people from all walks of life. I’m excited that this show allows others to do the same – to experience a taste of places they might not otherwise get to visit, simply by watching something in a different language, like Korean, Chinese, or Dutch. The timing feels right, and it’s a really fun show with a delightfully over-the-top character to play, Betty.

  • TopMob: “When it comes to Amsterdam, obviously, when a location is so central to a show, it can often be a character in of itself. How would you describe Amsterdam as a character within this series?”

Famke Janssen’s character is central to the show and quite complex. The storyline involves her ex-husband, who runs a major marijuana operation after having an affair and fathering a child with another woman. This allows the show to explore common misunderstandings about drug laws and legalization in the Netherlands, revealing that the reality is more nuanced than many people believe. It’s a really interesting and enjoyable part of the series.

What really struck me about this film wasn’t just the story, but Amsterdam itself – it truly felt like another character. The city is presented in all its facets: beautiful, a little rough around the edges, and surprisingly glamorous. It’s a place that feels both like a bustling city and a quaint village, with families biking around, walking their dogs, and just living life. There’s a sweetness and innocence to it, and honestly, even the red light district felt strangely…whimsical, almost like a toned-down Disneyland. You really get a sense of all these different sides to Amsterdam, and it was a joy to watch unfold.

Famke Janssen Breaks Down Her Reckless Character

Betty is Reckless, Angry, and Hurt, Which Makes Her Fun to Bring to Life.

  • TopMob: “Betty, she’s a very angry person [and hurt], especially right when we meet her, and throughout this show. How do those things really drive her throughout the series?”

Famke Janssen believes the core of Betty’s pain stemmed from the betrayal by a man she’d devoted years of her life to. Adding to that pain was his affair and decision to not allow her to raise their child. Janssen felt there were so many layers to this heartbreak, and when she read about public scandals, she realized how devastating it must be not only to experience infidelity but to have it play out publicly. She deeply empathized with Betty and was determined to portray her in a way that avoided misinterpretation.

Janssen, also an executive producer on Amsterdam Empire, explained that she immediately made it known she didn’t want to simply play the role of an ex-wife. She also made it clear she wasn’t interested in a storyline focused on revenge.

When I was first approached about this character and the show, I immediately said I wasn’t interested in simply returning to the Netherlands to play an ex-wife, especially one motivated only by revenge. While that might be entertaining for a short time, I insisted the character needed depth and a clear backstory.

I was able to contribute a lot creatively to this project, not just as an actor, but also as an executive producer and costume designer. That gave me more artistic freedom than usual. The character I play is complex and goes through a real transformation. She starts out wanting revenge, but she grows and learns a lot along the way, and her anger stems from deep pain and hurt.

Betty is known for being impulsive, with the actress describing her as someone who doesn’t overthink things and acts entirely on her feelings.

I believe her character has always lived impulsively, and that’s what makes her so compelling to play. She doesn’t overthink things; she’s not strategic or deliberate in her choices. Everything she does is driven by her feelings. She’s very raw and expresses whatever she’s feeling in the moment, much like a child. While we’ll see some growth for her character throughout the series, she was a fascinating and captivating character to portray, and I really enjoyed playing her.

Janssen explained that Betty’s character develops by learning to see things from new perspectives throughout the show.

Betty likely saw herself as a victim, even if she wasn’t fully aware of it. Throughout the series, she learns to change her perspective, which is essential for a compelling story. I really grew to care for her and wanted to protect her character. It was a lot of fun exploring her personality, especially the idea that she was a ‘one-hit wonder.’ I tried to show this through her bright, playful clothing and childlike mannerisms – everything about her was just really enjoyable to work with.

Betty, a famous singer in Amsterdam Empire, gave actress Famke Janssen the opportunity to sing a popular song and star in its music video. Janssen was surprised by this, saying she never imagined she’d be recording music or appearing in a video under her own name.

The music video was over the top, in a fun way. It was styled like a ’90s throwback, which was unusual for me since I’m not a singer or trained dancer, but I had amazing choreography training with Vincent Brianna. The hardest part was learning ’90s hip-hop moves and performing them at the much faster pace of a modern pop song – things like the Running Man, but sped up! It was definitely challenging, but also a lot of fun. Honestly, I never imagined I’d be recording music or starring in my own music video.

A key difficulty for Janssen when creating the character Betty was ensuring she wasn’t portrayed as simple or lacking depth.

Betty, the character, initially lacked any significant relationships – no parents, children, or friends. I immediately felt this was a problem. When portraying a character driven by revenge, it’s easy to fall into the trap of making her seem flat and simple. To avoid that, we needed to add depth and complexity. I focused on building those layers into my performance to make her more believable and nuanced.

I was so excited to hear Famke Janssen say there’s “definitely the potential” for a second season of Amsterdam Empire! It really seems like it could happen, but it’s ultimately up to Netflix and whether enough of us viewers want it to!

Janssen says a second season is possible, but whether it happens depends on viewership and how much demand there is. They’ll be closely looking at those numbers before deciding.

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2025-10-31 22:39