Famke Janssen
(Credit: Jim Spellman/WireImage.com)
Her latest "smaller" project, "Turn the River," casts the Dutch native as Kailey Sullivan, a small time pool hustler struggling to maintain a relationship with the son she lost custody of. It's a showy role and one that Janssen pulls off with a remarkable ease.
We caught up with Janssen to discuss the film, the roles she's best known for, the possibility of seeing her in "Iron Man 2" and the accuracy of her Wikipedia entry.
You had worked with "Turn the River" director Chris Eigeman as actors in "The Treatment," and then he wrote this project with you in mind. Did you feel any pressure that you had to accept the role?
I never got to think that. I opened [the script] with no expectations or thoughts beyond "what an incredibly nice gesture." As I started reading I was extremely intrigued and thought Kailey was a great character. It could've been a bit part, like one scene in the background.
Did you have any experience playing pool prior to the film?
No, not at all.
And Chris knew that?
Oh yeah, absolutely. But we both agreed that I had to be the one making the shots. Audiences have become too clever; you have to do it or they'll find the tricks.
So what kind of training did you have to do?
I had a pool instructor, John Juback, who plays Duncan in the movie. We worked for almost two months perfecting my game.
And you actually get to beat him on screen.
Yes, I got to beat my pool instructor in the movie—how satisfying is that? He was extremely supportive and really proud.
Movie pool hustlers are usually men, were you surprised to read a script like this with a female lead?
Pleasantly surprised. When I started to think about what it would be like for a woman to be a pool hustler, I thought one way would be to really use your sexuality, but that was just not the character. It's something that people might expect [from previous roles], but I had to actively work against it. The most attention [Kailey] would ever pay to her appearance would be to put her hair in a ponytail so it doesn't get in the way of a pool game. I picked out a hairpiece that I wear throughout the film; we made it look as greasy and stringy as possible.
What roles do people recognize you from the most?
Bond, "X-Men," "Nip/Tuck." I'm happiest when it's a movie like "Love & Sex." It's different than the image of being a superhero, femme fatale or something I'm really not.
Did you know that your "Nip/Tuck" character was a transsexual when you accepted the role or was it something [series creator] Ryan Murphy sprung on you at the last minute?
He sprung that one on me right before the last episode. We were shooting and someone said "Ryan really wants to talk to you." I went into his office, sat down and he goes "I have a great idea for the ending! Ava is a man!" One of the first things I said was "Can you please not show the surgery?" I thought that could've been the end of my career as I knew it.
I guess when you sign on for a show like that you just go along for the ride.
Absolutely, when Ryan pitched it to me it was a very broad idea of who Ava Moore was and what type of trouble she might cause. I knew going in to it—having watched the first season—I'd be on a ride, but I'd be in good hands with Ryan. It became a really nice collaborative experience. He was inspired to write based on what I brought to the role. That can only happen on TV.
Is there any future for you in the "X-Men" universe that you know of?
I don't think so. I died in part two as Jean Grey and I died in part three as Phoenix, so at this point it would probably be laughable.
And you're OK with leaving it behind?
Absolutely. I think when you do three of those that's a good number and then it's time to move on.
You worked with Robert Downey Jr. on “Ally McBeal” and “Gingerbread Man,” is it inspiring to see the kind of resurgence that he's had with “Iron Man” 20 years into his career?
I think it's so great because he is one of the most talented actors we have in film. To see him break through with such success, after what he's been through, I'm so happy for him and for Favreau.
Right, you’re friends with Jon Favreau from “Love & Sex” and “Made.” Now you just need to get him to give you a role in the “Iron Man” sequel.
[Very dryly] Right. Things get tricky when you're known as Jean Grey, people would say "why is Jean Grey in ‘Iron Man?’ What is she doing here?"
I’d like to do a little Wikipedia fact checking, if you don't mind...Your entry says you provide the Dutch language translation on the Disney studio tram tour, is that true?
That's true. It was a long time ago. They approached several European celebrities to use their voice in the tram and I became the Dutch representative. That was really fun, I got to bring my whole family. Disneyland is supposed to be the happiest place on Earth and I have to say when I'm riding around in that crazy Space Mountain ride I'm happy.
Is that your favorite?
Space Mountain and Indiana Jones, it makes me laugh so hard.
Wikipedia also says you are a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador for Integrity.
That's true too.
What does that entail?
A whole bunch of things. I was just appointed this year in Bali. I did a movie called "Taken," with Liam Neeson [due out in September]. It's not a political movie, it's an action film, but it involves a prostitution ring. I have a small part in the movie and [the prostitution plot] has nothing to do with me, but out of curiosity I started researching it and got in contact with the U.N. Then they approached me to become an ambassador. I took part in a panel with Terry George, Tom Clancy and other artists from various countries, and we discussed what role we can play in combating corruption.
Did you expect when you started acting that it would lead to learning to play pool and becoming a U.N. Ambassador?
That's been what's really interesting about it. I think you can do [the work] to whatever extent you want to. You can show up, say your lines, be done with it and pull it off. But for me one of the things that really attracted me to the job was to do the research and learn about and become other people.
