Famke Janssen discusses media pressures after GoldenEye

Famke Janssen, who played Bond girl Xenia Onatopp in 1995’s GoldenEye, has opened up about the negative effects the role has played as far as her place in the media.

“The Bond movie dictated a lot of my relationship with the press…after GoldenEye I felt like I was thrown to the wolves,” Famke Janssen told The Independent. “It was just an onslaught of attention, good and bad and everything in between. I realize every actor in the world thinks they can control the press, but ultimately the press always wins. I decided I’d rather be less famous and do things on my terms…Fame comes at a price, and it wasn’t one that I was willing to pay.”

Famke Janssen went on to feel pigeonholed as a pretty face with thighs that just won’t quit. Considering GoldenEye was her breakout role and she could go anywhere with it, it was a brave decision to take another route with her career. She worked consistently, turning up in movies like Rounders, The Faculty and House on Haunted Hill, before taking part in another franchise: the X-Men, playing Jean Gray/Phoenix four times (five, if you count her Days of Future Past cameo).

And it was all the Dutch actress’ planning. She didn’t feel compelled to be tabloid fodder all the time or give the press exactly what they wanted, despite how easily it all could have come. Instead, Famke Janssen ditched the big bucks and spotlight that might come in the aftermath of playing a Bond girl–as with Jane Seymour (Live and Let Die) and Kim Basinger (Never Say Never Again–we’re counting this, right?!)–for more control of her career. Talk about enjoying a good squeeze.

In the same interview, Famke Janssen said, “I feel incredibly misunderstood at times. It’s the dichotomy between the way I look and what is happening inside…But that comes with being in a Bond movie and playing this crazy assassin.”

Famke Janssen is set to co-star in the Sam Raimi-produced Boy Kills World, which sure sounds like a Bond movie title to us!

What do you think? Has Famke Janssen made the right choices throughout her career? Let us know in the comments below!