Famke Janssen
Janssen filmed her scenes between Friday 14 February 1992 and Wednesday 19 February 1992 and Friday 21 February 1992 and Tuesday 25 February 1992 on Paramount Stage 8 , 9 , and 16 .
She was one of many actresses considered for the role of Jadzia Dax in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . However, Janssen wanted to work primarily as a film actress, so she turned down the role. ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion , p. 7)
Outside of Star Trek , Janssen is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Doctor Jean Grey in the X-Men films, acting alongside her Next Generation co-star Patrick Stewart , who played Professor Charles Xavier (or "Professor X"). She is also known for her role as James Bond villainess Xenia Onatopp in the 1995 film GoldenEye and for her recurring role as Ava Moore on Nip/Tuck . She later starred in Hemlock Grove .
Early life and career [ ]
Janssen was born in Amstelveen, a city south of Amsterdam, part of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands. Her name Famke means "little girl" in West Frisian. She moved to the United States in 1984, at age 19, and began her career in show business as a fashion model. She also studied writing and literature at Columbia University in New York before heading to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.
After making her television debut on Next Generation , she made her film debut with a supporting role in the 1992 thriller Fathers & Sons . This was followed by a guest spot on Melrose Place with fellow Next Generation guest performer Stanley Kamel in 1994. That same year, she played the lead role in the 1994 TV movie Model by Day and co-starred in the film Relentless IV: Ashes to Ashes , with Christopher Pettiet .
In 1995, Janssen co-starred with Star Trek: Enterprise actor Scott Bakula in Lord of Illusions , and featured fellow Next Generation guest actor Vincent Schiavelli .
Janssen's breakthrough role came when she played the villainess Xenia Onatopp in the 1995 blockbuster James Bond film Goldeneye . She is one of only three Star Trek alumni to portray Bond girls; the others were fellow Next Generation guest actress Teri Hatcher and Discovery actress Michelle Yeoh , who both appeared in the subsequent Bond film, Tomorrow Never Dies . ( Barbara Bouchet also appeared as a Bond girl in the 1967 unofficial spoof film Casino Royale .) Interestingly, Janssen and Hatcher both appeared together in Dead Girl (1996, featuring Seymour Cassel and Amanda Plummer ).
Janssen co-starred with Colm Meaney in Monument Ave. (1998). That same year, Janssen appeared in two films with fellow Next Generation guest actress Bebe Neuwirth : Celebrity (1998, starring Winona Ryder ) and The Faculty (co-starring Christopher McDonald and Bebe Neuwirth ). Janssen was seen in many other films that year, including The Gingerbread Man , Deep Rising , and Rounders .
Both Janssen and Jeffrey Combs appeared in House on Haunted Hill (1999). Janssen then had the starring role in Love & Sex (2000, with Ann Magnuson and Robert Knepper ). This was followed by Circus (2000, with Tommy "Tiny" Lister, Jr. ).
Famke Janssen in the X-Men films [ ]
Between 2000 and 2006, Janssen appeared as Dr. Jean Grey in X-Men (2000), X2 (2003), and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). In a somewhat interesting coincidence, Janssen's Next Generation character Kamala referred to herself as a mutant while explaining to Captain Picard the concept of an empathic metamorph .
In addition to working with Patrick Stewart and Rebecca Romijn on all three X-Men films, Janssen acted with Bruce Davison in the first two and with Kelsey Grammer in the last one. John Pyper-Ferguson and comics writer Chris Claremont also appeared in The Last Stand . The first two X-Men films were directed by Bryan Singer , while all three were co-produced by Ralph Winter .
Shortly after completing her work on the first X-Men film in 2000, Janssen returned to television with the first of two appearances as Jamie on the TV series Ally McBeal . The episode, "The Man with the Bag," also guest-starred Christopher Neiman , Jack Shearer , and William Windom .
Janssen had a recurring role as trans woman Ava Moore on Nip/Tuck during the show's second season in 2004. She also appeared in an episode of the third season in 2005, through the use of deleted scenes from the previous season. Janssen reprised her role in two episodes of the series' sixth season in 2010. Among the performers she worked with on this series were Andrew Borba , Jane Daly , Billy Mayo , Barbara J. Tarbuck , Julie Warner , and Ruth Williamson .
Outside of the X-Men films, Janssen's film credits have included Made (2001) , Don't Say a Word (2001), I Spy (2002, with Malcolm McDowell and Gary Cole ), Eulogy (2004, with René Auberjonois , Sherman Howard , and Eric Pierpoint ), Hide and Seek (2001), Turn the River (2001), The Wackness (2008), Taken (2009), Taken 2 (2012, with Leland Orser ) and Taken 3 (2014).
Her more recent credits include Down the Shore (2011), the mystery film In the Woods (2012), Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013, with Derek Mears ), Once Upon a Time in Venice (2017), and Primal (2019). She reprised her role as Jean Grey in The Wolverine (2013) and X-Men: Days of the Future Past (2014). The latter film was again directed by Bryan Singer and starred Patrick Stewart as Professor Xavier.
Between 2013 and 2015, she starred as the vampire matriarch Olivia Godfrey in Hemlock Grove , where Penelope Mitchell played the character's daughter in the show's first season. She had a recurring role as Susan Hargrave in The Blacklist (2016-18) and The Blacklist: Redemption (2017), and as Eve Rothio in How to Get Away with Murder (2015-20).
External links [ ]
- Famke Janssen at Wikipedia
- Famke Janssen at the Internet Movie Database
- Famke Janssen at FashionModelDirectory.com
- FamkeJanssen.net (X) – former official fan site
- 2 Greek god
- 3 Daniels (Crewman)
Screen Rant
Star trek’s “perfect mate”: famke janssen in tng explained.
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How To Watch All Star Trek TV Shows In Timeline Order
Why star trek: the next generation's enterprise had a rarely-seen second bridge, why a controversial star trek: tng season 3 episode was banned in the uk.
- "The Perfect Mate" in Star Trek: TNG is a step back for the show, treating Kamala solely as an object of male desire.
- Famke Janssen played Xenia Onatopp in GoldenEye and Jean Grey in X-Men with Patrick Stewart's Professor X.
- Famke Janssen's role as Kamala influenced the appearance of the Trill aliens in Star Trek: DS9, even though she turned down the role.
In one of her earliest acting roles, Dutch actress Famke Janssen portrayed Kamala in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2, episode 21, "The Perfect Mate." When the USS Enterprise-D transports a Kriosian ambassador named Briam (Tim O'Connor) to a peace ceremony, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) soon discovers that his "cargo" is actually a young Kriosian woman named Kamala . Kamala can not only sense the emotions of the men around her, but she can also morph herself into whoever they want her to be. Since her birth, Kamala has been raised to be the perfect partner for Valtese Chancellor Alrik (Mickey Cottrell), as part of a peace offering to reunite the planets Krios Prime and Valt Minor.
Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "The Perfect Mate" has some strong performances, but the treatment of Kamala almost solely as an object of male desire feels like a step back for TNG . The storyline feels too reminiscent of Star Trek: The Original Series and its 1960s sensibilities. There are elements of a good story here, as Picard and Kamala both face difficult choices regarding duty and desire, and both Patrick Stewart and Famke Janssen are wonderful . But Kamala has little agency and the plot line - of women who generate pheromones that affect men - has been done before (in TOS season 1, episode 6, "Mudd's Women"), and really should have been left in the 1960s.
The Star Trek TV franchise has existed for 57 years and consists of 12 shows (and counting). Here's how to watch them all in timeline order.
Famke Janssen’s Kamala In Star Trek: TNG’s The Perfect Mate Explained
With her empathic and metamorphic abilities, kamala can be anything the men around her want her to be..
Because she altered her own personality to please those around her, Kamala had never spent time figuring out what she wanted for herself in Star Trek: The Next Generation' s "The Perfect Mate." After Kamala's guide Briam is rendered unconscious in a conflict with a Ferengi, Captain Picard steps in to fulfill his role. As Kamala spends time with Picard, the two find that they have much in common , including a love of archeology and Shakespeare. Although Picard feels an attraction to Kamala, he resists it, knowing that she has been promised to another. Kamala then imprints onto Picard, but still goes through with the marriage to Chancellor Alrik, as she has gained Picard's sense of duty.
After working as a model for several years, Famke Janssen landed her first acting roles in 1992 as Kamala on Star Trek: The Next Generation and as Kyle Christian in the film Fathers & Sons . Janssen's next major role came in 1995, when she starred as femme fatale Xenia Onatopp, alongside Pierce Brosnan's James Bond in GoldenEye . Famke appeared in several other films, before landing the role of Jean Grey in 2000's X-Men, alongside Patrick Stewart's Professor X . Janssen also appeared as Jean Grey/Phoenix in X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand, the latter of which adapted Marvel's iconic Dark Phoenix Saga . Since then, Janssen has appeared in Nip/Tuck , the Taken film franchise, Hemlock Grove , and How To Get Away With Murder .
Famke Janssen’s TNG Role Changed Star Trek: DS9’s Trill Aliens
From awkward forehead ridges to striking spots..
After her appearance in Star Trek: The Next Generation's "The Perfect Mate," Famke Janssen was offered the role of Lt. Jadzia Dax on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . As Janssen wanted to pursue film roles and did not want to be committed to a five-year television contract, she turned down the part. Although she never appeared in Star Trek again, Janssen's TNG character did change the appearance of the Trills. Former model Terry Farrell was later cast as Jadzia Dax, a joined Trill who served as a Starfleet science officer on space station Deep Space 9 .
As the DS9 production staff worked on Jadzia's look, they realized they did not like the original Trill makeup as it appeared in TNG season 4, episode 23, "The Host." Make-up designer Michael Westmore eventually suggested that they could give Jadzia spots along the sides of her face and neck like Famke Janssen's character Kamala had. This look stuck, as every Trill depicted after Jadzia Dax has appeared with these markings. After her appearance on Star Trek: The Next Generation , Famke Janssen went on to become an iconic sci-fi actress in her own right, and she left her mark on the Star Trek franchise in more ways than one.
Star Trek: The Next Generation & Star Trek: Deep Space Nine are available to stream on Paramount+.
- Cast & crew
- User reviews
The Perfect Mate
- Episode aired Apr 25, 1992
Ferengi machinations unleash a diplomatic gift aboard the Enterprise - the rare, empathic perfect mate, ready to bond with any male around her. Ferengi machinations unleash a diplomatic gift aboard the Enterprise - the rare, empathic perfect mate, ready to bond with any male around her. Ferengi machinations unleash a diplomatic gift aboard the Enterprise - the rare, empathic perfect mate, ready to bond with any male around her.
- Gene Roddenberry
- Reuben Leder
- Michael Piller
- Patrick Stewart
- Jonathan Frakes
- LeVar Burton
- 32 User reviews
- 8 Critic reviews
Top cast 30
- Captain Jean-Luc Picard
- Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker
- Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge
- Lieutenant Worf
- Dr. Beverly Crusher
- Counselor Deanna Troi
- (credit only)
- Lieutenant Commander Data
- Ambassador Briam
- (as Max Grodenchick)
- Chancellor Alrik
- Transporter Technician Hubbell
- Enterprise Computer
- Operations Division Officer
- (uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Did you know
- Trivia Famke Janssen was supposed to play Jadzia Dax in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) the following year. Janssen turned down the role to focus on her film career, and it eventually went to Terry Farrell . When initial make-up tests with the original Trill make-up from The Host (1991) were thought to be unconvincing, the staff remembered Kamala's spots and used them on DS9, which is why Kamala almost looks like a Trill with her spots.
- Goofs When Picard meets the ambassador from Valt, the star field in the window slowly moves in shots focusing on the captain but does not in shots focusing on the ambassador.
Commander William T. Riker : [aroused from his encounter with Kamala] Riker to bridge, if you need me, I'll be in holodeck 4.
- Connections Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Celebrities You Didn't Know Were on Star Trek TV Shows (2017)
- Soundtracks Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage
User reviews 32
- Oct 12, 2021
- April 25, 1992 (United States)
- United States
- Official site
- Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA (Studio)
- Paramount Television
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Technical specs
- Runtime 45 minutes
- Dolby Digital
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Kamala was a female Kriosian empathic metamorph in the 24th century .
In 2368 Kamala was a passenger aboard the USS Enterprise -D . ( TNG episode : " The Perfect Mate ")
In 2372 , a Changeling infiltrator boarded the USS Enterprise -E and studied Picard's personal logs . It then used this information during negotiations to state it could assume the form of any of Picard's female acquaintances, including Kamala. ( TNG eBook : A Sea of Troubles )
In 2376 , William T. Riker had a flashback to his meeting of Kamala eight years earlier when he was exposed to the Orb of Memory . ( DS9 novel : Avatar, Book One )
- 1.1.1 Appearances
- 1.2 External link
Appendices [ ]
Appearances and references [ ], appearances [ ].
- ST video game : Timelines
External link [ ]
- Kamala article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
- Kamala article at the Star Trek Timelines Wiki .
Famke Janssen
Series: TNG
Character(s): Kamala
Famke Janssen is the Dutch actress who played Kamala in the Star Trek: The Next Generation fifth season episode “The Perfect Mate”. This was one of her first notable roles, and her first television appearance.
She was one of many actresses considered for the role of Jadzia Dax in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. However, Janssen wanted to work primarily as a film actress, so she turned down the role.
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