In 2019, Famke Janssen became one of many women in Hollywood accused of plastic surgery. The actress's face had undergone visible changes seen on and off-screen, arousing a mixed reaction from fans.
In late February 2019, Famke Janssen stepped out for an outing in London, where paparazzi caught sight of the actress talking to a friend. Photos showed her donning a red belted coat with her hair parted sideways; however, what drew the most attention was her face.
Janssen wore minimal makeup, and underneath, her face appeared smoother and almost "frozen." The natural laugh lines and wrinkles she'd had months before were no longer there. The sighting sparked ongoing speculation about her undergoing plastic surgery.
Famke Janssen poses at the Los Angeles premiere of Sony Pictures' "Knights Of The Zodiac" at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on May 10, 2023, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
Later that year, Janssen starred as Jessica Mallory in the thriller series "The Capture," alongside Paapa Essiedu. Her character appeared in the finale of the show's first season, and although fans looked forward to watching Janssen onscreen, many initially struggled to recognize her.
The audience took to Twitter to express their shock at her appearance, with one tweeting that the actress had ruined her "natural beauty." Another fan wrote, "Is that Famke Jansen??? [expletive] has happened to her face, she looks well puffed and cannt move anything! No no no. (sic)"
Others still praised Janssen's beauty and presumably her acting prowess. One user shared, "Always had a bit of a crush on Famke Janssen #TheCapture," while another tweeted her name with heart-eyed emojis.
A screengrab of Famke Janssen playing Kamala in the "STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION" episode, "The Perfect Mate," in April 1992 | Source: Getty Images
Famke Janssen Accused of Undergoing Several Plastic Surgery Procedures
A May 2022 video on YouTube analyzed Janssen's facial appearance since entering the spotlight as a model in the 1980s. Showing several before and after frames of Janssen's pictures, the creator suggested she had done a facelift, a nose job, and reshaped her teeth.
Although many of the photos were unclear, a discussion began in the comment section, with one coming to her defense, writing, "What everyone's focusing on is her appearance, rather than who she is as a person, or how skilled an actor she is, and THAT is the real problem here."
Another said, "I think she looks super sharp!! Beautiful!!" Still, many were disappointed and agreed she had "destroyed" her face. One wrote, "She had almost perfect face, but she destroyed it for non sense. (sic)" Janssen has yet to address the speculation.
Famke Janssen is pictured wearing Yves Saint Laurent during the Opening Night of "The Boy From Oz" at The Imperial Theater in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Famke Janssen Was Once Perceived as a Sex Symbol; She Never Saw Herself That Way
Since she joined the entertainment industry at 18 as a model, the media had long deemed Janssen one of the "sexiest women" in the world. However, being seen as a sex symbol was disdainful to the "X-Men" alum.
"I don't see myself that way. I don't look in the mirror and think I'm beautiful. I never have, and I never will," she said. Janssen lamented how humans instinctively judged one another based on looks.
Though she felt her appearance was a "double-edged sword," she still admitted, "I've been lucky because I've never been out of work since I started acting." She abandoned modeling in her 20s because it didn't make her happy. As a young girl, she had hoped to be a pilot or a vet.
Famke Janssen is pictured at the 24th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on December 1, 2014, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Famke Janssen Called Out Hollywood over Sexism
One of Janssen's most well-known roles is Jean Grey in the earlier "X-Men" movies, co-starring Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, and Ian McKellen. Although many male characters in the film series had younger versions of themselves televised, the same can't be said for their female counterparts.
"Although women, it's interesting because they're replaced, and the older versions — or more mature, whatever the politically correct version of that is — are never to be seen again. Whereas the men are allowed to be both ages. Sexism," Janssen observed.
She expressed her desire to return as an older Jean Grey and even pitched the idea to the producer. At the time, she had yet to receive feedback. Nonetheless, she remains booked and busy. Janssen most recently appeared in "Knights of the Zodiac" with Madison Iseman.
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