Played: Xenia Onatopp in Goldeneye. Horror Filmography: Lord Of Illusions (1995), Deep Rising (1998), The Faculty (1998), House On Haunted Hill (1999), Hide And Seek (2005), 100 Feet (2008), Hansel And Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013). Prior to landing the part of Xenia Onatopp, Famke Janssen received her first lead role in Clive Barkers Lord Of Illusions, which brought her to the attention of Goldeneye director Martin Campbell. You can see why he wanted her for the role: tall and intimidating, she was the perfect choice to play the aggressive, psychotic Xenia. It turned out to be a better part than she was given in any of her horror pictures, where she typically played a screaming damsel in distress running away from ghosts, sea monsters or body-hopping aliens. No horror fan, she was better served by the role of Jean Grey in the X-Men franchise.
Ian Watson is the author of 'Midnight Movie Madness', a 600+ page guide to "bad" movies from 'Reefer Madness' to 'Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.'
