Maxim: Are you jazzed about having your own action figure?
Famke Janssen: This will be my second one, actually. I had one as Xenia Onatopp in GoldenEye, but it didn’t look like me at all. This one is spooky real. When the designer came to the set and showed us the prototypes, I was, like, “Um, do you think you could make her look just a little bit younger?”

M: Is the world ready for female superheroes?
FJ: Absolutely. We’ve always been ready for female superheroes.
Because women want to be them and men want to do them.
Or at least admire them from a distance.

M: When do you feel most like a mutant?
FJ: I feel that way 24 hours a day. Not that I feel I have special powers,
but I certainly feel like a freak sometimes.

M: Can you read minds, like your character, Jean Grey?
FJ: I’m no mind reader, but I’ve found myself on a few occasions lately thinking,
Oh, my God, how did I know that? But I’m sure it’s more intuition than telepathy,
and because I’m noticing stuff like that more since making the movie.

M: Any idea what I’m thinking right now?
FJ: [smiles] I’m sure I don’t have the slightest idea.

M: If you did have that power, what would you do?
FJ: I’d tune in to a few Hollywood casting agents just to see how much they’re bullshitting me.

M: And what would your personal kryptonite be?
FJ: My sweet tooth. Oh, my God, licorice is my favorite thing in the whole world. I can eat tons of it. And after that comes chocolate, and then cookies. I could live off those.

M: Who do you think would win in a showdown between Jean Grey, Storm, and Mystique?
FJ: My powers are pretty meaningless, at least on that level. I mean, Storm can move the heavens and Mystique can change into anybody. All I can do is move a few things with telekinesis. I don’t think I’d have a chance.

M: And in real life? Between you, Halle, and Rebecca?
FJ: You’ve got to be kidding. Me. Just look at me. I’ve got a few inches on both of them.

M: You sound like you’ve been in a few catfights.
FJ: The worst one, or at least the most embarrassing one, was back in
school in Holland, when I got pissed off at this girl for doing something
and whacked her in the head with a hockey stick. I think I knocked her
out cold. If she’s reading this, I’d just like to say that I’m really, really sorry.

M: When you lived in Amsterdam, did you ever party in the infamous red-light
district?
FJ: Not really. It’s probably more interesting for a guy than a girl. It’s basically
just a bunch of fat women sitting in windows. I sort of took it for granted. Now,
after living here for a while, it seems like more of a bizarre concept.

M: In the movie you’re involved with two male X-Men, Cyclops and Wolverine, right?
FJ: Yes, there’s sort of a love triangle in the movie. Jean Grey isn’t overtly sexual, but there’s a sensuality there, which of course could have something to do with people climbing into black leather costumes and having “secret” lives.

M: So which one would be more heroic in the sack?
FJ: Well, Cyclops would have to keep his glasses on the whole time, and Wolverine would have to keep his claws retracted—otherwise it would be a pretty messy affair, I think. But, you know, some people might be into that.

M: Did any of that sexual energy spill over to the actors’ plush trailers between takes?
FJ: I think it’s a bad idea to act on those impulses, because when actors are sleeping together, it takes away from their chemistry on-screen. If two people are attracted to each other on a movie set, they should try to hold out until after it’s done.

M: What’s the worst date you’ve ever had?
FJ: I’ve never dated.

M: Say what?
FJ: No. I’ve always just had boyfriends. And I guess I’m pretty lucky because, from what I understand, dating sucks. Although it seems like it’s pretty good for stories. Sometimes I think people date just so they can have a good story to tell about the loser they went out with once.

M: You’re quite the romantic.
FJ: I think I’m very romantic.

M: A romantic superhero with a dark side?
FJ: Exactly. That’s me.