While Sophie Turner is gearing up for her second turn as Jean Grey, Famke Janssen is a seasoned veteran of the role. Spanning from the the first 3 X-Men films to her cameo in The Wolverine, no one has logged more hours as one of the most powerful telepaths in the X-Men universe than Janssen.
While making a recent appearance at a panel during the Denver Comic Con, Janssen spoke about her experience playing Jean Grey. "That was so amazing. I never knew...I don’t think any of us had any understanding of how popular our first movie was going to be and that it was gonna live on for 15 plus years,” Janssen said. “And then I certainly didn’t realize...I mean I knew Jean Grey could turn into Dark Phoenix, obviously, and that Phoenix rises from the ashes, but the fact that as Jean Grey or the Phoenix they’ve killed me, I’ve come back, I’m like a cockroach. They can’t get rid of me.”
It's obvious Janssen has fond memories of playing the character, but she also confirmed that she doesn't have high hopes of ever reprising the role. “It’s the gift that keeps on, kept on giving. I think we’re done, but it was really great while it lasted and it lasted for a long time. It's been nothing but a pleasure working not just as Jean Grey, which was such an honor because comics were so fantastic already, but then the entire cast who I got to play with, all my fellow actors, thespians who are so talented. It was just a wonderful experience. I’m very grateful,” she explained.
Her days of playing Jean Grey may be over, but would she ever return to the character again if asked? "Jean Grey is a part of me. I would definitely come back to play her whenever they ask me," Janssen elaborated.
X-Men: Dark Phoenix will hit theater on November 2, 2018.