Gorgeous beauty Famke Janssen has no issues with aging.
At 48, the star of "Nip/Tuck" and the "X Men" franchise, plus a former Bond girl, isn't lamenting the passing of time.
"Age is one of those interesting things," says Janssen, a native of Amsterdam and former Chanel model. "I always say you're very lucky to age because it's better than the alternative."
Ask for her beauty secrets and the biggest one of all is to truly grasp what's happening to you as you age.
"Gravity will work against you," says the star of "Taken 2." "You can try to fight the process, but you're not going to win the battle."
Even though she did a great turn on the FX series "Nip/Tuck," she says that all that nipping and tucking isn't for her.
"I'd rather focus on writing and directing than trips to the dermatologist or to the hospital, which frankly terrifies me."
She's upfront about how she feels when it comes to other ladies who have gone under the knife.
"There is something about plastic surgery that doesn't make people look younger. It just makes them look stranger," she says with a laugh.
"I think you should make the process of aging look graceful," she says, adding, "I work in a tough industry known for being brutal to women who get older, but I have to say I'm busier than I have ever been in my life."
HER NEW ROLE IN "TAKEN 2"
Famke is back in the thriller "Taken 2," which picks up where the hit film "Taken" left off. She resumes her role of Leonre, ex wife of Liam Neeson, a retired CIA operative. In the last adventure, their daughter (Maggie Grace) was taken hostage.
Now, it's Famke who isn't safe.
"We're in Istanbul, which looks stunning on film. And we have more of a family dynamic involved between Liam, Maggie Grace as our daughter and myself. That adds a whole new level to the film," she says.
"It's not just about exploding cars," she says.
She says that although it's an action film, she didn't get too many scrapes and bruises.
"Somebody gets turned upside down. I have a bag over my head and I'm dragged around and thrown into a car," she says. "Doing action can be fun."
She gives high marks to working with handsome Liam Neeson.
"He's such a sweet guy and an incredibly gifted actor," she says. "He's also such a great man. He takes the time to really be there for you."
GOING HER OWN WAY IN MIDLIFE
Famke is also a director now. She directed this month's Bringing Up Bobby" starring Milla Jovovich, Bill Pullman and Marcia Cross. The film is based on a screenplay and story by Janssen.
She says it's never too late to live your dreams.
"I really wanted to direct for a long time," Janssen says. "In the beginning, I struggled so much as an actor, so I applied to film school at the AFI 15 years ago. Then the Bond movie came along that I did and I acted in a lot of films.
"I always knew that I'd go back to writing and directing at some point," she says. "Age doesn't matter. You can live your dreams at any moment."
Her movie has a unique twist.
"Milla plays a Ukrainian immigrant who imagines herself to be in a movie living out the American dream," she says.
"The message of the film is how many ideas of the United States are formed by media and movies," says Janssen who says that she "relied on my favorite films from the '70s to inform the movie."
"Milla's character imagines herself to be a modern day 'Bonnie and Clyde.' She wants a better life for her son and sees herself as the Robin Hood character. She grew up poor, so she sees herself having what she never had growing up.
"It's one of those movies where you really enjoy seeing things done illegally although you know it will end badly," she says with a laugh. "It's a time bomb situation told in a light hearted way."
FAMKE ON BEAUTY
She says that taking care of herself is easy.
"I'm on the stress diet right now. I don't have time to eat or sleep," she says. "I've been shooting a lot, but even when you're busy, it's important to drink water."
Her other diet secrets include a strict diet.
"I don't eat meat or dairy," she says. "These are not choices to look better. For other reasons, I don't eat animal products."
She does find the time to workout.
"For me, working out is more Pilates and dancing. I want to do things that make me feel better versus looking better. Doing what you love for fitness is very important at this age. Who wants to do something you hate?"
Beauty is an easy topic to bring up with her because she isn't that beautiful in her next big on-screen role.
She stars in "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters" due out next year.
She had to sit in the makeup chair for four hours a day getting prosthetic makeup put on her face.
"I look as hideous as I have ever looked on screen," she says, laughing. "I thought, 'Oh well, so much for trying to battle the whole aging process.'
"At night, I'd have to rip my prosthetic face off with strong alcohol. I felt that alcohol on my skin, looked in the mirror and said, 'Ok, now the aging battle is really lost!'"
