Famous Dutch Actresses

Famke Janssen is a Dutch actress best known for playing important roles in popular Hollywood films like the X-Men film series and the Taken film trilogy. A former fashion model, Janssen achieved international recognition when she played Bond girl Xenia Onatopp in GoldenEye. Over the course of her acting career, Famke Janssen has recieved several awards, including the Saturn Award.

Sylvia Hoeks was 14 when she started modeling. She later switched to acting and soared to fame after winning the Golden Calf for the Dutch film Duska. The star of films such as The Girl in the Spider's Web, she put on over 10 pounds of muscle for Blade Runner 2049.

Dutch supermodel and actor Doutzen Kroes has been a Victoria's Secret Angel and the face of L'Oréal Paris. Known as the Helen of Troy of advertising, she has also been dragged into controversies for promoting an unscientific liver cleanse diet and for her comments against the COVID-19 vaccine on Instagram.

Best known for her title role in the Emmanuelle series of soft-core erotica, Dutch actor Sylvia Kristel ran away from her strict Calvinist home in Utrecht to Amsterdam, where she took up odd jobs. She began modeling at 17 and won a couple of beauty pageants, before stepping into films full-time.

Katja Herbers is a Dutch actress best known for playing Dr. Helen Prins in the television series Manhattan. She also has a successful theatre career and is among the few Dutch actresses to have made it big in Hollywood. Over the years, Herbers has become a household name in the USA by appearing in TV series like Westworld and Evil.

Apart from winning a Leopard Award at Locarno, Dutch actor Lotte Verbeek has also been nominated for a Golden Calf. Known for her love for strong female roles, she has also been trained as a circus performer. Her best-known role have come in Giulia Farnese in The Borgias.

Tara Elders is a Dutch actress who achieved popularity in 2007 when she played Maggie in the American remake of filmmaker Theo van Gogh's 2003 drama film Interview. The 2007 film starred Sienna Miller and Steve Buscemi in lead roles. Tara Elders has also appeared in several popular TV series like Najib en Julia, TV7, and Medea.

A Bohemian style icon of the late 1960s, Dutch actor-model Talitha Getty was also the wife of oil magnate John Paul Getty Jr., who was one of the richest men of his time. She spent her childhood in a WWII Japanese prison camp and later studied acting at RADA in London.

Dutch-born Stefanie Joosten initially studied Japanese language and culture at Leiden. Her interest later took her to Japan, where she began modeling. She voiced the character Quiet in a Metal Gear game in both its English and Japanese versions. She has also appeared in TV series, short films, and feature films.

Gaite Jansen is a Dutch actress who has achieved critical acclaim for many of her roles in films and TV series like 170 Hz and In therapie. When she was just 12 years old, Gaite was awarded the Best Actress Award at the 48 Hour Film Project in Amsterdam for her role in Luwte.

Hannah Hoekstra is a Dutch actress known for her portrayal of the title role in the 2012 film Hemel, for which she won the Golden Calf. A critically acclaimed actress, Hoekstra won another Golden Calf in 2016 for playing Tiny in a film titled De Helleveeg. A recipient of the Theo d'Or, Hoekstra is also renowned for her theatre work.

Thekla Reuten is a Dutch actress best known for playing important roles in popular Dutch film and theatre productions. She achieved popularity in 2004 when she was honored at the Berlin Film Festival with the Shooting Star Award for her performance in the film Twin Sisters where she played Jonge Lotte. Since then, she has been appearing in noteworthy films.

Indonesian-born Laura Gemser moved to the Netherlands with her parents at age 4. After beginning her career as a nude model for men’s magazines, she later soared to fame with her appearances in the Black Emanuelle sexploitation films. She also created headlines for her romance and then for her marriage to co-star Gabriele Tinti.

Anouchka Delon is a French-Dutch actress. The daughter of famous French actor and filmmaker Alain Delon, Anouchka made her acting debut at the age of 12, playing Patricia Bullitt in a TV film titled Le Lion, which also had Alain playing an important role. In 2011, she worked alongside her father again for a play at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens.

After graduating with a communication degree, Touriya Haoud won a modeling contest and landed campaigns with brands such as Tommy Hilfiger. She later gained fame with a lead role in the series Heartbeat and appeared in movies such as Five Fingers. She was also previously married to actor Greg Vaughan.

Stefania Liberakakis is a Greek-Dutch singer, YouTuber, and voice actress. She is best known for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021 where she represented Greece with the song Last Dance; Stefania finished tenth in the contest. Stefania Liberakakis has also voiced important characters in the Dutch version of films like Dolittle and Wonder Park.

Dutch actress, writer and film-director Halina Reijn started acting while she was still a student, playing lead roles in plays like Shopping and Fucking. In the ensuing years, she bolstered her acting career with plays like Mourning Becomes Electra and films like A Thousand Kisses and Black Book. She made her debut as a film director with the Dutch drama titled Instinct.   

Starting her modelling career at just 14, the Netherlands-born Turkish model and actress Melisa Asli Pamuk won the titles of "Best Promising" in Best Model of Turkey 2009 and the Miss Turkey 2011. She also made her mark in acting, playing lead roles in films like Dat zit wel snor, and television series like Kara Sevda and Çarpışma.

The career of Dutch actress, singer and television-presenter Chantal Janzen skyrocketed after she   performed in the musical 42nd Street. Her oeuvre includes films like The Preacher and Full Moon Party and the Dutch musical production of Beauty and the Beast; and presenting Idols. She gained international recognition co-hosting Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light and the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.

Dutch actress Jelka van Houten gained attention playing Esther Valkhof, an obsessed killer, in her debut film, Liefje, while still studying at the Film and Television Academy. She has acted in several films, musicals, and TV series, including the musicals Turks fruit and Dromen... zijn bedrog, both of which won her the John Kraaijkamp Musical Award.

Marjolein Beumer is a Dutch actress best known for playing important roles in popular TV series like Flikken Maastricht. She is also known as the sister of famous Hollywood actress Famke Janssen and film director of The Happy Housewife fame Antoinette Beumer.

Sand Van Roy is a Dutch actress, activist, model, and stand-up comedienne. Over the years, Sand Van Roy has been vocal about the plight of victims of sexual violence. In 2020, she became Stichting Cassandra foundation's ambassador. The organization supports victims of psychological and sexual violence.

Celinde Schoenmaker is a Dutch film and theatre actress and singer. Apart from playing important roles in theatre productions like Les Misérables, Schoenmaker has also appeared in popular movies like Rocketman. In 2016, Celinde Schoenmaker surprised people at Covent Garden where she busked alongside a local street performer named Steven Barry.

Dutch actress Maruschka Detmers began her career in films after the teenage beauty moved to France and caught the attention of the noted French-Swiss film director Jean-Luc Godard leading to her film debut in Prénom Carmen under Godard's direction. Since then Maruschka has appeared in many other notable films like Devil in the Flesh, Hanna's War and The Mambo Kings.

Angela Visser is a Dutch actress, beauty queen, and model who won the the Miss Universe pageant in 1989. After her reign, Angela Visser returned to the pageant as a color commentator. She then went on to appear in many popular TV series like Beverly Hills, 90210, Baywatch, and Friends.

Emily Bolton is a Dutch actress best known for playing James Bond's Brazilian contact Manuela in the 1979 film Moonraker. Over the years, Emily Bolton has also established herself as a popular TV actress, playing important roles in TV series like Space: 1999, Tenko, and Capital City.

Azra Akin is a Turkish-Dutch model, actress, dancer, and beauty queen. In December 2002, Akin was crowned Miss World in London, which gained her international recognition. Her popularity increased in 2010 when she won Yok Boyle Dans, the Turkish equivalent of Dancing with the Stars. Akin has also appeared as a judge in several editions of the Miss World pageant.

Willemijn Verkaik is a Dutch actress and singer best known for her work as a theatre actress in musicals like Elisabeth and Wicked. Having played the role of Elphaba over 2,000 times in Wicked, Verkaik holds the distiction of being the longest running Elphaba. Willemijn Verkaik is also the only person to have played Elphaba in three languages. 

Anna Drijver was six when she began her classical ballet lessons and was already modeling by 14. Known for films such as Bride Fight and series such as Heirs of the Night and Undercover, she is also a podcast maker and a novelist. She also supports the UNHCR and works for displaced people.

Wendy van Dijk is a Dutch actress, television presenter, and comedian. She is best known for playing a hapless Japanese journalist named Ushi Hirosaki, a character which has appeared in a television series as well as a theatrical film. Thanks to Wendy Van Dijk's portrayal of the character, Ushi has become a popular name and helped inspire similar TV characters.

Ophélie Winter is a French R&B and hip-hop singer, songwriter, actress, and model. Apart from her association with EastWest Records, through which she has released a number of hit songs, Ophélie Winter is also known for her dancing skills which she exhibited in the fifth season of Danse avec les Stars, the French version of Strictly Come Dancing, in 2014.

Monique van de Ven is a Dutch actress and film director. She achieved popularity for her debut performance in the Paul Verhoeven-directed erotic romantic drama film Turkish Delight, which launched her acting career with great verve. Monique van de Ven has not looked back since.

Renée Soutendijk is a Dutch actress and former gymnast. She gained recognition after appearing frequently in Paul Verhoeven's films and is best known for her portrayal of Christine Halsslag in Verhoeven's psychological horror film The Fourth Man. Renée Soutendijk had successfully established herself as a Dutch sex symbol during the 1980s, thanks to her striking blond hair and good looks.

Sallie Harmsen is a Dutch actress best known for her portrayal of Simone in the 2008 drama film In Real Life. She is also known for her contribution to Dutch theater; Sallie Harmsen has won the prestigious Guido de Moor Price for her performances in stage plays, Vrijdag, Tasso, and Polleke.

Initially a model, Daphne Deckers has hosted shows such as Big Brother and been part of movies like All Stars and Tomorrow Never Dies. She has also penned columns for newspapers and weeklies and published books, one of which was adapted into a hit film, Life as It Should Be.

Linda de Mol is a Dutch television presenter and actress who is active in Germany and the Netherlands. She is best known as the sister of John de Mol, the co-founder of Endemol, and had hosted a couple of early Endemol productions. Linda de Mol is also credited with founding a magazine called LINDA.

Micky Hoogendijk is a Dutch actress, model, professional photographer, and TV presenter. She is known for her performance in the film Blindspot for which she was honored at the 2008 New York International Independent Film & Video Festival where she received the Best Actress award. Hoogendijk is also a renowned photographer whose works have been displayed in several art shows.

Saskia Mulder is a Dutch TV and film actress. She is best known for playing important roles in films like The Descent and its sequel. She has also played recurring roles in TV series such as The Book Group and Evelien. Saskia Mulder is also known as the younger sister of singer and model Karen Mulder.

Yolanthe Cabau is a Spanish-Dutch model, actress, and television host. Renowned for her good looks, Cabau was named Sexiest Dutch Woman by FHM magazine in 2006, 2007, and 2009. Cabau is also known for her humanitarian efforts; she is credited with co-founding an organization named Stop Kindermisbruik, which aims at stopping child sexual abuse and preventing children from becoming prostitutes.

Sylvana Simons is a politician and former TV presenter. She is credited with founding a political party named BIJ1, which is widely regarded as an egalitarian anti-racist party. Since 2021, she has been serving as a member of the House of Representatives; Sylvana Simons is the first black leader to be elected to the House of Representatives in Dutch history.

Hanna Verboom is a Dutch actress, model, TV presenter, and painter. She achieved international recognition when she was cast to play Eva Voorsboch opposite Rob Schneider in the 2005 American sex comedy film Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo. Hanna Verboom has also had her paintings showcased in the Amsterdam gallery. 

Bregje Heinen is a Dutch actress and fashion model best known for her association with Victoria's Secret. Heinen has also modeled for popular brands like Prada, Guess, Versace, and Just Cavalli. She has also walked the runway for world-renowned designers like Alexander McQueen, Karl Lagerfeld, and Donna Karan. In 2019, she played Tatiana in the critically acclaimed film The Assistant.

Willeke Alberti is a Dutch actress and singer who was introduced to the world of showbiz by her father and singer Willy Alberti. Alberti represented the Netherlands at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. Over the years, Willeke Alberti has become a major gay icon in the Netherlands due to a combination of her durability and her song repertoire. 

Dutch documentary maker Sunny Bergman is best known for exploring controversial topics such as beauty standards, racism, and sexuality. Her works such as Sunny Side of Sex and Limited Tenability have challenged the mainstream ideals of life. She is also an activist, an author, and an actor.

Loes Haverkort is a Dutch actress who has appeared in several popular television shows, movies, and stage plays. She is also known for her singing skills; Loes Haverkort sang the title song of the film Rendez-vous where she also played the lead role.

Swedish-born Dutch actor Amanda Ooms is best known for her appearance in the Swedish TV show Stjärnorna på slottet. She was also seen in The Expendables 2 and has been part of countless Swedish shows and movies. An author, too, she has penned books such as Tåla mod.

Katja Schuurman is a Dutch actress, television personality, and singer. She is known for her performance in popular films like Interview and Black Out. Katja Schuurman is also credited with hosting prominent shows in TV networks like BNN, NET5, and KRO-NCRV.

Maan de Steenwinkel is a Dutch actress and singer. De Steenwinkel achieved popularity in 2015 when she won the sixth season of the famous reality TV competition, The Voice of Holland. Many of her songs like Blijven Slapen and Hij Is Van Mij have peaked at number one position on the Dutch Top 40.