Before going to the United States, Famke Janssen studied economics for a year at the University of Amsterdam, which she later called "the stupidest idea I ever had." Famke Janssen moved to the U.S. in 1984 and began her professional career as a fashion model. She signed with Elite Model Management and worked for Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel and Victoria's Secret. While with the agency, her European measurements were listed as 92–61–92 and 36 dress size. Famke Janssen is noted for being taller than average at 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) and her looks have been compared to Hedy Lamarr and 1940s films stars. After retiring from modeling in the early 1990s, she enrolled at Columbia University to study creative writing and literature. She also took up acting. Several years later Famke Janssen moved to Los Angeles to establish her acting career.
