Famke Janssen is intent on defying the odds against film actresses. "It's a tricky business, and there are not that many great parts for anyone, and as you've always heard, especially not for women as they get older. But I'm finding I get to do more interesting work as I get older, knock on wood," says the Dutch beauty of "Nip/Tuck" and "X-Men" movie fame.

Famke has a unique role — a femme pool hustler trying to win the big one so she can get her son away from her increasingly troubled ex-husband — in "Turn the River," which opens in limited release May 9. She won critical raves and took acting honors at the Hamptons Film Festival for her intense, multi-layered performance — a particular surprise since that festival doesn't normally bestow acting awards. Famke also has several other films coming up, including the drama "Kiddie Ride" with James Gandolfini and the kidnap thriller "Taken" with Liam Neeson — and a soon-to-begin filming suspense film called "Chameleon." "It's based on a true story, and I play an FBI agent who works with missing children. She believes that there is a child that has taken on the identity of a missing child."

She says of her wealth of parts just now, "I feel it's a little my doing, and a little luck and other elements out of my control as well. I came into this business as an ex-model with that stigma, and then I did a Bond movie, which brought a whole other stigma," adds the 42-year-old Janssen, remembered as "GoldenEye's" Xenia Onatopp, who killed men between her mighty thighs.

"After that, knowing I had to overcome these obstacles, I decided to take small parts in ensemble movies where I could learn to play different kinds of characters and concentrate on my acting — and, hopefully, create my career longevity because of it."

THE VIDEOLAND VIEW: "The show kind of destroyed our relationship a little," admits Kenny Hotz about shooting the Comedy Central series "Kenny vs. Spenny" with longtime best friend Spencer Rice.

Each episode consists of the guys facing each other in various competitions wherein the loser has to perform an embarrassing task. To hear Hotz tell it, "Spencer has a hard time differentiating the show from reality. Like, I make mother jokes just to bug him. The thing is, I play a much more hammed up version of myself, whereas Spenny is really Spenny. His motivation to play by the rules and be the good guy is the persona that he wants to show our audience. Mine is just to have fun and to destroy him for all of my fans," adds Hotz with a laugh.

Both guys and even the members of their crew have become very competitive during filming. "Our crews have become like two Olympic teams," he informs. "We both want to win. However, I don't do this to win the competitions. I do this to not have to do the humiliations. I don't want to eat my toenails in public. Spenny wants to win the competitions."

Despite any strains on the relationship, Hotz says he does believe their bond will overcome the show's competitive spirit. "We'll always be friends. We're not even friends. We're like brothers."

FROM THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT: Linus Roache, the British actor who plays the latest executive assistant D.A. on "Law & Order," finds his recognition has soared since his debut on the show — but he's frankly amazed he's recognized at all, "considering how much choice people have in TV viewing today."

Actually, the 44-year-old Roache started racking up screen credits when he was an early teen — and turned his back on acting at age 30 as part of "a spiritual yearning for an understanding in life." He ventured to India to take part in a retreat given by Andrew Cohen, the founder of the spiritual organization Evolutionary Enlightenment. Roache continues to follow Cohen's teachings. And though Roache resumed his theatrical career after two years, he returned to India frequently over the years — most recently for the filming of the movies "The Thread" and Merchant Ivory's "Before the Rains." He has no idea if the former will ever see a theatrical release. The latter — in which he plays a British colonialist whose affair with a local Indian servant brands her as an outcast — gets a klieg light opening at the Tribeca Film Festival next month.

LONG AND SHORT OF IT: John Schneider admits that his least favorite part about making the Hallmark Channel's May 25 "Shark Swarm" fright film was "being on a boat a lot. I'm not especially cut out for that." However, one of his favorite aspects of making the movie was working with Daryl Hannah. "She's delightful and beautiful — and tall. That was such a nice change of pace for me because I've spent my career bending down." The handsome former "Dukes of Hazzard" and "Smallville" actor is 6'4".

With reports by Stephanie DuBois and Emily Feimster.

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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