Struggles facing women focus of actress’ forum Advocacy Address highlights human trafficking
BY JAMES S. TYREE
Published: October 25, 2008
NORMAN — Actress Famke Janssen led an acting workshop Friday at the Oklahoma Memorial Union hours before she planned to discuss more serious topics, including human trafficking and women’s equality.
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Janssen, best known for the X-Men action trilogy and the James Bond movie "Goldeneye,” is in Oklahoma to commemorate United Nations Day.
The Dutch-born actress was named a United Nations goodwill ambassador in February.
She looked forward to joining Jill Irvine, director of the OU women’s studies program, and Zach Messitte, OU vice provost for international programs, in raising awareness on U.N. goals for improving the plight of women around the world.
"Zach and Jill are better equipped talking about the subjects, but I hope to bring in bigger crowds,” Janssen said after posing for pictures and signing autographs following the acting workshop.
Janssen, Irvine and Messitte discussed women’s issues, including human trafficking, Friday night during a dinner at the university.
They plan to have a similar discussion at noon today at the Faculty House restaurant, 601 NE 14 St. in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma ties
Though Janssen lives in New York, her boyfriend is from Oklahoma.
During this visit, Janssen said she will scout possible set locations for a movie she plans to direct sometime next year.
The movie’s working title is "Bringing Up Bobby,” but Janssen declined to reveal much about the film’s plot.
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Actress Famke Janssen stars in the upcoming film "Taken” opposite Liam Neeson, in which she plays the mother of a stolen child. By speaking out, she wants to help Oklahomans this weekend get a better grasp of human trafficking. "It’s a very big problem, and a very complicated problem,” she said. "I hope to raise human awareness on what to look for, whether it’s sex slavery, forced labor, sweat shops — any environment where a person is held against her will.”
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