Chantal Janzen (; born 15 February 1979) is a Dutch actress, singer and TV presenter. She had parts in The Preacher, Full Moon Party and Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo and presented Idols.
She also played Belle in the Dutch musical production of Beauty and the Beast (noted for being the first Belle with blonde hair) and Jane in Tarzan. From late 2011 to mid 2012, she starred as Glinda in the musical Wicked. She also sang a song against cancer, called "Vecht Mee" (English: Fight With Us) with Dutch rapper Yes-R. Internationally, she's best known for co-hosting Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light and the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.
Life and career
Janzen was born in Tegelen. She studied at the Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, and was taught in classical, modern, jazz and tapdance, acting, singing and musical repertoire. She played in several musicals, including Crazy For You, Kunt u mij de weg naar Hamelen vertellen, mijnheer?, Saturday Night Fever, 42nd Street, Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan and the production of .
She played several guest roles in TV shows like Baantjer, Intensive Care, De Band, Meiden van De Wit and Kinderen Geen Bezwaar. She also hosted Staatsloterij Live and the Dutch version of Idols. Janzen played several parts in movies: De Dominee, Feestje, Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo, Volle Maan, Alles is Liefde, Kicks and the made-for-TV film Loverboy. In December 2002 her single "Achter De Sterren", the title song from the movie Science Fiction was released.
Janzen won the in 2002 for Upcoming Talent for her lead in Saturday Night Fever. She also won a musical award in 2005 for Best actress in a supporting role for the musical Crazy For You. She got nominated for Best female lead in 2006 as Belle in Beauty and the Beast and in 2007 she got nominated for the same prize for her role as Jane in the musical Tarzan. Because of her pregnancy she had to temporarily leave her part in the musical Tarzan from September 2008 through April 2009. She was replaced by Bente van den Brand. After Tarzan she played a part in the Disney Musical Sing-Along. In 2010 Janzen can be seen in the musical Petticoat. It's an original Dutch musical, written especially for her. After her role in Petticoat she played the role of Glinda in the Dutch rendition of the Broadway musical Wicked.
In 2011, Janzen ended her contract with the Dutch TV channel AVRO and signed a contract with RTL. According to her, hosting the award shows she had been hosting at the AVRO for the fourth year in a row, would make her performance look cheap. She was enthused by the idea of experiencing other things. In 2012, Janzen had roles in the series Divorce and Goede tijden, slechte tijden. In 2013, Janzen along with co-host Gordon Heuckeroth both received widespread criticism for a viral video in which they are seen repeatedly making racist jokes about a Chinese Holland's Got Talent contestant.YouTube: Xiao Wang verrast jury en publiek – HOLLAND'S GOT TALENT‘Which number are you singing, No. 39 with rice?’ Holland’s Got Talent judge cracks racist jokes at Chinese performerShockingly Racist Got Talent Judge Makes Howard Stern Look Tame The Racist Talent Show Judge Who Makes Simon Cowell Look Good In 2019, Janzen returned in another small role in Goede tijden, slechte tijden.
Since she made the switch to RTL Nederland, she has presented various television programs including De Jongens tegen de Meisjes, Everybody Dance Now, It Takes 2, Time To Dance and The Voice of Holland. She also presents the Dutch versions of Dance Dance Dance, All Together Now and Dancing with the Stars. Over the years, Janzen was also seen as a jury member in the television shows Your Face Sounds Familliar, Holland's Got Talent and The Talent Project. In 2015 and 2016, Janzen could also be seen as a presenter in Germany at The Voice Kids and as jury member at Superkids.
In 2019, Janzen was one of the members of the "Wall of the World" in the American television show The World's Best. On 4 December 2019, she was announced as one of the three presenters of the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam alongside Edsilia Rombley and Jan Smit; the contest itself would be cancelled in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and was replaced with Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light (which was presented jointly by Janzen, Rombley, and Smit), which was held on 16 May 2020. She went on to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2021. In November 2020, Janzen was announced as the host of the game show Beat the Champions.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRole2002Volle maanAndrea2003LoverboyClaudiaPista!Heidi2004Fighting FishJenniferFeestje!TalitaDe DomineeAnnet2005Deuce Bigalow: European GigoloScandinavian pornstar2007KicksDeniseShrek the ThirdSnow White (Dutch version)Alles is LiefdeSarahEnchantedProvided the voice of Princess Giselle (Amy Adams) in the Dutch version2009De Hel van '63Dieuwke Ferwerda2010Nanny McPhee and the Big BangProvided the voice of Isabel Green (Maggie Gyllenhaal) in the Dutch versionHet geheimLaura Stikker2013SoofBob2014Gift from the HeartJulia2017Het verlangenBrigitte Hooijmakers2024WickedProvided the voice of a Wiz-O-Mania Superstar (Kristin Chenoweth) in the Dutch version
Television As an actress YearTitleRole2002ICEsther Goud2003BaantjerJulia Hendrikx2003De BandInge2005Meiden van De WitWendy2005De Lama'sHerself2005SamenIris Bestevaer2006Kinderen geen bezwaarHerself2007Katja vs De Rest2010–2019De TV Kantinevarious roles including Helga Geerhart, Barbie, Melania Trump, Mariska Bauer2012Goede tijden, slechte tijdenGlinda2012–2016DivorceSophie Schaeffer-Bax2019Kees & CoCoosje2019Goede tijden, slechte tijdenAnnelies de Heer2023 – presentEén grote familieJulia Smeets As a presenter / jury member YearTitleNote2003D'r op of d'r onderjury member2005–2006Idols 3presenter together with Martijn Krabbé2005–2006Staatsloterij Livepresenter together with Carlo Boszhard2006Staatsloterij €100,000 Showpresenter together with Carlo Boszhard2006–2007Ranking the Starspanel [email protected]–2010Uitmarkt Musical Sing-Alongpresenter together with Frits Sissing2008–2009 Het Pink Ribbon Gala presenter2008 Joseph Backstage presenter together with 2008–2010Gouden Televizier-Ring Galapresenter2008Chalet Chantal2009Zóóó 30presenter together with Ruben Nicolai2008–2009Het hofvijverconcertpresenter2009Wie is mijn ex?2009RTL Boulevard2009Uitreiking Gouden Loekie2009Mies 80!2009–2010Weten zij veel!?2010Op zoek naar Freek… met Chantal2010Backstage bij Petticoatdocumentary2011–2017De Jongens tegen de Meisjespresenter together with Tijl Beckand2011Zie Ze Vliegenpresenter together with Carlo Boszhard, Irene Moors en Gordon2011Sunday Night Feverpresenter2012Beat the Bestpresenter together with Gordon2012Your Face Sounds Familliarjury member2013–2015Everybody Dance Nowpresenter2013–presentHolland's Got Talentjury member2014Het beste van Holland's Got Talentpresenter2014Beatrix, Met Hart en Ziel2014Billy Elliot: Van Auditie Tot Applaus2014–2017Chantal blijft slapen2014–2016The Voice Kidspresenter together with Thore Schölermann2015Carlo's TV Cafépresenter together with Carlo Boszhard2015–2018Dance Dance Dance (Dutch version)presenter together with Jandino Asporaat (season 1–3), and with Humberto Tan (season 4)2015Superkidsjury member2015–2016Het Collectief Geheugenpresenter2016It Takes 2presenter together with Gordon2017Janzen & Van Dijkpresenter together with Wendy van Dijk2017&Chantalpresenter2017–2020Chantal komt werken2018Doe het lekker zelf2018Time To Dancepresenter together with Jamai2018The Talent Projectjury member2019The World's Best2019–2020All Together Now (Dutch version)presenter together with Jamai Loman2019Chantals Pyjama Partypresenter2019Dancing with the Stars (Dutch version)presenter together with Tijl Beckand2019–presentThe Voice of Hollandpresenter together with Martijn Krabbé (from 2026 with Edson da Graça)2020De Chantal & Beau show: tussen de schuifdeurenpresenter together with Beau van Erven Dorens2020Eurovision: Europe Shine a Lightpresenter together with Edsilia Rombley and Jan Smit2020–presentOh, wat een jaar!presenter2021–2024Beat the Champions2021Eurovision Song Contest 2021presenter together with Edsilia Rombley, Jan Smit and Nikkie de Jager2022Blow Uppresenter together with Martijn Krabbé2024De Pianopresenter2026Kopen Zonder Kijkenpresenter
Musicals Musical Year Musical Role Notes 2000–2001 42nd Street Lorraine Fleming / Understudy Peggy Sawyer 2001–2003 Saturday Night Fever Stephanie Mangano John Kraaijkamp Musical Award 2002 for new talent 2003–2004 Kunt u mij de weg naar Hamelen vertellen, mijnheer? Lidwientje Walg 2004–2005 Crazy For You Patsy / 1st understudy Polly Baker Musical Award for best supporting actress 2005–2007 Beauty and the Beast Belle 2007–2009 Tarzan Jane 2010–2011 Petticoat! Patricia "Pattie" Jagersma 2011–2012 Wicked Glinda 2012–2015 Hij Gelooft in Mij Rachel Hazes
Personal life Janzen is in a relationship with Marco Geeratz. She gave birth to their first son, James, on 23 January 2009. On 15 December 2014, they were married in London. Geeratz has three children from a prior relationship. On 30 March 2018, the couple had their second son, Bobby.
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