Chantal Janzen

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. 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

Television As an actress As a presenter / jury member

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.