This is an interview with Janet Thornton who joined EMBL-EBI as Director in 2001. In this interview, Janet Thornton describes her interest in biomolecular data before coming to EBI an how she was invited to become Director of this institute. Furthermore, Janet Thornton gives an insight into her impressions when she started at the EBI as well as into the political and scientific strategies she developed for the institute. In addition, some information about the structure of EBI and about the ELIXIR-project can be found in this interview.