Austin Powers in Goldmember: Interview

Review by Clint Morris

Interview with Carrie Ann Inaba
Actor in Austin Powers in Goldmember.

If you've seen Austin Powers in Goldmember, you're no doubt still reeling in laughter over the antics of 'The Fook Twins' - Fook Mi and Fook Yu. Clint Morris caught up one half of the Austin Powers wild duo, dancer Carrie Ann Inaba for this exclusive interview.

Goldmember skates onto the big screen

Clint: How did you become involved with the film?

Carrie: Diane Mizota called me to be her "twin". I remember being surprised because I didn't know Diane very well.

However, we do have a mutual friend named Tina Horii who was actually in town at the time and helped us get ready for the audition. I wasn't actually pursuing acting at the time. I had just started a digital video production company, EnterMediArts, Inc., and was very busy trying to build the company.

Also, I had taken time before that to go back and get my B.A. from UCLA. So, acting wasn't my first priority. I was busy doing choreography and running my company. But, since I was in the last Austin Powers film, and knew that the Austin Powers "gang" (Mike Meyers, Jay Roach, John Lyons, Deena Appel, etc.), were top notch people, I was very interested.

After all, it could only be great fun! Right? So, I went in to play her twin for the audition. We dressed up, I choreographed a martial arts routine for us... (also something that hooked me), and we had a great time. We saw our audition tape and I laughed pretty hard. We were pretty silly. We did a cute martial arts routine that really brought our characters to life.

When we went in for the audition, I was nervous... Trying to pull off being twins when your not is good reason to be nervous but John Lyons and Jay Roach remembered me from the last Austin Powers and I felt comfortable again in their presence. But, I thank Diane for thinking of me... We had heard we looked alike but we really took it to a new level with this.

Clint: What did you think the first time you read the script and about your character/s?

Carrie: Actually, they didn't give us the complete script at first. We only had the pages to our three scenes (two of which will be on the DVD). But I fell in love with these girls right away. The characters are so cute. How can you not like them?

Sure the names are a play on Asian culture, but it's not done to be offensive in any way. It's a funny play on words. I'm glad I got to be "Fook Yu" as opposed to "Fook Mi"... It worked out great for both of us. In the audition they had us read both parts but I was more comfortable playing "Fook Yu".

I like that the girls are playful and fun... Sexy in a sweet and innocent way. We chose to play up the little innocent giggle and that really made it fun.

Clint: Tell me a bit about working with Mike Myers.

Oooh baby!

Carrie: He is brilliant. I love all his on camera personas and as a producer, I admire his strength and ability to be on both sides of the camera on a project. That is not easy. I just directed and produced a short film and people ask me if I am in it.

I can't even fathom, get my mind around the concept of having another responsibility of being in front of the camera while producing. I admire him greatly for that. Plus... He is a kind and considerate actor. He really gives 100 per cent, to keep the crew and cast happy and in good spirits. When he's off camera giving lines, he gives it 100 per cent. I know some actors who don't give anything when it's your close up, they just read the lines with no emotion. He made it fun - it was an honor.

Clint: Michael Caine mentioned that there's a heap of stuff that didn't make the finished cut. Can you think of any scenes you did - or that you know of - that were cut?

Carrie: Yes!!!! We did two more scenes. And for one of those scenes, Michael Caine asked us to teach him part of our little martial arts routine and we used it as a "greeting". He had seen our audition tape and apparently loved our martial arts "schtick" and wanted to incorporate it. What an honour!!

That was the first day on the set! I knew from that moment it was going to be great fun. (I'm a huge fan of his as well!). We also did a scene where we were innocently showing Mr. Powers our differences (being that we were twins) and Diane had a body double do a back bend for her and I broke a chair between my legs.

That was a really fun night as well. I was sad that it didn't make it to the final cut however, since so many other people were cut out of the movie completely, I have no complaints... None at all.

Clint: Did you get to meet any of the famous people doing cameo appearances?

Carrie: No. But one night Brittany Spears was shooting and Diane wanted to stay and meet her. I don't think it happened though.

Clint: What's the biggest break of both your careers?

Carrie: I'd say that my biggest break as a performer was In Living Color, being one of the original 'Fly Girls' was a great break because it gave me a lot of exposure doing something I loved. This, of course, was dancing. I learned a lot about American Television making ( I already knew about television in Japan - I was a performer there for a few years before heading back to the states).

My biggest break as a creative person seeking challenge was Madonna's Girlie show when I came down a 50 foot fire pole at the beginning of her tour and had the responsibility of opening up her show alone, topless, with a shaved head.

But this, Austin Powers in Goldmember is the biggest break because, somehow, it means more to people that you are an actor in a film than it does to be a dancer/choreographer. It's really fun.

Clint: Can you see more Austin Powers films happening?

Never a dull moment...

Carrie: I would love to see more Austin Powers films. I love that they are so colorful and so fun. I love the "catch phrases" that come about from it. I don't know how long I said "zip it" after the other one and people still say "One million dollars!!!!" (ala Dr. Evil).

It feels good on the inside to say some of his lines and I think the world can always use ways to make ourselves feel good. So I do hope there are more of these films. Humor is good for the soul.

Clint: Do you have a favorite scene from the new film?

Carrie: I love the "Mole" scene, when Basil introduces the mole to Austin. I have a 'beauty mark' (otherwise known as a mole) on my lip (Diane painted one on for the film so that we'd look more like twins), and that scene represents the fears that I have about my own mole and what it will look like in 30 years. I can relate to "the Mole". I am already singing "moley moley moley...."

I'm sure I'll be hearing that in 30 years.... My friends will be singing it to me. It's hilarious!

Clint: What's your next film/s?

Carrie: Well, my next film is a film that I co-produced, directed and wrote. It's called Black Water and I am actually in the editing process now. It's a digital short film, shot about a man in his mid-thirities whose life starts to unravel due to things left un-dealt with from his past.

It incorporates my love of water, the night, and the power of imagination. It was the most challenging thing I've ever done. I have wanted to direct for a while so I just dove into it. This film means a lot to me because as most film makers will tell you and I recently discovered, film making is a truly self revealing process and as the story unfolds on the media, you see yourself in so many little things that you learn more about yourself than you perhaps care to know.

Also, this film means a lot to me because a close friend of mine recently lost her life and she left me all her music. (She was a songwriter). She had a request that I sing her music. As my last respects to her, I am going to use one of her songs in the soundtrack of Black Water. That is also a whole other emotional journey.

On a lighter note, I don't have any other project for acting in a film just yet, but I hope that one day I'll get to do an action film... I love martial arts and the physicality of action films... It's just like dancing!

Clint: In your opinion, is this the funniest of the Austin Powers films?

Carrie: Yes! I have seen it three times -- and it keeps getting funnier and funnier!! I love Goldmember. I think he is so strange and funny. It takes a while to "get" him, but he's a great character in an odd way.

Mike Meyers as Austin and Dr. Evil are better than ever... And seeing Michael Caine with those teeth makes it all worth while!

And Ms. Knowles is a joy to watch! I loved her scene when she's 'undercover', talking with Austin Powers. I don't want to give it away for those who haven't seen it yet. See it and enjoy it! I did.

Austin Powers in Goldmember opens September

Brought to you by MovieHole