The Shocking Transformation: Carrie Ann Inaba’s Secret Dual Roles In Austin Powers That Defined Her Pre-DWTS Career
For millions of fans, Carrie Ann Inaba is synonymous with the stern, yet fair, judging panel of ABC's hit competition series, Dancing with the Stars (DWTS). Her critiques—often sharp and always rooted in deep technical knowledge—have defined the show for over two decades. However, a deep dive into her pre-DWTS career reveals a surprising, and often-forgotten, chapter in one of the most iconic comedy film franchises of the early 2000s: the Austin Powers universe.
As of the current date in late 2025, the discovery that the meticulous choreographer and television personality played not one, but two distinct roles in the Mike Myers-led spy parodies continues to shock and entertain fans. Her most memorable appearance, as the notoriously named "Fook Yu" in Austin Powers in Goldmember, stands as a hilarious and unforgettable moment in cinematic comedy, a stark contrast to her polished persona today.
Carrie Ann Inaba: A Comprehensive Biography and Career Profile
Carrie Ann Inaba's journey to becoming a household name is a testament to her versatility, beginning long before she became the face of a major dance competition. Her career spans multiple continents and disciplines, from pop music to film and television choreography.
- Full Name: Carrie Ann Inaba
- Born: January 5, 1968
- Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
- Ethnicity: Japanese, Chinese, and Irish descent
- Early Career (Japan): Inaba moved to Japan in the late 1980s and released three singles, establishing herself as a pop singer.
- Breakthrough Dance Role: She returned to the U.S. and became one of the original "Fly Girls" on the sketch comedy series In Living Color from 1990 to 1992, a role that launched her American career alongside future stars like Jennifer Lopez and Jamie Foxx.
- Major Choreography Work: Her choreography credits include films like American Virgin, and she choreographed for artists such as Madonna on her 1993 "Girlie Show World Tour."
- Film Appearances: Notable appearances include Showgirls (1995), Monster Mash (1995), and, most famously, two films in the Austin Powers franchise.
- Mainstream Fame: Since 2005, she has served as a permanent judge and choreographer on Dancing with the Stars (DWTS), a role that cemented her status as a global television personality.
The Forgotten Cameo: "Felicity's Dancer #1" in The Spy Who Shagged Me
Many fans are aware of the "Fook Yu" role, but few realize that Inaba's first dip into the world of Mike Myers’ comedy was a subtle, uncredited appearance years earlier. This initial role was a direct result of her extensive background as a professional dancer and choreographer.
In 1999, Inaba appeared briefly in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. Her official credit for the film is listed as "Felicity's Dancer #1."
This role was purely a background performance, showcasing her incredible dancing talent during one of the film's many elaborate musical or party sequences. At the time, she was primarily known in the industry as a choreographer and a former "Fly Girl," making her a perfect fit for a high-energy dance sequence in a major studio comedy.
The role, though minimal, highlights the transitional phase of her career, where she was moving from being a dancer in music videos and on tour (like with Madonna) to taking on small acting roles before her career shifted heavily toward choreography and television judging.
This early connection with the production team likely paved the way for her much larger, and far more memorable, role in the subsequent installment of the franchise three years later.
The Iconic Role: Carrie Ann Inaba as the Unforgettable Fook Yu
Carrie Ann Inaba’s most visible and widely recognized film role came in 2002 with Austin Powers in Goldmember. In this final installment of the original trilogy, she co-starred as "Fook Yu," one half of the infamous "Japanese Fook Twins."
The character, a "feisty" Japanese schoolgirl, was paired with the equally notorious "Fook Mi," played by actress Diane Mizota. The entire comedic premise of the twins revolved around the deliberately suggestive and culturally insensitive nature of their names, a classic example of the franchise's reliance on juvenile, double-entendre humor.
The Dynamic Duo: Fook Yu and Fook Mi
The "Fook Twins" are introduced as agents working for the villain, Goldmember. Inaba’s character, Fook Yu, is virtually identical in appearance to Mizota’s Fook Mi, with both actresses sporting matching pigtails, schoolgirl outfits, and an exaggerated Harajuku-style aesthetic.
The casting choice was particularly clever, as Inaba and Mizota are not actually related, but were made up to appear as identical twins for the sake of the gag. Their scenes with Mike Myers, particularly the moments where their names are repeatedly misunderstood and mispronounced, are some of the most quoted and controversial moments from the film.
The Contrast with Her DWTS Persona
The role of Fook Yu stands in stark opposition to the professional, elegant image Inaba cultivated as a judge on Dancing with the Stars, which began just three years after the release of Goldmember. On DWTS, she is known for her insightful, technical commentary and her signature "Inaba-isms."
The transition from playing a character in a highly raunchy, over-the-top comedy to becoming a pillar of a mainstream, family-friendly competition show is a fascinating chapter in her career. It demonstrates her range as a performer—from the dramatic, masked world of comedy acting to the raw, unscripted environment of live television.
For many fans who grew up watching the Austin Powers films, the realization that the judge who dictates the fate of celebrity dancers is the same actress who played "Fook Yu" remains a delightful and often-shared piece of Hollywood trivia. It serves as a powerful reminder that even the most established television personalities have a rich, surprising, and often hilarious history in the entertainment industry.
From Fly Girl to Fook Yu to DWTS: The Unparalleled Versatility
Inaba's career trajectory is a unique blueprint for versatility in Hollywood. Her involvement in the Austin Powers franchise is a crucial link between her early years as a professional dancer and her later success as a television personality. It connects her time as a "Fly Girl" on In Living Color—a show that specialized in sketch comedy and launched major careers—to her long-running, stable position on Dancing with the Stars.
The experience of playing Fook Yu, a character requiring bold, physical comedy, no doubt contributed to her on-screen confidence. While her work as a choreographer and judge has solidified her legacy, her memorable, if brief, roles in the Austin Powers films ensure she remains a part of pop culture history in a way that continues to surprise and entertain new generations of fans who stumble upon the connection.
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