Punahou graduate Carrie Ann
Inaba had the time of her life in
the cast of the newest "Austin Powers"

NEW LINE CINEMA Carrie Ann Inaba has showcased dance, martial arts, singing, editing and directing skills throughout her varied career.

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By Jason Genegabus
jason@starbulletin.com

AFTER more than a decade in the entertainment industry, Carrie Ann Inaba understands the importance of being happy with her work. When the former Hawaii resident learned of a chance to play one of the Fook twins in "Austin Powers in Goldmember," she jumped at the opportunity.

"It was a dream. ... I've never had that much fun in my life," said Inaba from her home in Southern California last week. "I had taken time off to go back to school and do some documentaries and learn about directing and do choreography. Diane actually got the role first."

Diane Mizota, who plays Inaba's twin sister Fook Mi in "Goldmember," had learned the directors needed someone to play Fook Yu. "They couldn't find the right girl, so they asked her if she knew somebody who looked like her," Inaba said. "Diane called and told me there was a little bit of martial arts involved, and I said I'd do it in a heartbeat."

That phone call led to Inaba's second appearance in the Austin Powers series of films; she also played a Felicity Dancer in "Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me." The two roles are the latest in a respectable list of accomplishments since Inaba graduated from Punahou and moved out of her family's Niu Valley home.

Following a brief recording career in Japan, Inaba made her way into America's living rooms on a weekly basis in 1989 as a Fly Girl on the television show "In Living Color." For three seasons she was able to fulfill the dream of performing on television for a living.

"That was one of the best jobs that I could ever have," Inaba said. "A variety show, first of all, is really fun. You're surrounded by amazing comedians and you'll never know what is going to happen every week. But what I think I liked the most was hanging out with the Fly Girls. I found myself really getting along with (them) and I felt like it was the first time I belonged somewhere."

Inaba's role as the only Asian American among the show's dancers was relatively new for television at the time, making her a role model of sorts for those watching at home. "I like the fact that we were all from different races," Inaba said. "We all had different cultural backgrounds; it made for a really interesting group. That was a great time in my life."

WHEN Inaba left "In Living Color" in 1992, she continued to dance professionally, although it "was kind of hard" moving on from such a successful program. She returned to the stress of auditioning while taking classes in Southern California and managing her instructor's business affairs while he was out of town. Inaba was also responsible for sending out examples of her instructor's choreography, which often featured her as one of the dancers.

After sending a copy of the tape to Madonna's management for 1993's "The Girlie Show" tour, Inaba got a phone call with bittersweet news. The Material Girl didn't want her instructor as a choreographer for the tour, but she did want Inaba as a dancer. "It was a really hard choice ... but I turned her down," Inaba said, explaining that dropping everything and flying to New York for rehearsals "felt like it wasn't the right thing to do" while acting on behalf of her teacher.

NEW LINE CINEMA Inaba, left, and Diane Mizota are the Fook twins -- Yu and Mi -- in "Austin Powers in Goldmember." Mike Myers plays Powers.

A week later, she got a rare second chance when Madonna's management flew to California for another round of auditions. Inaba was hired for "The Girlie Show" and is credited with choreographing one of the show's most erotic pole performances.

The tour required her to shave her head and perform topless, two things Inaba had never thought of doing before joining Madonna on stage.

"How many times do you get to say you shaved your head bald and came down a 50-foot pole in public?" asked Inaba with a laugh.

"Madonna's whole idea was for everybody to be androgynous, and I thought that was a really wonderful idea. I didn't really have an issue with being topless; I thought it was kind of interesting.

"I'm actually very conservative. That was another reason why I wanted to do it -- if you're going to do something, you should go for it."

When Inaba left "The Girlie Show," she began to discover her love for being not only in front of the camera, but behind the scenes, as well. She landed roles in movies such as 1995's "Showgirls" and "Monster Mash: The Movie," but was also busy working as a choreographer in both Hollywood and Japan. She also returned to dancing as part of Ricky Martin's 1999 World Tour.

COURTESY CARRIE ANN INABA Carrie Ann Inaba, left, and Diane Mizota were together but out of costume at the premiere of "Austin Powers in Goldmember" in Universal City, Calif., on July 22.

OBSERVING the success of Hawaii-born entertainers like Kelly Hu, Tia Carrere and Jason Scott Lee, Inaba is still trying to figure out if she really wants the attention that comes with being a celebrity -- a very difficult decision, she insists.

"I've been trying to find the balance between being behind the scenes and being in front of the camera," Inaba said. "I'm an entertainer. ... That's just my nature, (but) I don't know about being a celebrity.

"I'm more interested in directing for television, short films, commercials or music videos, that kind of thing. I'm definitely driven by music; growing up in Hawaii and doing hula, and learning that music is a way to tell a story kind of put me in a different kind of mindset from the beginning."

The past few years have seen Inaba continue to develop as a choreographer. She has worked on Fox television line-up promos and the show "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire," along with choreographing the last three years of the Miss America Pageant. Inaba also completed an independent digital short film, "Black Water." Scheduled for release around December, "Black Water" will mark Inaba's return to music with her appearance on the film's soundtrack.

"I did find recently that I missed performing," Inaba said. "Now that I edit and direct, I'm behind a computer screen much more than I ever intended. I was missing touching people and making a difference in people's lives.

"I like showing people that not everything is as you think it is, so don't be so quick to judge. I like breaking down those boundaries," she said.

Inaba also plans to return to the islands a few times over the six months or so. Following a May engagement to actor John La Russo, Inaba is planning a small ceremony on a beach here sometime next year.

At this point in her life, Inaba still has a number of career options available. While saying she'd "love to come back to Hawaii," Inaba is busy trying to get her digital video production company off the ground so that "in five years when I have kids, I'll have something where I don't have to go out and be in front of a camera all the time."

And don't count out seeing the former Fly Girl onscreen again either. "I think that in life you're supposed to utilize what you've been given," Inaba said. "I do think that you should get out there and use (your talent) to the fullest."

Who knows, maybe there's a Fook Twins spinoff movie in the works somewhere.

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