Mike Myers, voice of Shrek, made a cameo at the AFI lifetime achievement award gala on Saturday night (Picture: Reuters)
Canadian actor Mike Myers made a special public appearance where he looked dramatically transformed.
The Hollywood icon is best known for his role in the satirical Austin Powers movies as the enigmatic Dr Evil from 1997 to 2002.
In recent years the comic actor’s screentime has totally dried up, with his last major credit for 2022’s comedy-thriller Amsterdam. On Netflix that year he also starred as eight different characters in his comedy series The Pentaverate.
Aloof from social media and distanced from the press, eager-eyed fans were quick to notice Myers on the red carpet at the 49th American Film Institute’s lifetime achievement award gala on Saturday night presented to Hollywood legend Nicole Kidman.
Myers, 60, who most fans are used to seeing with his iconic bald look or shaggy head of brown hair, rocked up with a cropped grey haircut and stubble while wearing a simple black and white tuxedo.
After making his first appearance in over a year, the Shrek star had fun with his elusive persona by stepping onto the stage in a gold and white mask and black hooded cape before dramatically unveiling himself to the audience.
The Austin Powers legend made the audience double-take (Picture: Getty Images)
Myers appeared on stage in a mysterious mask and gown (Picture: Getty)
The cropped grey hair is a dramatic departure from his previous looks (Picture: Invision)
It was Myers’ first appearance in a year (Picture: Getty Images)
Although the father-of-three has undeniably changed his signature look since he last showed up in front of the cameras, he’s still just as obsessed with his former characters as the rest of the world.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight on the night he hinted at the long-running rumours of a fourth Austin Powers movie.
Although he could not ‘confirm or deny’ the project, he told Entertainment Tonight that there was ‘absolutely’ more story to tell.; a sentiment he has echoed before.
It comes just a year after Myers said that he was prepared to do a Shrek movie, in which he plays the eponymous ogre, frequently.
Myers as Dr. Evil doing his iconic finger-to-lip (Picture: Entertainment Films)
The Wayne’s World star recreating the Dr Evil move in 2014 (Picture: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
‘I loved playing Shrek, if I had to do one Shrek a year I would be thrilled,’ he joked at the time.
Myers has stepped in and out of the spotlight throughout his career. In 2014, the Wayne’s World actor made a mini comeback in which he addressed his long absences.
‘Every time I make a movie, it’s usually three or four years between. I write most of what I do and create most of what I do,’ he told GQ.
Elsewhere in the interview, he spoke about his interesting relationship with fame, saying: ‘Mostly the exposure that comes with fame is like putting your penis on the table and having everybody saying “that looks like a penis, only smaller’.”
The Big Little Lies star truly shone during the gala (Picture: Nicole Kidman)
Myers was not the only Hollywood star drawing attention with their looks at the gala. Naturally, the woman of the hour, Nicole Kidman, shone in her stunning gold-glitter gown and looked much younger than her years.
The 56-year-old actress attended the ceremony with her husband Keith Urban and daughters Sunday and Faith.
Taking the stage to honour his wife, Urban said: ‘She has the capacity to love like no other I’ve met, and I know tonight’s all about her body of work so far, but next year will be 20 years that I’ve been madly in love with you.’
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