Destiny’s Child Singer Becomes ‘Foxxy’

Beyoncé Knowles is best known as one third of the singing group Destiny's Child, but it's safe to say audiences will never forget her performance as Foxxy Cleopatra in the new film "Austin Powers In Goldmember"

Knowles joins The Early Show to discuss her new career as movie actress and, maybe, a rising superstar.

The third Austin Powers movie has Knowles' character, Foxxy Cleopatra, helping Powers find his father and save the world in 1975. Years earlier, Cleopatra was Austin Powers' partner both professionally and personally. She was the last girl he dated before being cryogenically frozen in 1967 while pursuing his arch-nemesis, Dr. Evil. When Powers shows up in her life eight years later after he stood her up, she was not thrilled.

When looking to cast the role of Foxxy, the filmmakers said they found the perfect fox in the lead member of the multi-platinum, multi-award-winning musical group, Destiny's Child. Once they met Knowles, who makes her feature film acting debut in "Austin Powers in Goldmember," there was no doubt she was the real-life personification of their character, they said.

"In my wildest dreams, I never thought I would be in an 'Austin Powers' movie," Knowles said. "Especially as my first feature film appearance. I loved the first two 'Austin Powers' movies."

Mike Myers decided he wasn't going to the '60s in the new "Austin Power" movie, but to the '70s. With the change in decade, he also wanted to have fun with the world of Black exploitation movies.

Producer John Lyons saw a MTV hip-hop opera that starred Beyoncé in "Carmen." "I couldn't believe how good she was. I didn't know anything about her as an actress; I just assumed, given her age, she had never acted." Said Lyons. "She was only 19 and I later discovered that she'd also never rapped before, but she had such authority and joy on camera, it seemed effortless. I knew immediately that Mike and Jay had to see her."

Knowles rented every Blaxploitation film she could get her hands on and re-watched the two previous "Austin Powers" films before auditioning for the part of Foxxy. Her research and sassy attitude impressed producers and compelled them to offer her the role.

Myers is complimentary of the novice actress. "I was really impressed with Beyoncé's dedication to the project," Myers said. "She's very young to have such focus and drive. I mean, I have hockey equipment older than she is! She gets it instantly and her learning curve is extremely steep; working with her is like participating in a pick-up game of hockey where some guy you don't really recognize wants to play and then you find out his name is Wayne Gretzky. Beyoncé is great, that's all there is to say."

The new actress credits Meyers as teaching her many things about acting, even if he didn't realize it.

Knowles performs "Hey, Goldmember," an amalgamation of music from three K.C. and the Sunshine Band songs, with parody lyrics written by Mike Myers and Paul Myers. K.C. gave the new rendition of his hit music a resounding seal of approval. Knowles also performs "Work it Out," which she wrote especially for the film. The song will mark her debut as a solo artist and will appear on her first solo album scheduled for release this fall.

The Austin Powers in Goldmember soundtrack was be released by Maverick Records in partnership with Warner Bros. Records on July 16th, 2002. The album will include the single "Work It Out," written and performed by Beyoncé Knowles. Also on the soundtrack is Knowles' version of the film's theme song "Hey, Goldmember," produced by Knowles and Damon Elliott,

She will soon begin filming her next motion picture, "Fighting Temptations," opposite Cuba Gooding, Jr. In her spare time the actress, singer/songwriter paints and spends as much time as her schedule will allow with family and close friends.

FAST FACTS ON BEYONCÉ KNOWLES

• Beyoncé Knowles was born on September 4, 1981 in Houston, Texas
• Knowles is a spokesmodel for Loréal products
• The entertainer plans to attend an historical Black university sometime in the near future although her field of study is undecided
• As a member of the group Destiny's Child, she has helped sell more than 15 million albums and singles worldwide.