When it comes to physical transformations, nailing accents, and memorable performances in the comedic genre, few can claim to be as versatile as Mike Myers. The Canadian star’s portrayal of the titular spy in the satirical film series Austin Powers, is a case in point. The actor also gave life to one of the most loved animated characters, Shrek.
Myers’ rendition of the loveable ogre was enhanced multifold by the distinctive Scottish accent that he delivered perfectly to bring out the nuances of the character. What audiences may not have realized though, is that the celebrity had a very specific reason for using this dialect for the protagonist that went beyond the superficial elements of the role.
Mike Myers’ Portrayal Of Shrek Held A Deeper Meaning For Him
Mike Myers has been literally chameleon-like when it comes to the various roles he has done over the years. A master at physical transformation and numerous accents, the actor has proved that he is one of the most versatile stars in the industry. In 2001, the Canadian star became synonymous with the voice of the titular ogre in the animated blockbuster Shrek, which went on to become a hugely successful franchise.
One of the reasons for the character touching a chord with fans, was Myers’ incorporation of a Scottish accent that added that X-factor to the portrayal of the protagonist. But the Austin Powers star revealed that he was initially dissuaded from using this accent as the makers preferred the character to sound Canadian like Myers himself.
$4.02B Franchise Paid Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy a Stupendous Amount of Money for Voicing Iconic Roles
But the celebrity had a deeper reason for wanting to change it up. In an exclusive interview with Vanity Fair, he spoke about the impact of the class system in any society and how the manner of speech played a big role in representing this, especially in fairytale narratives. Revealing how and why he zoned in on the Scottish dialect, he said,
Fairytales were about the class system. You had working people and you had people for no reason, as the king or queen. So I always thought that ogres were working people, growing up as a working person.
I tried it as as a Canadian and it just didn’t have any oomph. And then I said, ‘Can I record it again in Scottish’? Scottish people are near and dear to me and they are working people. It’s a working people accent.
Luckily for Myers, Steven Spielberg. who was also one of the producers of the film, gave the actor the space to explore this thought, which ended up being the best decision for the film and the character. While the protagonist’s figures of speech would have been entertaining and humorous for fans, the deeper political message behind Myers’ thought process is certainly interesting and significant trivia.
Will There Be A 4th Austin Powers Film For Mike Myers?
The Austin Powers trilogy cemented Mike Myers’ place as one of the most talented comedic actors in Hollywood. With his brand of sparkling irreverent humor, the actor’s satirical portrayal of a British secret agent hit front and center with fans and audiences across the world.
While there have been murmurs about a possible 4th film in the series, nothing has materialized for 20 years since the 3rd film hit theaters. In a recent public appearance to honor Australian star Nicole Kidman, Myers was still cleverly non-committal as he addressed this question. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, he said,
I can neither confirm nor deny the existence or non-existence of such a project.
Back in 2019 before the onset of the pandemic, the Canadian star had teased viewers about the possibility of the 4th film putting Dr Evil in the spotlight (via ET). But the actor once again did not stick his neck out to give any confirmation about this. Fans of Myers will now have to exercise patience to see if their wish comes true.
Shrek is streaming on Netflix.
