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7 Groovy Secrets About Elizabeth Hurley's Iconic Vanessa Kensington Role That Could Bring Her Back For Austin Powers 4

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Elizabeth Hurley’s role as the quintessential '60s secret agent, Vanessa Kensington, remains one of the most memorable comedic performances of the 1990s. The character, who served as the straight-laced foil to Mike Myers’ time-travelling British spy in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, launched Hurley into a new stratosphere of Hollywood stardom.

As of December 2025, retrospective pieces and recent interviews confirm that the legacy of Vanessa Kensington is far from over, with Hurley herself expressing a keen interest in reprising her role for a potential fourth film. This deep dive uncovers the freshest details, on-set secrets, and lasting impact of the character who taught the grooviest spy about the modern world.

Elizabeth Hurley: Biography and Profile

Elizabeth Jane Hurley is an English actress, model, and businesswoman whose career spans over four decades. Her high-profile personal life and professional achievements have kept her in the global spotlight since the late 1980s.

  • Full Name: Elizabeth Jane Hurley
  • Date of Birth: June 10, 1965
  • Place of Birth: Basingstoke, Hampshire, England
  • Parents: Angela Mary (teacher) and Roy Leonard Hurley (army major)
  • Key Relationships: Hugh Grant (1987–2000), Arun Nayar (m. 2007; div. 2011), Shane Warne (2010–2013)
  • Modelling Career: Became a prominent face for Estée Lauder in 1995, a partnership that continues to this day.
  • Breakthrough Film Role: Vanessa Kensington in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
  • Other Notable Films: Passenger 57 (1992), Bedazzled (2000), Serving Sara (2002)
  • Television Roles: Queen Helena in the E! series The Royals (2015–2018)

Hurley’s career trajectory is a perfect blend of high fashion, film success, and entrepreneurial ventures, making her a formidable figure in both the entertainment and business worlds. Her work as the secret agent Vanessa Kensington remains, arguably, her most culturally enduring film role.

The Shocking Death and the Possibility of a Return

The character of Vanessa Kensington was famously—and comically—killed off at the start of the sequel, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999). In a hilarious twist, it was revealed that Vanessa was a fembot, a deadly robot designed by Dr. Evil to kill Austin Powers, who then self-destructed.

This plot device was a meta-joke on the Bond franchise's revolving door of love interests, but it also meant Elizabeth Hurley was largely absent from the subsequent films, aside from a brief cameo in the second movie and archival footage in Goldmember.

However, the door is far from closed. In recent interviews, including those conducted in 2024 and 2025, Elizabeth Hurley has enthusiastically stated she would be open to returning for a fourth film, should Mike Myers decide to write one.

“I would be there in a heartbeat,” Hurley confirmed.

The beauty of the Austin Powers universe, with its time travel and ridiculous plot twists, means that bringing back a character, even a fembot who exploded, is entirely plausible. Fans speculate a fourth film could feature a Vanessa Fembot 2.0 or a time-travel scenario that prevents her original demise, satisfying the curiosity of those who missed her chemistry with Austin.

7 Groovy Secrets Behind the Vanessa Kensington Phenomenon

The success of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery was a surprise hit, and Elizabeth Hurley’s performance was central to its charm. Her straight-woman act perfectly grounded the ridiculousness of Austin’s '60s culture shock. Here are some of the most fascinating facts and secrets about her time as the iconic secret agent.

1. The Hilarious Struggle with "Giggling Fits"

Despite her poised on-screen presence, Hurley revealed that she struggled immensely with keeping a straight face opposite Mike Myers. She admitted that she suffered from "terrible giggling fits" during filming, especially during some of the more absurd scenes written by Myers.

The difficulty in maintaining her composure as the serious agent Vanessa Kensington only highlights the sheer comedic genius of Myers' performance, which often caught his co-stars off guard.

2. The '60s Inspiration Was a Real-Life TV Host

A little-known fact is that Hurley believed the character of Austin Powers was heavily inspired by a real-life personality. She thought the spy was based on Simon Dee, the host of the popular 1960s BBC celebrity chat show, "Dee Time."

This insight shows the deep dive into British pop culture that informed the entire production, giving the film its specific and accurate period feel, even if Myers later cited other inspirations.

3. Vanessa's Iconic '60s Mod Squad Style

Vanessa Kensington's fashion is a cornerstone of her character, representing the sleek, modern '90s woman who is forced to adopt an updated version of '60s Mod style to blend in with Austin’s world. Her wardrobe was a masterclass in tailored suits, faux-leather catsuits, and mini-dresses.

The costumes, including her famous silver strappy dress and sophisticated secret agent jacket, have become popular choices for Halloween and cosplay, cementing her status as a fashion icon of the spoof genre.

4. The Fembot Twist Was a Last-Minute Decision

While the fembot reveal is a classic movie moment, the decision to kill off Vanessa Kensington at the beginning of the second film was primarily a creative choice to allow Mike Myers to introduce a new love interest, Felicity Shagwell (played by Heather Graham), and maintain the revolving co-star dynamic of the James Bond films the series parodied. [cite: 17 (from first search)]

5. Hurley's Connection to the Costume Designer

Hurley later worked with the same costume designer from Austin Powers on her movie Bedazzled (2000). This collaboration was so successful that Hurley was able to incorporate some of her own clothing ideas into the film and reportedly still owns every costume from the set of Bedazzled.

6. The Role Was Crucial for Her Hollywood Transition

Before Austin Powers, Elizabeth Hurley was widely known as a model and as Hugh Grant's high-profile partner. The role of Vanessa Kensington was a pivotal moment, proving her comedic timing and establishing her as a bankable actress in Hollywood, separate from her tabloid fame.

7. The 25th Anniversary Sparked Renewed Interest

The 25th anniversary of the first film, International Man of Mystery, in 2022, led to a surge of retrospective box sets and articles, reminding a new generation of fans about the original cast and the film's enduring humor. [cite: 6 (from first search), 9 (from first search)] This renewed interest is likely what prompted the recent questions to Hurley about a potential sequel, keeping the dream of Austin Powers 4 alive.

elizabeth hurley austin powers
elizabeth hurley austin powers

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