LIZ HURLEY CUT FROM NEW AUSTIN POWERS FLICK

July 21, 2002Jul 21, 2002, 11:00 PM GMT+1

The highly-anticipated Austin Powers sequel Goldmember reunites the International Man of Mystery and his nemesis Dr Evil, but it seems Liz Hurley’s role as CIA Agent Vanessa Kensington has ended up on the cutting room floor.

However, Liz is not alone – Heather Graham’s scenes as Felicity Shagwell, another go-go boot wearing Powers Girl, has also been axed. Studio bosses have eliminated the leading ladies because they “just weren’t funny enough” to test audiences, a source told the New York Daily News.

Representatives for the film’s distributor, New Line, the film's distributor, declined to comment.

One shagadelic actress who did make the cut is Destiny’s Child vocalist Beyonce Knowles, who brings a brand new character, Foxxy Cleopatra, to life. The singer-turned-actress apparently won over both Goldmember star Mike Myers and director Jay Roach from day one. "Beyonce was one of the last people we read," says Jay. "She could keep up with Mike and make him laugh. I thought, ‘Man, she's gonna be a huge star.’ So we cast her that day."

Goldmember, which also features cameos from Gwyneth Paltrow and Britney Spears, opens in the US and UK on July 26.

Lovely Liz, who filmed her scenes during a breakup with Steve Bing, the father of her newborn son, was deemed "just not funny enough", according to a source

However, Liz isn´t the only cutting room casualty - Heather Graham, who played Felicity Shagwell in the second instalment, was also edited out of the film's final version

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