Mike at the height of his powers

3:14pm Tuesday 3rd July 2007

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With Mike Myers' big green alter-ego Shrek back in cinemas Eileen Condon asks the star about his love of English comedy and his future plans.

MIKE Myers is one of Hollywood's biggest comedy talents. It seems everything he gives his comedy touch turns to gold(member). His hit movies include Austin Powers and Shrek, as well as writing and performing credits on the successful American TV show Saturday Night Live.

But ask where his comedy influences come from and he doesn't hesitate - it's his British, not North American, roots and in particular his Liverpool-born dad.

"My father was very good at telling jokes and he told a lot of them," he said.

"He was mad about Benny Hill, Monty Python and The Avengers, Bond movies and the Peter Sellers films, so that's what I grew up watching. Those clearly had a big influence on me."

Though the star was born in Ontario, Canada, his parents hailed from Liverpool before they emigrated and neither lost a fondness for their homeland.

He said: "My dad used to get the English First Division soccer matches and he played the Pools every Saturday.

"He worshipped Michael Caine. He loved all things English."

Mike's father Eric died from Alzheimer's in 1991 and as a tribute he cast Michael Caine in Goldmember.

"It was a bit weird because he played my father, but it was also amazing and a big tribute to my dad," he said.

Mike's British heritage could explain why his big screen characters rarely speak with an American accent.

The swinging 60s Austin Powers is a Londoner while Shrek is Scottish.

He said: "Shrek seems to need that accent. Dad would have approved."

Shrek is one of Mike's favourite characters, so he didn't hesitate when he was asked to return for a third film.

In the latest outing, he's reunited with co-stars from the first two movies, including Eddie Murphy as Donkey, Cameron Diaz, who voices Princess Fiona and Antonio Banderas, as the scene-stealing Puss in Boots.

"Doing Shrek is like a family reunion," said Mike.

"I love these people. I think Eddie Murphy is the biggest comedic talent in Hollywood. I love Cameron, and Julie Andrews is just a goddess. I have such a great time. You get to be really silly. I get very happy when I'm in this world."

Shrek has been a huge box office hit and in 2002 won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. But Mike admits he never thought the idea would take off.

"I never thought it would be this big. For a start, I thought Shrek was the worst title in history. But when I saw the script I thought, Man, this is cool.'"

Though he's clearly proud of Shrek, the star is already immersed in dozens of new projects in what's shaping up to be a hectic year.

He'll next be seen in Love Guru, a comedy about a Canadian who becomes a guru in India. And he's lined up to play The Who's drummer Keith Moon in a biopic, after being personally approached by Who frontman Roger Daltrey.

He said: "I've drummed my whole life. Again it's part of my love of English culture because I love The Who and I love Keith. He fascinated me, so I'm so excited to be playing him."

Despite his upcoming Brit-fest, the star hints we might not have seen the back of Shrek yet.

"Would I do a Shrek 4? Sure, if it was the same film makers, because those guys are committed to being excellent and that's all that counts."

Shrek the Third (PG) is out now.