tia carrere
Though her role as the unlikely girlfriend of the eponymous dunderheaded character in Wayne’s World (1992) would propel actress/model/singer Tia Carrere into what was seemingly an overnight success, the multi-talented entertainer had been appearing onscreen and making a name for herself as a vocalist since the mid-’80s. [1]
American actress Tia Carrere emerged into the public spotlight after being cast as Chinese singer Cassandra Wong (Mike Myers’ girlfriend) in Wayne’s World (1992). [2]
The exotic beauty and actress, Tia Carrere, had dreams of becoming a singer, when she was discovered in a grocery store by a movie producer, and offered the movie role of Lani in 1988’s Aloha Summer. [3]
The album went platinum when it was released in the Philippines and she received a Lifetime Achievement Award by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in August of 2003. [2]
But on a side note, her fame even led adult film star Asia Carrere to pay the ultimate compliment to Tia and imitate her famous namesake. [4]
Her second album, Hawaiian, was released in 2007 and she is currently working on the film Dark Honeymoon with Daryl Hannah and Roy Scheider. [3]
Tia Carrere (born January 2, 1967) is an American actress, model, and singer, perhaps most widely known for her role as Cassandra in the feature films Wayne’s World and Wayne’s World 2 and as Sydney Fox in the TV series Relic Hunter. [5]
By the age of 11, Tia was taking voice lessons to fulfill her dreams of becoming a singer, but fate played its part and Tia was discovered by the parents of a film producer while in a Waikiki grocery store, who thought she’d be perfect for their son’s film, Aloha Summer. [4]
Carrere returned to the small screen in 1999 to star in the syndicated series, Relic Hunter, an obvious Tomb Raider rip-off that lasted 66 episodes. [3]
Now with an easier name — Tia — the aspiring singer changed her last name to Carrera, apparently as a tribute to the actress Barbara Carrera. [4]
A native of Oahu (born Althea Rae Duhinio Janairo) who received her primary education at the Sacred Hearts Academy, Carrere first gained recognition at the well-known local talent contest Brown Bags to Stardom. [1]
Her television appearances are numerous (read her bio), including a recurring role in the ’80s on General Hospital, but after having an upswing in her career, her bad movie roles have diminished her star status a little. [4]
Despite her reputation as having as much brains as beauty, it was her stunning looks that first caught the attention of a film producer’s parents while shopping at a Waikiki grocery store — a chance encounter that ultimately led to her casting in the 1988 feature Aloha Summer. [...] In 1999 Carrere took the lead for her own television adventure series Relic Hunter (inspired by the success of the Tomb Raider video games), and during the series’ three-year run she would also appear in the television miniseries Merlin (1999) and provide voice work for the Disney feature Lilo & Stitch as well as its sequel and television spin-off. [1]
Her second album, Hawaiiana, was released in June 2007 and takes Carrere back to her Hawaiian roots with three-time Grammy Award winning record producer Daniel Ho accompanying her on classic solo slack-key guitar and ukulele. [5]
Sources:
[1] Tia Carrere: Information from Answers.com (www.answers.com/topic/tia-carrere)
[2] Tia Carrere’s fan site (tia_carrere.justsuperstar.com)
[3] Tia Carrere - Chickipedia (www.chickipedia.com/tia-carrere)
[4] Tia Carrere - AskMen.com (www.askmen.com/celebs/women/
[5] Tia Carrere - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tia_Carrere)