What was Beyoncé’s first feature film appearance?

Beyoncé’s first feature film appearance was in Austin Powers in Goldmember.

Released in 2002, the comedy was directed by Jay Roach and starred Mike Myers as the eccentric secret agent Austin Powers. Beyoncé played Foxxy Cleopatra, a glamorous and confident 1970s-inspired detective who joins Powers on his mission.

The role came before her major film performances in The Fighting Temptations, released in 2003, and Dreamgirls, released in 2006. Because Dreamgirls received substantial awards attention, it is sometimes mistakenly called Beyoncé’s film debut, but it was not her first feature-film appearance.

Austin Powers in Goldmember was also notable for introducing Beyoncé to a broad movie audience while Destiny’s Child was at the height of its popularity. The film’s retro setting and exaggerated comedy shaped the distinctive style of Foxxy Cleopatra.