People were taken aback by how different Mike Myers looks now, after the actor made a rare public appearance at a gala in Hollywood.

The Austin Powers star, 60, attended the AFI Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute, which was celebrating actress Nicole Kidman.

Mike, who is also the voice behind Shrek, sported a black tuxedo and a grey buzzcut as he took to the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre.

The actor was all smiles as he posed for photos at the star-studded bash alongside Top Gun actor Miles Teller.

Mike later took to the stage and poked fun at the rarity of his appearance at the gala, as he wore a mask before removing it and delighting the audience.

He also posed for photographs with fans outside the event, which marked his first public appearance in a year.

The actor even addressed rumours regarding a fourth Austin Powers film, telling Entertainment Tonight: “I cannot confirm or deny the existence or non-existence of such a project.”

Nevertheless, Mike admitted he does believe there is more to come from the franchise, adding: “That’s right. I hinted at that possibility earlier. And I’ve generally avoided spilling the beans about specific plans.”

Mike Myers attended AFI Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute in Hollywood. (Steve Granitz/FilmMagi)

The actor last played Austin Powers in the 2002 hit Austin Powers in Goldmember, but has dropped hints on many occasions about a fourth movie being in the pipeline.

Speaking with Access Online in 2018, Mike teased: “Well you’re gonna see Dr. Evil soon, somewhere in the culture. But the movie, you know I’ve had three kids under the age of seven. They take a long time to write, they always have. Jay [Roach]’s been super crazy. He’s doing a fantastic movie right now that he’s working on. But … it’s looking good.”

Mike’s role in the Austin Powers movies, as well as the Shrek films and Wayne’s World, have made him one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, though he tends to keep out of the spotlight nowadays.

The 60-year-old is married to wife Kelly Tisdale and the pair share a son and two daughters; Spike, 12, Sunday, 10, and Paulina, eight.

The actor made a rare public appearance at the awards bash. (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AFI)

His most recent on-screen appearances were in 2022, when he starred in Netflix sitcom The Pentaverate and film Amsterdam.

It seems Mike’s next project could be a fifth Shrek film, as it was previously hinted by animation studio Illumination that ‘talks are starting’.

“We anticipate the cast coming back. Talks are starting now, and every indication that we’ve gotten is there’s tremendous enthusiasm on behalf of the actors to return,” the studio said in April 2023.