Frau Farbissina
Encyclopedia
Frau Farbissina is a fictional character from the Austin Powers
series of movies portrayed by Mindy Sterling
. She is the attack and defence specialist of Dr. Evil
and the founder of "the militant wing of the Salvation Army
". Though in the present she identifies as a lesbian, Farbissina conceived her son Scott
with Dr. Evil earlier in her career.
' s Rosa Klebb
and On Her Majesty's Secret Service
's Irma Bunt, Farbissina's look and demeanour are homages to the female Nazi officer in the castle scene of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
and her surname is a pun on the Yiddish word פאַרביסן "farbissen" ("verbissen" in German), or "embittered"; a "farbissiner" is an angry, bitter, vocal person. "Frau", German for "Mrs." or "woman", is apparently her given name.
Farbissina has a German
accent; in the German dubbed versions of the films, she speaks with an Upper Saxon dialect, suggesting coming from East Germany.
In Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
, when Dr. Evil goes back in time to 1969, he sleeps with Frau (who looks the same as her 1999 counterpart) before she realizes that she is homosexual, however she admits Dr. Evil is the only man she will ever love. Her child is Scott Evil
, who was previously thought to be a test-tube baby
. Unlike Doctor Evil, she actually loves Scott and only wants him to be happy. At the end of the second film, she makes a surprise guest appearance with Scott on Jerry Springer
and tells him that she is his mother, but she never told him because she didn't want him to be hurt; Scott forgives her and declares he loves her.
's Canned Ham: The Doctor Evil Story, a half hour-long preview special of The Spy Who Shagged Me, Dr. Evil states that he met Farbissina "at gymnasia in Baden-Baden
at a street corner next to the McDonald's
." Farbissina asserts that she would eventually like to get out of the criminal mastermind business and open a boarding school for girls. In praising Dr. Evil, she says, "Dr. Evil is a man of great intelligence - able to step on a bug and say 'too bad!'"
Austin Powers (film series)
The Austin Powers series is a series of action-comedy films written by and starring Mike Myers as the title character, directed by Jay Roach and distributed by New Line Cinema...
series of movies portrayed by Mindy Sterling
Mindy Sterling
Mindy Lee Sterling is an American actress. Although she had worked in film for over 30 years, she only began to garner attention after playing Frau Farbissina, the diminutive and domineering Germanic cohort of Dr. Evil in the Austin Powers series of comedy films, and has a recurring role as Ms...
. She is the attack and defence specialist of Dr. Evil
Dr. Evil
Dr. Evil is a fictional character, played by Mike Myers in the Austin Powers film series. He is the antagonist of the movies, and Austin Powers' nemesis. He is a parody of James Bond villains, primarily Donald Pleasence's Ernst Stavro Blofeld . Dr...
and the founder of "the militant wing of the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
". Though in the present she identifies as a lesbian, Farbissina conceived her son Scott
Scott Evil
Scott Evil is a fictional character from the Austin Powers series of films. He is played by Seth Green.Scott Evil was born in 1969 or 1970. He is the son of Dr. Evil and Frau Farbissina. He was conceived in 1969 after Dr. Evil obtained and used some of Austin Powers' mojo to have a one-night stand...
with Dr. Evil earlier in her career.
Characterisation
Parodying several female villains from early James Bond films, including From Russia with LoveFrom Russia with Love (film)
From Russia with Love is the second in the James Bond spy film series, and the second to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Released in 1963, the film was produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, and directed by Terence Young. It is based on the 1957 novel of the...
Rosa Klebb
Colonel Rosa Klebb is a fictional character and the main antagonist from the James Bond film and novel From Russia with Love. She was played by Lotte Lenya in the film version...
and On Her Majesty's Secret Service
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (film)
On Her Majesty's Secret Service is the sixth spy film in the James Bond series, based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Ian Fleming. Following the decision of Sean Connery to retire from the role after You Only Live Twice, Eon Productions selected an unknown actor and model, George Lazenby...
's Irma Bunt, Farbissina's look and demeanour are homages to the female Nazi officer in the castle scene of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a 1989 American adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, from a story co-written by executive producer George Lucas. It is the third film in the Indiana Jones franchise. Harrison Ford reprises the title role and Sean Connery plays Indiana's father, Henry...
and her surname is a pun on the Yiddish word פאַרביסן "farbissen" ("verbissen" in German), or "embittered"; a "farbissiner" is an angry, bitter, vocal person. "Frau", German for "Mrs." or "woman", is apparently her given name.
Farbissina has a German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
accent; in the German dubbed versions of the films, she speaks with an Upper Saxon dialect, suggesting coming from East Germany.
In Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, released in 1999, is the second film in the Austin Powers series that began with 1997's Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and continued with Austin Powers in Goldmember. The film was directed by Jay Roach, co-written by Mike Myers and screenwriter...
, when Dr. Evil goes back in time to 1969, he sleeps with Frau (who looks the same as her 1999 counterpart) before she realizes that she is homosexual, however she admits Dr. Evil is the only man she will ever love. Her child is Scott Evil
Scott Evil
Scott Evil is a fictional character from the Austin Powers series of films. He is played by Seth Green.Scott Evil was born in 1969 or 1970. He is the son of Dr. Evil and Frau Farbissina. He was conceived in 1969 after Dr. Evil obtained and used some of Austin Powers' mojo to have a one-night stand...
, who was previously thought to be a test-tube baby
In vitro fertilisation
In vitro fertilisation is a process by which egg cells are fertilised by sperm outside the body: in vitro. IVF is a major treatment in infertility when other methods of assisted reproductive technology have failed...
. Unlike Doctor Evil, she actually loves Scott and only wants him to be happy. At the end of the second film, she makes a surprise guest appearance with Scott on Jerry Springer
Jerry Springer
Gerald Norman "Jerry" Springer is a British-born American television presenter, best known as host of the tabloid talk show The Jerry Springer Show since its debut in 1991...
and tells him that she is his mother, but she never told him because she didn't want him to be hurt; Scott forgives her and declares he loves her.
Quotes
Though usually speaking in a normal tone of voice, Frau Farbissina, is notorious for screaming her orders: "Bring in the FemBOTS!", "SCOTT", "Laser ON!", "Lower the GLOBE!" "Arming the laSER!," "Begin Laser IgniTION!," "Bring in the GUARDS!," "Lies. ALL LIES", "Send in the CLONE", "GO" and "Fire the laSER!" Particular emphasis is placed on the last syllable, it being shouted the loudest, causing Dr. Evil to wince every time.In popular culture
In Comedy CentralComedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
's Canned Ham: The Doctor Evil Story, a half hour-long preview special of The Spy Who Shagged Me, Dr. Evil states that he met Farbissina "at gymnasia in Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is a spa town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the western foothills of the Black Forest, on the banks of the Oos River, in the region of Karlsruhe...
at a street corner next to the McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
." Farbissina asserts that she would eventually like to get out of the criminal mastermind business and open a boarding school for girls. In praising Dr. Evil, she says, "Dr. Evil is a man of great intelligence - able to step on a bug and say 'too bad!'"