Whether you are a fan of her role as Cassandra Wong in Wayne’s World (parts 1 and 2), or her singing career, the charm and beauty of Tia Carrere is inescapable. She was born in 1967 in Honolulu Hawaii and named Althea Rae Duhinio Janairo. She has had a long career as an actress, singer, and model and her recent work includes the Grammy Award winning album, “Huana Ke Aloha,” guest spots on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Nip/Tuck, Back to You, and other television shows as well as the films Hard Breakers, and You May Not Kiss the Bride, (the last of which was shot entirely on location in Carrere’s hometown, Honolulu Hawaii). You May Not Kiss the Bride was shown at the 14th Annual Sonoma International Film Festival in Sonoma, CA in April 2011.
Earlier in her career, she played the character Jade Soong Chung on the popular soap opera General Hospital from 1985 until 1987. She also had guest appearances on The A-Team, MacGyver, and Married… with Children. In 1992, Carrere had her first major role as the rock singer, Cassandra Wong, in Wayne’s World. She sang all of the character’s song herself in the film, and the sequel, Wayne’s World 2. After the release of the first film, she was named by People magazine as one of the “50 most beautiful people.”
Tia Carrere has been married twice – once in 1992 to film producer, Elie Samaha, (a union which ended in 2000), and then to Simon Wakelin, a photojournalist, in 2002. Carrere and Wakelin have one daughter, Bianca, who was born in 2005. Carrere divorced Wakelin in 2010, citing irreconcilable differences” as the reason.
Carrere also does voice over work for movies and video games, including Saints Row, Lilo & Stitch 2: Stick Has a Glitch, and The Night of the Headless Horseman. Tia posted on her official website in early April 2011, “Acting, singing. Why would I want to choose? Both provide me with such enjoyment and adventures!” Indeed, Tia’s adoring fans tend to agree and look forward to more of her singing and acting in the future.
