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 A dear friend
of mine once confessed to me, "In the entertainment business as well as in life, it's
quite essential to stick to the basics, to hold on to your family and friends, to that which is true and real... it allows you to deeply care about others... without
any motive or agenda. Because, when all has been said and done, it's never about what we had or didn't have, it's about how we treated one another... while we were here... and that is the true gauge of success." James Eugene Carrey, perhaps better known to
the millions upon millions of his fans as that wacky $20 million comic who can break into an eerie rendition of William Shatner‘s overtly dramatic Captain James T. Kirk at the drop of a hat, is one such human being... The unfortunate part is, he is incessantly being labeled and prepackaged... mostly by mainstream media. This certainly doesn’t surprise any of us here at UPBEAT, as we too have continued to effectively "yin" when everyone else "yangs"... That being said, ever since this extraordinary actor had the sheer audacity to bend over and literally "talk out of his ass" in the 1994 box office smash, 'Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,' he has, without fail, struggled onward to shed this enormously preconceived persona, an image that has obstinately plagued him for the last several years. Despite turning in Oscar-worthy performances in both 'The Truman Show' and more recently, 'Man on the Moon,' Carrey has all too often been disregarded by both the Academy and, of course, the "politically correct" media, neither of which have ever been truly convinced that this Canadian comic is very much a diversely dramatic actor.
If one were to take a closer look at Carrey's personal life, however,
one would undoubtedly see that Jim Carrey is so much more than just laughter and
mayhem— the tireless performer indeed has a dark and painful side to him as well. Like a number of successful actors, Carrey struggled to find his way to the top. A high school drop out, he survived through some daunting times. Although he might have been all smiles on television, he was and still is haunted by his
past— a past that includes living with his entire family in a used van and taking on janitorial work as a teenager to help put food on his family's table. While these moments were rarely covered by the press in any great
detail— Carrey has endured tragic personal hardships a few of which include two heartbreaking divorces and the untimely death of his father.
When I met with Carrey at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills to discuss his latest film, 'The Majestic,' he
was— of course— as usual... all smiles. As we talked about his latest attempt to prove to the rest of the world there's more to him than a myriad of goofy faces, Carrey began opening up about the more sensitive subjects in his life. We discussed his upcoming
milestone— a 40th birthday— and how he feels about his life thus far, as well as his ongoing conflict with the Academy over a long overdue Oscar. Carrey also talked about his current dating status and his quest to live out one more
dream— to finally become an American citizen. As I listened to this modestly caring man in detail, one thing was
certain— there is an enormous depth and empathy to Carrey that few have ever given him credit for. We here at UPBEAT hope that 'The Majestic' will finally be Jim Carrey’s much anticipated swan song.
UPBEAT You have been in film for over a decade now and moviegoers have always embraced both you and your films with open arms. At what point did you
begin to appreciate the magic of the film, and what eventually inspired you to become a film star?
Jim Carrey "From the first movie I saw in the theater, which was 'The Computer Who Wore Tennis Shoes' with Kurt Russell. I had seen movies before that, though. Ever since I was a kid I have loved Jimmy Stewart movies. I loved Jimmy Stewart movies from the word go. Movies are just this amazing place to escape."
UPBEAT Prior to making audiences laugh with your performances in 'Ace Ventura,' 'The Mask' and 'Liar, Liar,' you were getting into trouble for making your classmates laugh during your days as a student. How old were you when you said to yourself, ’I want to be up there?'
Jim Carrey "(laughs) I was 8 years old. It probably happened before that though because I was doing shows since the age of 5. I didn't know where it was going to go or that it would manifest itself in the movies. I just knew that I needed a lot of attention from a lot of people and I needed to prove to the rest of the world that I was magic. This was the underlying factor in everything I did. It's actually the underlying reason that I do this."
UPBEAT Speaking of magic, 'The Majestic' focuses a lot on the magic film has had on fans since the early days. Today though, fans don't really think about films as being a magical experience, but more so as a business. Do you believe 'The Majestic' will help to bring back that magic?
Jim Carrey "Yeah, I think it does. It's really a sweet kind of tribute to the movies and their effect on people. It's also so important to have heroes, even if they are not real, you know? So much of what we've done in the last ten years is to kind of turn over everything and see the seething underbelly of whatever and whoever, but the fact is if you do that you'll be left with nothing to
look up to and we NEED to believe that these heroes exist."
UPBEAT You mentioned that you were a fan of Jimmy Stewart‘s. With 'The Majestic' you landed a role that Jimmy Stewart might have actually played. Did you feel the pressure of his legacy?
Jim Carrey "I don't work on that level. I don't try to compare myself to other people. Jimmy Stewart is an unreachable star to me. He was his thing and no one can ever be that again. I'm lucky to be in the same town and working in the same business that he was. I don't try to concentrate on that. I just try to make it as real and as interesting as possible when I'm doing it. Then, when they finally say, ‘Cut!’ I sit around and beg for compliments (laughing)."
UPBEAT The scene near the end of 'The Majestic' where your character stands up for himself is very 'Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.' Were you directly inspired by that film?
Jim Carrey "Well, as I said, I was a big fan of those movies. I sat and wailed by myself, you know, 'go man!' It's great. You can't get around that; it's fantastic. Yes, the scene in 'The Majestic' is definitely similar. It's definitely that kind of feel where the person stands up to the tyrant. I think it worked out well."
 UPBEAT It did work and on a number of different levels. What do you think about the resonance this film will have with audiences?
Jim Carrey "I really think it's a breath of fresh air at this point. It's a strange thing because the last time I sat and watched it with an audience I was worried about the pacing of it. It’s a quiet film at times. But then there was this feeling that sits with you after the experience and it’s kind of a relief. You go, 'Oh thank you for not bashing my brains in for two hours. Thank you for showing me humanity in a simpler way.' It's simple and yet the writing is very complex. It's a beautifully written piece. I don't know if I answered your question. The climate now, I think it's cathartic for most people. It's weird the way it's working out. I think it would have been anyway but especially now because people are looking at what makes a hero. How can they be a hero? This is about the effect we have on each other and about respect for sacrifice. We need a lot more of that. Before September 11th we had become a society that gobbles up anything in it's path and is still waiting for what else it can have. I think people have laid back since that and thought, 'My life is pretty good. I'm pretty happy. I got all my people. All my friends and family and I'd better appreciate it.'"
UPBEAT A number of critics have been talking about how your performance in 'The Majestic' is quite calm. There are no one-line catch phrases, no scenes with you talking out of your
ass— just basic human emotion. Do you think it was the most controlled performance you've ever
given in a film and if so, did you feel like you were being held back a bit?
Jim Carrey "(laughs) I'd say it's the LEAST controlled because generally the other things I've done have been to get attention and to affect something that’s happening. This one was so important for me to trust that there was enough there. It was very confronting and I was very uncomfortable with it a lot of the time. I had Frank (Darabont) coming in saying no, it is enough. It is real. I come from a world where you know basically you're not doing anything unless you're risking your life on the set, and this was more about how does this person make you feel? Don't TELL us how
it makes you feel, just feel it and trust that it's going to be picked up somehow."
UPBEAT Were you aware in making a dramatic choice without your usual comedy performance?
Jim Carrey "Well, there were times when my instincts went in the wrong directions for the piece and Frank would steer me back, which was great. To have a good director, somebody who's going to go, 'That's good and it's real, but it's not this movie, that's not the tone,' that's what they're there
for— as guidance. So, there were times when the old chops come in handy but for the most part in this movie it was about going. I sat down with Peter Weir before we started to film I had dinner with him and he said, 'Jim, if you do anything in this movie, be who you are sitting here
right now and let the camera come in and don't try to make anything happen. Just be who you are and let the audience decide what to think of it.' There are times when you could do all the manipulation you want in your head but really all the audience needs is a blank slate to throw out whatever they believe in there. It's a great process."
UPBEAT On the flip side— what if audiences don't respond to it?
Jim Carrey "Well, that would be a negative result that hasn't happened so I really can't go there. I can't live
there— I live in a place of moving forward and doing your best work and I believe in my soul that I'm a worthwhile person, that there is something interesting about me
for audiences to sit with for two hours. So, that's my faith. I have to have my faith. You don't consider negatives when you're dealing with faith, 'Oh my God, it might fall on its face,' because that fall on its face is gonna lead to greater things. If you're not embittered by it you will become even greater because of it and you'll become even more interesting, more creative. When the camera looks in your eyes, it'll see that pain and that disappointment and also that you
eventually got over it. My biggest goal in life is that I want to be an old guy who you can look into his eyes and know he's like an old trout that's been caught 100 billion times and thrown back
just as many because he's too big and they feel sorry for doing it, but he still loves jumping out of the water and swimming in the lake and he loves life. That's it. When you see an old person who you know has been beaten down and they still love life and love people, that's it. That has nothing to do with movies."
UPBEAT Now despite all the Oscar buzz that is surrounding 'The Majestic' and yourself, many feel you will be overlooked again by the Academy after being snubbed for 'The Truman Show' and 'Man on the Moon.' Are you disappointed with the Academy?
Jim Carrey "No, not at all. I have so much in my life... so many blessings. I have so much that I could never ever put myself in that place. I
get to do what I love to do. I tell great stories. I get to work with the best people and it's so diverse, this trip I've fallen into where I can go from 'The Grinch' to this and 'The Truman Show' to 'Me, Myself and Irene' to whatever
else— it is like a gift and I don't know anyone else who has it so I feel tremendously lucky. My life is not,
nor has it ever been, about awards or money or any of that, because I've examined those things and
what's important to me. When the money and all that started happening, I started saying to myself, ‘Is this why you do this? Do you want to be famous or do you want to
—?’ I mean, look, I have enough money to live forever, over and over
again. That's not what I'm about."
UPBEAT Are you at least aware of the Oscar buzz?
Jim Carrey "I think it's great that people keep focusing on that. It says something about their belief in me, and it seems
like a lot of people think I belong there so that's a pretty wonderful thing. Whether I get that or not is not up to me. I will accept any gifts that God has planned for me. That's where I stand on that and I think it'll be wonderful."
UPBEAT How did the events on September 11th effect you, being a Canadian citizen? Does it still effect you even though you technically aren't an American?
Jim Carrey "Absolutely. I've always felt growing up that America was a big brother protecting us in the school yard. Also, a lot of the things that I loved and I loved to watch
were influenced by or were American. That's part of the reason why when the disaster happened I wanted to get so involved because you don't get opportunities very often in this world to let people know what they did for you. And to me, this country
has defined me. This country allowed my dreams to come true and I've been treated like I'm one of the gang."
UPBEAT Could you elaborate a little bit of where you are in the application process and why it's important to you to become an American citizen?
Jim Carrey "Canada's my home and I love Canada. Great people, fantastic people. It was a tremendous place to grow up. But I love this country. This is a great country. To me it's the best place to be. To me you can make it anywhere in the world but if you come here and you get the acceptance
here— everyone says, 'Okay, America decided that was good.' But also I like the ingenuity of this country. I like the terror of not knowing really what the hell's going to happen to you when you get old."
 UPBEAT What interests you about Howard Hughes?
And What about that upcoming Howard Hughes film?
Jim Carrey ""(laughs) Oh, the Howard
Hughes— well, Howard Hughes is someone I've always been interested in. We're not very far along on that so I can't really speak about it very much because it's a
jinx." Because in certain ways I probably am him (laughs). I identify with certain things. I want to find out what made him go to where he went. I want to find out what his hole was. What his chasm was that needed to be filled that never could be. It's 'Citizen Kane' to me with characters. It's what are they missing, what are they trying to fill up with their behavior. It's
what I call 'Rosebud.' Everybody is trying to find their 'Rosebud,' the thing they are
always missing but it's in the fire. You just have to let it go. I mean
really let it go. It's amazing. The people who don't let that go and realize they are never going to get that don't go
on— they don't grow up."
UPBEAT So... have you let your 'Rosebud' go?
Jim Carrey "(laughs) Probably not. For me it's probably being seen. A lot of magic and a lot of slight of hand has been created because I felt I had to. I felt that it would convince everyone I was magical. That has to come from a place of need of some kind. It's either a need or addiction, one of the two."
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