GOSSIP & RUMORS: Jim Carrey interview at French film awards shocks fans: ‘Impersonator’

Comedian Jim Carrey has sent eyebrows raising after he was filmed in a rare red carpet interview at the French film awards, leaving some questioning the star’s unrecognizable appearance and even going so far to suggest the footage was of an impersonator.

The 64-year-old Canadian-American actor, who has taken a significant step back from public life, was awarded the lifetime achievement Cesar d’honneur at the 51st Cesar Awards in Paris on Thursday, local time.

After taking to the stage, Carrey delivered an emotional acceptance speech where he honored his father and spoke entirely in French.

“How was my French? Almost mediocre, right?” he joked at the end.

But he had fans scratching their heads after a video of him on the red carpet after the ceremony circulated on social media.

In the video, The Mask actor, dressed in a black tuxedo with long black hair, looked unrecognizable to some fans, who insisted he had plastic surgery or was replaced by an impostor.
“It was just a brilliant evening,” Carey told reporters as he held the award. “A really brilliant evening.”

“No way this is the real Jim,” one person commented on the video.

“That’s not him. Jim Carrey’s always had brown eyes prominent brown eyes. This is the worst impersonation ever,” said another.

“Must have had a lot of work done to his face. Looks very different,” another wrote.

“I’m no conspiracy theorist but that’s not Jim Carrey,” said another.

There is no evidence the star has undergone any procedure.

Others applauded Carrey’s achievement and defended his appearance, with one arguing he looked the same as he did during his last public appearance for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in November.

“Leave the man alone,” one person wrote.

“Absolute legend. Very touching honoring his Dad,” another wrote.

Withdrawn from public life

According to a Sun Showbiz insider, the acting legend has become something of a recluse, a hideaway in Hawaii who uses a fake name, lives off grid and frequently forgets what day it is.

Once loved by Hollywood execs and millions of fans around the world for his mastery of physical comedy and unique acting style, Carrey is said to still be offered three to four movies a year but turns them all down.

The retreat from fame comes after the actor’s former girlfriend, Irish make-up artist Cathriona White died of a drug overdose in September 2015. Her death was ruled a suicide.

White died four days after she had split up with Carrey for the second time and her suicide note said she had been left heartbroken by his decision to end their relationship.

Following her passing, a letter penned by White on her iPad in 2013 claimed Jim had introduced her to ‘cocaine, prostitutes, mental abuse and disease’.

The actor denied any wrongdoing and was cleared in her wrongful death case but his public image took a battering and amid the fallout, the two films he released in 2016 – detective drama Dark Crimes, which earned a rare zero per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and The Bad Batch, a dystopian thriller in which he made a cameo – were box office flops.

With the exception of playing the chief villain in three Sonic the Hedgehog movies – a decision he admitted was financially motivated – ‘drained’ Jim hasn’t appeared in a movie since, with his two-year stint in the US TV comedy Kidding ending in 2020.

“Jim still gets offers,” said the insider.

“Three or four movies a year, sometimes for $5 or $6 million, but he turns them all down.

“The industry drained him, he lost his love for it.

“He feels creativity and freedom of expression in movies are very limited now, and because of that, he doesn’t see himself doing any more films.”

The comedian is thought to be spending a lot of time on the tranquil island of Maui, in Hawaii, where he owns a waterfront home in Makena.

Famous fellow residents on the island include Oscar winner Clint Eastwood and legendary Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler.

The Sun’s insider said Carrey would love to move even further afield.

“Sometimes he talks about moving to another island – maybe somewhere in Europe, like Greece, the Balearic Islands, or somewhere in the Mediterranean – just to be even more isolated and anonymous,” they said.

The insider added the actor is unlikely to make another movie “unless he absolutely needs money”.

“He’s comfortable where he is now, having finally found balance after years of struggle.

“He says he’s happy – and I believe him.”