Jim Carrey once stated that he ‘doesn’t exist’ after claiming to have always ‘been a character’. Carrey, 62, has been a household figure for decades, portraying several classic roles, such as Ace Ventura, The Grinch, Bruce Nolan, and Hank Evans. He has had a very successful career, but he recently stated that he ‘doesn’t exist’ and that it has always been one of his numerous identities.

Back in 2017, Carrey spoke with TIFF about his work. During the conversation, he mentioned that ‘Jim Carrey’ is one of the many personas he has portrayed throughout the years. “I don’t exist; they’re all characters that I played, including Jim Carrey, including Joel Barish,” he went on. “They are all characters. Jim Carrey was a less purposeful character because I assumed I was simply creating something people would enjoy, but it was a character. I portrayed the unconcerned man so that everyone who observed me would be unconcerned as well. “… Depression is your body saying, ‘f**k you, I don’t want to be this character anymore; I don’t want to hold up this avatar you’ve created; it’s too much for me.’.”

In a different conversation at a New York Fashion Week red carpet interview in 2017, Carrey expressed a similar opinion, telling the reporter, “There is no me.” There are just things happening.” Here is the thing. This is not our planet. We do not matter. There’s some positive news.
However, he later explained his meaning. Speaking at the Toronto International Film Festival, he told TheWrap: “As an actor, you portray characters, and if you go deep enough into those roles, you realize your own character is fairly shallow to begin with. You have this abrupt disconnect, and you wonder, “Who’s Jim Carrey?” Oh, he doesn’t exist.”

“A relative manifestation of consciousness appears,” he continued. Someone bestowed upon him a name, a religion, and a nationality, merging them into a perceived personality that lacks actual existence. Further investigation reveals that none of this is true. I suppose I became renowned so that I could let go of it, and this is still occurring, but not to me. I am no longer a part of it. Dressing, doing hair, and interviewing all happen without me, without the concept of a ‘me.’ Do you understand what I am saying?

“It’s a weird little semantic jump, and it’s not that far, but it’s a universe apart from where most people are.”