While he was once known as Hollywood's funny man, Jim Carrey has become more subdued. The Ace Ventura actor tried to shed his stereotypical comedy persona in exchange for roles in movies like Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, Dark Crimes, and The Bad Batch. Carrey was still seen as the goofy guy, though, and his dramatic work rarely garnered as much as attention as his comedic films.
As Carrey's career got darker, so did his personal life. Jim Carrey's ex-girlfriend Cathriona White took her own life two weeks after her 30th birthday. Carrey and White had broken up after she told the actor she tested positive for herpes, but he still cared deeply for her.
Carrey remained close with White's family after her death, and was even a pallbearer at her funeral.
Things got messy after the funeral, including a secret husband of White's coming out of the woodwork and accusing Carrey of causing White's death. The suit was dismissed, but it still left emotional wounds that needed to heal.
While all this was happening, it wasn't hard to see that Carrey was staying away from the Hollywood spotlight. He did a few projects here and there, but it was nothing like what it used to be.
But now, Carrey is coming back to TV in a new series called Kidding, and he opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about his departure from Hollywood.
"I just didn't want to be in the business anymore," he explained. "I didn't like what was happening, the corporations taking over and all that. And maybe it's because I felt pulled toward a different type of creative outlet and I really liked the control of painting "” of not having a committee in the way telling me what the idea must be to appeal to a four-quadrant whatever."
Even though he's returning, Carrey says things are different.
"I'm not back in the same way," he said. "I don't feel I'm little Jim trying to hang on to a place in the stratosphere anymore "” I don't feel like I'm trying to hold on to anything."
In addition to his Hollywood return, Carrey also spoke about his recent political artwork, and how he found his passion.
And as the sun set upon the White House all its windows danced with glowing eyes "” and demons' voices growled to the prisoner within, saying, "Our name is legion, for we are many. You will be our hands in the world. It's time for us to Tweet again." pic.twitter.com/9BnWdE6hSp
— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) June 19, 2018
"I didn't know why I was doing it initially and, as usual, a year or two later, I wake up and realize that I've been given a spiritual answer through it," he admitted. "I've been on the journey of identity, of who am I, and that's it. That's the question. If there's an "˜it' in this world, it's "˜Who am I?' There is no "˜I,' and yet it has a shape. See what I mean?"
Robin Williams' mind was a quantum computer. He was the fastest gun in the West. I loved, respected and admired his brilliance "” always. pic.twitter.com/h1zTNS4Hg0
— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) May 17, 2018
And though you may miss Carrey as a funny man, he doesn't really care. He's doing what he wants, and that's all that matters.
"I hear people say, "˜Why doesn't he just be funny?' That stuff has just never mattered to me," he confessed. "To me, it's like, this is the experiment tonight. If you enjoy it, great, if you don't, that's cool, too. There'll be another one tomorrow."
Do you miss Carrey in his comedic roles?
[H/T: The Hollywood Reporter]
