Canadian-American actor Jim Carrey is beloved for his iconic roles in The Grinch, The Mask and The Truman Show – but it was his latest appearance at the 51st César Film Awards on 26 February that got fans talking.
The 64-year-old actor appeared at the Olympia venue in Paris to accept the Honorary César Award alongside his girlfriend Min Ah, but some fans were left confused after noticing an apparent change in Jim’s usual appearance. The response quickly went viral, sparking an online conspiracy theory that Jim had been cloned, with several high-profile accounts also weighing in.
Confusion grew further when make-up artist Alexis Stone posted a picture of a prosthetic on Instagram on Sunday, alongside photos of Jim at the awards show. “Alexis Stone as Jim Carrey in Paris,” the caption read, prompting even actress Megan Fox to comment: “I can’t handle any more stress right now, I need to know if this is real.”
Now, the awards ceremony itself has shared its thoughts on the online reaction – and revealed Jim’s appearance was something the actor had prepped for over several months.
César Awards reacts to the Jim Carrey conspiracy
Grégory Caulier, the general delegate of the César Awards, released a statement to Variety, which drew a line under the online conspiracy once and for all.
“Jim Carrey’s visit has been planned since this summer,” he affirmed. “From the outset, he was extremely touched by the Academy’s invitation.”
© Getty ImagesGrégory also shared that there had been “eight months of ongoing, constructive discussions”, with Jim even working on his speech, which he delivered entirely in French, “for months”. In fact, the actor asked Grégory about the “exact pronunciation of certain words”.
The executive continued: “He came with his partner, his daughter, his grandson and 12 close friends and family members. His longtime publicist accompanied him. His old friend Michel Gondry, who has made a film and two series with him, was there, and they were delighted to see each other again.”
“For me, it’s a non-issue. I just remember his generosity, his kindness, his benevolence, his elegance.”
Jim Carrey’s appearance at the César Awards
Jim’s appearance at the ceremony was an emotional moment, as he delivered his acceptance speech in French.
“As an actor, each character you play is like clay in the sculptor’s hands, which you shape to your heart’s desire. How fortunate I have been to share this art with so many people who have truly opened their hearts to me,” said the actor.
© Getty ImagesHe reflected on the full-circle moment by paying tribute to his ancestor, a great-grandfather named Marc-François Carré, who was from Saint-Malo, France, before emigrating to Canada, where the actor was born.
After thanking his family and partner Min Ah, Jim also paid tribute to his father, whom he hailed as “the funniest man I have ever known”, before joking with the audience: “How was my French? Almost mediocre, right? Forgive me, I didn’t speak French, but I’m just learning it. My tongue is tired.”
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