Oprah's "After the Show" with Jim Carrey and Jennifer Aniston
http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200307/tows_past_20030728.jhtml
Jim Carrey on Preparing for Characters
Oprah: How did you learn so much about it the time period of The Majestic?
Jim: It was fascinating to get to know about it. I listened to a lot of music of the era while I was getting made up in the mornings. Another thing I did was I got back issues of the LA Times from that exact period of time. It would follow the date and time that we were working, so I would get the exact paper for that day. The trials actually followed the movie—it was bizarre.
Oprah: You were telling me that your roles always have a deeper meaning?
Jim: I never know why I pick something, generally, until a few weeks in. Then I go, 'Ah, right, I'm going through that.'
Oprah: You didn't just play the part of late comedian Andy Kaufman, you became him, didn't you?
Jim: I basically wasn't there. I still talk about it in third person, and people think I'm weird. It was Andy Kaufman, and Andy Kaufman was about creating illusions…to the point where you're going, 'Is this guy insane? Has he lost his mind?' And I wanted it to be like Andy came up from the dead to tell his story. About a week into reading the script, things started happening to me. I went over to Nick Cage's house one day, and he was like 'Man, something's happening to your face. It's [the metamorphosis into Andy Kaufman] coming on, isn't it?' It just started happening and it was completely appropriate…and a complete odyssey.
"If you had gone to college, do you think you're life would have taken a different course?" — Oprah
"I don't even want to explore that possibility—my life turned out so good…If I had gone to college, I would have been insane. I would have been completely mad. I would have been in every cause. Because that's what you do in college: disagree with everything." — Jim
"What was your gut telling you early on?" Oprah tries to ask a serious question, but Jim has a funny answer for almost everything: "You need love. Go out and get it—from strangers."
"I want to be excited about getting up in the morning…" — Jim
"Are you now?" — Oprah
"With medication. Sometimes I keep my eyes closed until noon." — Jim
"I need Dr. Phil so bad. Where is he? He's so damn positive. I'd kick his butt." — Jim
"You can't blame people for loving you, or thinking you're special or different, because I've spent my entire life convincing the entire world that I was different." — Jim on coming to terms with his fame
There's another side to funnyman Jim Carrey. "I'm always on five spiritual paths at any one time. I take pieces here and there. I can't get enough of that stuff." — Jim
"For me, it's just like they're in my way, and get the hell out of my road. … Move, or I will crush you." — Jim joking about working with others
Ace Ventura fans get excited: Jim Carrey, who plays a serious role in his new movie The Majestic, hasn't deserted his rubber face style of comedy forever. "I will go back and do a movie that means absolutely nothing." — Jim
Jim on Being a Celebrity
Oprah: If you had gone to college, do you think your life would have taken a different course?
Jim: I don't even want to explore that possibility, my life turned out so good! I'm a terrible example for the youth of America. I get asked to speak at colleges all the time, and I go, 'What would I tell [the students]?' I guess I would tell them that if you know what you love, that's the most important thing. Whatever makes you feel good when you sit down to do it is what you should be chasing in your life.
Oprah: I know that is the truth.
Oprah: What happened that caused you to become comfortable with yourself?
Jim: I'm always on five different spiritual paths at one time. I take pieces here and there. I can't get enough of that stuff.
Oprah: Do you feel more centered?
Jim: There is a philosophy, it's an Ancient Tibetan society founded on the belief that everybody in this world walks the earth with a broken heart. And the people who are truly strong are the ones that can face everyone with thin skin and be your authentic self—that's the toughest thing in the world to do.
Oprah: Isn't it cool to see the legends?
Jim: I'm a fan, so I like hanging out with celebrities—I forget some times that I'm one of them. I love to see Nicholson and those guys hanging out. It's a thrill, you know? Like, Brad Pitt. I'm like, 'Yeah, there's Brad Pitt.' You know, I like these guys, I like their work, it's cool…and he's so attractive. I mean, if there was a line to be crossed—ever…
Jim on September 11
Oprah: You participated in the celebrity telethon that raised money for September 11. Was that meaningful for you?
Jim: It was beautiful, it was really wonderful. I loved that moment. In a strange way, the most terrible of events became an incredible opportunity for everyone to be their own hero and to join humanity.
Oprah: Did September 11 focus you?
Jim: Absolutely. We were all one person. We were all the families that lost people. We were all there. I wanted to go. I wanted to help. It became an opportunity to get out of yourself for a moment. A lot of very busy, very important people coming together and giving of themselves.
Oprah: Now when you hear a lot of celebrities being criticized because the money isn't being handled or not appropriated the way some people would like it…?
Jim: I'm not an accountant, so I don't really know how those things work. I gave my money and did my work for the cause. I think there were a lot of things said by Bill O'Reilly that were inaccurate. And I think the Red Cross—there were some problems there. I believe there's a little opportunism going on and like the Black List, it's easy to point at Hollywood and go, 'It's their fault.' It amazes me that somebody can find something negative about the whole country coming together at the same time and wanting to give and wanting to share their love. I find it flabbergasting and unacceptable.
"I loved this script, because everybody screams at God in some way or another. Everybody can get to that point, no matter what you have. You're sitting in front of a banquet going, 'There's no cranberries! God, if there's no cranberries, then this banquet is nothing!'" — Jim Carrey
He definitely has the almighty power to make us laugh—it's Jim Carrey! Sporting a hot new look and starring in the new comedy Bruce Almighty, he's funnier than ever!
While Oprah attempts to go to a movie clip, Jim interrupts her by turning into a human fountain.
Last summer, Jennifer Aniston got impressive reviews for her role in The Good Girl. Now, she's back on the big screen as Jim Carrey's loyal girlfriend Grace in Bruce Almighty!
Jim gives Jennifer some last minute advice before she answers her first question from Oprah. "Careful, she'll pry you open!"
Being the superstar that she is, everybody wants Jennifer's hairstyle, her wardrobe and her favorite beauty products. What's that like for her?
"It's very surreal. The media...they put [me] in the magazines and make people go, 'I can't live without that!' Or, 'I have to look like that!'" Jennifer scoffs, "I barely had the outfit for crying out loud. It's just all a big mirage!"
Jim says that his parents were lovely people, but not the healthiest people. "My mother smoked like a fiend, so I smoked like a fiend. I smoked a lot, and my mother and father both smoked until the walls turned brown," says Jim.
Good news: Jim quit smoking cold turkey and is training for a marathon!
It's a good thing Jim's taking better care of his body! In their new movie, Jim and Jennifer have a steamy sex scene so risqu� we couldn't even show the clip!
"It's very, very hot," warns Jim. "It's extremely sexual."
If Jim is this wild in his waking hours, what does he dream about?
"It's just me running from an unknown entity. I hit the ground every night. I fall, I die, I have a funeral and I'm sitting there going 'Gee, I should be waking up�'" But there's a serious side to Jim, too: "My life is a dream. It really is. It truly is a great life. I'm blessed."
Even though he's a busy actor, Jim loves his hobbies. He recently took a cross-country motorcycle trip with friends, stopping for a visit at Graceland. And as you can see, Jim has also become something of a shutterbug, snapping up shots with his digital camera. When Jim's here, anything can happen!
When Jim asks if he can take a picture of Oprah and Jennifer, they start to pose, but Jim has another plan in mind! He even lets some audience members in on the fun!
Oprah sums it up: "You are so nuts! That's fantastic!"
Jim says that the paparazzi don't bother him too much, but he doesn't always love the way they capture him! "They're covering you from every angle, and you can't possibly look good from every angle. It makes you self-conscious. It's always one thing, or they catch you mid-laugh and one of the eyes is closed…"
Jim's next project is a film called A Series of Unfortunate Events. Based on the popular children's book series by Lemony Snicket, the film will feature Jim as the evil Count Olaf. Jim begins filming this fall.
Another way Jennifer keeps her figure is through Pilates, which lengthens and stretches the muscles. Not Jim, though. "I tried it for a little bit. I just felt really effeminate. It's all this posture stuff," he says, imitating the stiff walk of his Pilates instructor.
Oprah: Would you say your comedy has matured over the years?
Jim: 'Comedy' and 'mature' are two separate things. They should never be said in the same sentence!
Jennifer: I think he's matured… it has to evolve. Anything does. As he's evolved, the comedy has evolved. It never gets boring, and it's always interesting.
