Jim Carrey’s mortifying encounter with his childhood hero: “He got embarrassed”
They famously say that you should never meet your heroes, something that is pretty hard to avoid when you become a somebody in Hollywood and find yourself surrounded by stars. From Emma Stone’s love for the Spice Girls to Jason Segel’s admiration for Harrison Ford, it can be a strange phenomenon to see yourself as an outsider and then suddenly become a member of the world’s most exclusive club, meeting people in the flesh that you never thought you’d cross paths with.
However, while it might be initially thrilling to meet someone you’ve looked up to for years, it can also be an underwhelming experience when you realise that they are just a person. While they might have created some great things, they are ultimately just as normal as you are, and most people would find fame a rather alienating and slightly embarrassing experience. This is something that Jim Carrey learnt in a surprising way after coming face-to-face with one of his idols, realising that while he might view them in this spectacular light, they did not look at themselves in the same way.
Carrey is one of the most popular and distinct modern comedians, with an exaggerated and slapstick style that has led to strange cult classics and surrealist dramas. Whether it be the blend of humour and darkness in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind to the paranoia of The Truman Show, the actor has had a unique career through his Robin Williams-esque ability to do both drama and comedy, bringing elements of his signature style into multiple genres.
But most people remember him for his less serious roles in films like The Cable Guy, The Grinch and Bruce Almighty, which is why it is so surprising to imagine him being completely star-struck by none other than James Stewart, whom he happened to meet at a Los Angeles church during the ’80s.
Carrey described this bizarre encounter, saying, “I heard that he was going to give a reading from the Bible, the story of Christmas, while an orchestra played. This was like a rock concert for me. I mean, it was Jimmy Stewart, and I would have camped out all night. And inside, I just sat there with my mouth gaping open in the front pew, like it was Pearl Jam or something.”
Carrey eventually decided to go backstage to meet Stewart, taking fate into his own hands. “I stood in line to meet him, and by the time I did, I had completely assumed his personality. I thought it would be like Jesus meets John the Baptist. I’d meet him and he’d say, ‘You are the one who’s come to replace me.’ But I think I just embarrassed him. What I learned from it was, don’t honour false gods. You know, nobody in this business is a god. But I was just goo-goo over him, and he got embarrassed and got red and walked away.”
It must be a strange experience to meet someone who worships you and feels as if they know everything about you, something that would startle only the most humble of stars. But perhaps this intensity scared away Stewart and taught Carrey a valid lesson about the nature of Hollywood, perhaps influencing his own perception of fame in the future.
