Jim Carrey Thanks 'Sublime Companion' Mina at France's César Awards
jim carrey accepted this year’s honorary César award at the 51st edition of France’s César Awards, delivering an emotional speech in French and publicly thanking his family and partner. The moment resonated at the ceremony because he tied the honor to a personal ancestral connection and addressed the room in the host nation’s language.
Jim Carrey's French Address
Carrey delivered his remarks entirely in French, speaking with what was described as a thick American accent and opening with an extended meditation on performance: "As an actor, each character you play is like clay in the sculptor’s hands, which you shape to your heart’s desire. " He framed the speech as gratitude for the audiences and colleagues who "truly opened their hearts" to him and closed with a self-effacing question about his progress learning the language: "So, how was my French? Almost mediocre, right? Forgive me, I didn't speak French, but I'm just learning it. My tongue is tired. " Because he was receiving the honorary prize, he used the platform to both honor French cinema and acknowledge his personal ties to France.
51st César Awards and the Honorary Prize
The award Carrey received is an honorary distinction traditionally given to an international star; last year’s recipient was Julia Roberts. The presentation took place at the 51st edition of the César Awards, where Carrey’s presence moved attendees to their feet and underscored the ceremony’s international reach. Receiving that lifetime-style honor prompted the actor to address the crowd in French and to reflect publicly on his career and heritage.
Michel Gondry and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"
Michel Gondry introduced Carrey on stage. Gondry had directed him in the film "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" 22 years earlier, a connection Carrey acknowledged by citing their shared history before launching into his French remarks. That introduction set the tone for a night that linked past collaborations with present recognition.
Ancestry: Marc-François Carré and Saint Malo
In the speech, Carrey traced his lineage back "about 300 years ago" to an ancestor he named as Marc-François Carré, who he said was born in Saint Malo and later emigrated to Canada. He made a linguistic play on his family name, noting, "Tonight with this magnificent honor, this square (carré in French) has come full circle, " using the moment to connect the honorary César to a deeper personal narrative rooted in France.
Family Acknowledgments: Jane, Jackson and Mina
Carrey attended the ceremony with his daughter Jane, his grandson Jackson and his girlfriend Mina. He used the acceptance moment to offer direct thanks: "Thank you to my wonderful family, my daughter Jane, and my grandson Jackson. I love you now and forever. Thank you to my sublime companion, Mina. I love you, Mina. " He also paid tribute to his father, referencing Percy Joseph Carrey and the lessons of "love, generosity, and laughter" learned from him. The presence of those family members on the night of the award underscored the private dimensions behind the public accolade.
What makes this notable is that Carrey combined formal recognition from the French film community with a personal reclamation of heritage and family, delivering much of that message in French on the very stage honoring international cinema. The choice to speak in another language and to name specific relatives and collaborators turned a ceremonial acceptance into a layered acknowledgment of career, kinship and roots.
