Jim Carrey Delivers Emotional French Speech While Accepting César Lifetime Honor

jim carrey accepted this year’s honorary award at the 51st edition of France’s César Awards and delivered an emotional speech in French that brought the room to its feet.

Jim Carrey honored at the 51st César Awards

The actor drew a standing ovation from what one writer called the crème de la crème of French cinema when he received the honorary César, an award traditionally given to an international star — last year’s recipient was Julia Roberts. Carrey, best known for films including "The Mask" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas, " took the stage to accept the prize.

He spoke in French and quoted an image of acting as sculpting

Speaking entirely in French, with a thick American accent, Carrey opened by comparing acting to shaping clay: “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. ”

Carrey traced a family line back to Saint Malo

He revealed that "about 300 years ago" his great, great, great, great, great, great-grandfather, Marc-François Carré, was born in France, in Saint Malo, and emigrated to Canada. Carrey framed the honor as a moment of personal return: "Tonight with this magnificent honor, this square (carré in French) has come full circle. "

Introduced by Michel Gondry, who worked with him 22 years ago

Carrey was introduced on stage by Michel Gondry, the director who worked with him on "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" 22 years ago.

Family in the room and a thank-you to "my sublime companion"

He attended the ceremony with his daughter Jane, his grandson Jackson and his girlfriend Mina. In his remarks he thanked them directly: "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 thanked his father by name, saying: "And finally, thank you to the funniest man I have ever known: my father. Percy Joseph Carrey who taught me the value of love, generosity, and laughter. "

He closed with a self-deprecating line about his French

At the end of the speech he asked the audience, "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. " The line left no doubt the evening mixed gratitude, personal history and a touch of the comic timing that has defined much of his work.

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