One Common Thread Links Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter With Jim Carrey’s Ace Ventura

Jim Carrey, an actor and comedian, is popularly known for playing ‘Ace Ventura’ in the 1994 film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and its future sequels. Though the films were not well-written, his character and how the actor portrayed it stood out among the other films in his career. 

In February 2020, the Man On The Moon star appeared on Conan O’Brien’s show, Conon on TBS, where he talked about his inspiration for perfecting playing Ace Ventura. 

On the show, Carrey said that he was inspired by a Cockatiel bird, as he created an idea of a smart bird, and the actor credited Anthony Hopkins for his style of portraying Ace Ventura, as Hopkins used something similar while playing ‘Dr. Hannibal Lecter’ in his 1991 film The Silence of The Lambs. 

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What Is The Common Thread Which Links Carrey’s Ace Ventura with Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter?

Jim Carrey once invited Anthony Hopkins for dinner at his home. During that time, the actor hosted his inspiration with “Roast Beef,” he told Hopkins about his technique approach for Ace Ventura. He told him about “a smart bird” technique, to which Hopkins replied, “I do that!”  (Source: Team Coco on Youtube)

He added that “Hannibal Lecture was a cross between a crocodile and a tarantula spider” with infinite patience to wait for the perfect moment to attack. Both the actors were alone in the house for dinner and Jim told how creepy that moment became. The actor asked Anthony if he wanted more roast beef as there was “plenty in the kitchen.”

Both the actors used method acting to play the characters which are opposite to each other. Ace Ventura is an eccentric detective who can understand animals and also has extraordinary power (he caught a bullet in his teeth after he managed to escape from getting shot!).

Unlike him, Hannibal Lecter is a serial killer who eats his victims. He was a reputed forensic psychiatrist before he was imprisoned for his crimes in the psychological-horror film based on Thomas Harris’s 1988 novel by the same name(The Silence of The Lambs). Anthony received an Academy and a BAFTA award for his performance.

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What Are The Notable Roles Carrey Is Known For Potraying?

Jim Carrey started his acting career by appearing in the sketch comedy television series In Living Color (1990-1994). He starred in Ace Ventura films, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective(1994) and Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls(1995). The actor received MTV Movie & TV Awards, Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Award, and People’s Choice Awards for performing the eccentric detective. His other films, which garnered him popularity include the 1994 films The Mask and Dumb and Dumber. 

The comedian received two MTV TV & Movie Awards for playing ‘Cable Guy’ for his best comedic and best villain in his 1997 film The Cable Guy. He also received a Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Award for the same.

Two of his best films leading the actor to bag nominations in BAFTA and Golden Globes include his 1999 film Man on the Moon and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in 2004 starring opposite Kate Winslet.

In Man of the Moon, Carrey portrayed the late comedian ‘Andy Kaufman in his biographical comedy directed by Miloš” Forman. And, in Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind, he played ‘Joel Barish,’ an introverted bookworm entering into a two-year relationship with ‘Clementine Kruczynski,’ played by Titanic star, Kate Winslet. The film received an Academy Award for ‘Best Original Screenplay’ and Winslet was nominated for her role. It also won two BAFTA Awards and four Golden Globe nominations. 

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