Jim Carrey makes two kinds of film. When they are funny the audience likes them. When they are serious the critics like them. His next film is Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Is Jim nervous about it? Is he worried about what people will think? The answer to both questions is  'No'.

Jim Carrey was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1962. He left school when he was fifteen. He moved to Hollywood in the 1980s and worked as a comedian. 'I didn't have much money,' he remembered later. 'I wanted success. Once, I wrote myself a cheque for $7 million. I wanted to show myself – You will succeed!'

Jim was 32 years old, it was 1994 – success at last! Three films – Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask and Dumb and Dumber – suddenly made him world famous. Magazines called him 'The Funniest Man in the World'. Then he was the Riddler in Batman Forever (1995), and Ace Ventura again in When Nature Calls (1995). But then Jim had his first failure. Audiences stayed away from The Cable Guy (1996). They thought Jim was being too serious.

When he made Liar Liar (1997), Jim became 'The Funniest Man in the World' again. But he wanted more than this. He was not happy as just a funny actor. He wanted more serious parts. He won awards for The Truman Show (1998) – a big success – and Man on the Moon (1999) – a good film. The critics liked Man on the Moon, but it was not very successful.

Jim has returned to crazy comedy in Me, Myself and Irene (2000) (See the photograph). Some critics don't like it at all. 'It makes fun of sick people,' they say. Jim Carrey doesn't agree. 'I don't understand the critics,' he says. 'It's a silly film, that's all.'

Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas opens in America on 17 November. It is about a creature who tries to stop people enjoying Christmas. It is a popular story with American children. Jim feels sure that people will like it – and everyone thinks it will be a big success. He is happy with life. He is in love with Renee Zellweger, his co-star in Me, Myself and Irene. Love is more important to him than success in films. And he has stopped thinking about being a serious actor. 'I'm a comedian,' he says. 'Comedians don't win serious awards.'

But in his heart Jim Carrey still dreams of winning an Oscar!