Jim Carrey is, as we know, one of the world's leading comedy actors. Whilst he was in London promoting Bruce Almighty we managed to pin him down for a few minutes to talk about his life, career and attempts to play God.

How cool is it being a movie god?
This is why Morgan Freeman isn't doing this with us. He was so afraid about being confronted about being a movie god that he wouldn't come out on the road with us. He couldn't deal with it at all. There were two roles he said he'd never play, God and the devil - because he didn't want this question. Fortunately I wasn't God, I was a flawed human being who had the power temporarily.

Were there things you wanted to do as God that the director wouldn't let you?
Well, there were a lot of scenes, some of them were cut short. When that guy's doing the news and I'm messing with him, we took it a lot further. His head bursts into flames and it got really violent and horrible.

Tom (Shadyac - director) was always there to rein me in though. Also there was the Big Foot scene. I fall out of a plane and my parachute doesn't open but fortunately I land on Big Foot. So everything's going right for me as a reporter. And that didn't get in. Some of my favourite stuff. I don't really understand why.

Do people demand that you're funny?
I don't feel any pressure to be funny at all. I'm funny because I want to be funny. I could sit here and be serious for an hour and you would go away and make me much funnier than I am.

What's it like working with Morgan Freeman. How did he handle the comedic role?
Morgan Freeman is so class. He's so cool. He's so scary. He terrified Tom! First day I met Morgan I said, "Hey Morgan, I'm so glad you're doing this movie." He said, "Nice to meet you too. Now, never touch me again." He's got that way about him. He's like a laser he goes right to your soul. And he raked Tom over the coals something awful through this whole movie. I couldn't believe it. Tom knew he was joking with him but he was still so uncomfortable.

What was it like playing a reporter, do you now view the press differently?
Oddly enough I am drunk with my own power. It wasn't so much about the reporter aspect for me as it was about someone who is ungrateful with what he has. I didn't learn much about being a reporter doing the movie but it was interesting looking at the other side of it a little bit. I have been the guy who has everything but yet is so one-track minded about what I want on that I can't see my blessings.

Who would you like to bestow God-like powers on?
I did bestow Tom with God-like powers and believe me he used them. He was God On the set. Who would I like to bestow Godlike powers on? Who doesn't appreciate their life? That Beckham dude! What's wrong with jolly old England? What does he have to go off to America for?

Some people think he is a God anyway.
That's true. Well, they're wrong.

Do they even know David Beckham is?
Not until they got that ball in the face! And then they woke up!

Did people protest at the portrayal of God?
I was offended! No, it was about human frailty it's not about God's frailty. When Jesus Christ Superstar came out there were a lot of people who went, 'Oh, people in construction hats and whatever'. It goes with the territory. There's always going to be a problem with someone, always. This had an incredible wide range of acceptance.

What do you prefer comedy or serious roles?
I love acting. I love play-acting. I love pretending. I love telling stories so whether they be comedic or serious or whatever, it doesn't really matter to me. I enjoy telling a good story. I have it all in me. I don't just sit up there in hotel room and go, 'Oh God, you're the king of comedy, man'. I'm not always looking for the laugh. I'm not the guy who sits in and listens to conversations and wants to jump in with something hilarious every two seconds. I actually do listen to people.

Do you act up on serious movies more than on the comedies?
Just in a different way. The two are coming together. That's the odd thing. The two polar opposites that I've been doing - they're kind of coming together in the project. There are some serious moments in this film and I wouldn't have been able to do those if I hadn't done the serious roles that I have done. It's just all fun and I feel like I've been able to do it. Honestly.

Is it frustrating when you don't get taken seriously? For example, with The Majestic?
No and you know why? Because The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside still waters. He restoreth my soul.

Have you ever been to a dark place in your life like your character in the film?
Of course. Absolutely. Generally it's about a woman. Love lost. Love, whatever. That's generally the thing that brings men to their knees. I never lost a job that I thought 'Oh Lord, why?' There's absolutely dark places I've been too. I've been on my knees many times in my life.

The only way I ever get out of it is to start looking at what I have; looking at what's been given to me. It's always the way out. I don't want to take it all the time. The exit from agony is always there. The tunnel out of the agony sector is always in front of you and yet you don't take it. You don't take it by choice. You want to indulge a lot and be in pain. The easiest way out is to write a list of what you’re grateful for. If everybody literally did that before they went to bed at night, there'd be no unhappy people.

Do you have a maxim in life that carries you on?
Be grateful. Find something to be grateful for. Don't do too many things that make you feel like you deserve to lose because we do program our own computers. I believe there is a plus and a minus column and if you end up on the minus column, your own conscience will make you lose.