Jim Carrey Back in the Spotlight After Brief Hiatus: ‘A Different Angle on the Whole Thing’

Jim Carrey attends the premiere of "Sonic The Hedgehog 2" in Los Angeles on April 5, 2022. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

After initially weighing a potential retirement from Hollywood and taking a much-needed hiatus, actor-comedian Jim Carrey is back in the spotlight, with a revamped perspective on his career.

Speaking to E! News at the premiere of his new film, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” the 62-year-old expressed gratitude for the support from fans over the years, but noted he wanted to give the public a break from his face.

“I also value getting out of people’s faces. I mean, some people just want to be in people’s faces all the time, and I don’t, so I like to give them a rest,” he said during the interview published Dec. 17.

During the release of the second installment of the “Sonic the Hedgehog” series in 2022, Carrey teased plans for retirement, citing the enjoyment of a “quiet life” and feeling as if he’s “done enough” throughout his decades-long career.

Recently, he clarified those comments, saying one can never be definite about those types of decisions, especially in the entertainment industry.

“I said I’d like to retire, but I think I was talking more about ‘power-resting.’ Because as soon as a good idea comes your way or a group of people that you really enjoyed working with and stuff, it just—things tend to change,” he told Comicbook.com.

For Carrey, time away gave new insight into his craft, something that became so familiar. He said now he is able to reflect and appreciate acting in a whole new way.

“I think whenever you step away from something—even if it’s something you love—you get a new appreciation for it. ... A different angle on the whole thing,” he told E! News.

“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” is an action-adventure comedy based on the video game series by Sega, and reunites popular characters from the franchise as they face new enemy powers.

Carrey reprises the villain role of “Dr. Ivo Robotnik” when the film hits theaters on Dec. 20. He expressed his excitement for being back on the big screen and joked about his financial situation.

“I came back to this universe because, first of all, I get to play a genius. Which is a bit of a stretch,” he told The Associated Press last week. “I bought a lot of stuff and I need the money, frankly.”

Best known for his roles in “The Truman Show,” “Dumb and Dumber,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” and “Ace Ventura,” Carrey is open to taking on new roles in the future, and reprising past ones like “The Mask” or the holiday classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Carrey isn’t the only Hollywood star to take a step back from the public eye and later return. Oscar-winning actors Brendan Fraser, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Ke Huy Quan are just some of the famous faces who took breaks of their own.