The Real Phillip Morris and Steven Russell; How Jim Carrey Figured Out The Character

Steven Russell (top) and Phillip Morris
(Photo: George Hixson)

Update: Pink News interviews Steven Russell in a Texas prison.

The New York Times reports on the making of "I Love You Phillip Morris:"

While preparing for the role, Carrey said he spoke to gay friends, read the writings of the activist Larry Kramer and watched “safe-sex instructional videos.” But he added that the central question remained, as it does with most of his parts: “What lie does the person believe about themselves? Even if it’s an absurd character, there’s a belief system.”

In Mr. Russell’s case Mr. Carrey attributed his behavior to “a severe case of abandonment.” (In the film Steven learns at a young age that he was adopted, and as an adult he’s rebuffed by his birth mother.) “That forms a grandiose personality,” Mr. Carrey said, “a need to constantly prove yourself.”