Jim Carrey once honored Meryl Streep with the funniest speech ever: "What are you?"

Jim Carrey’s name is synonymous with boundless energy, comedic brilliance, and an unmatched ability to captivate audiences. From his unforgettable roles in The Mask and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective to his profound performances in The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Carrey’s versatility shines through. So, when someone like Carrey pays tribute to another actor, it’s bound to be unforgettable. This moment came during the 2004 AFI Awards when he honored Meryl Streep in a speech that was both hilarious and heartfelt. In true Carrey fashion, he blended humor with genuine emotion, delivering a tribute only he could pull off.

Carrey kicked things off with his signature flair, announcing the nominees for the “Best Actress Ever” award. True to his comedic style, the list consisted of "Meryl Streep, Meryl Streep and Meryl Streep," with the inevitable winner being, of course, Streep. As the audience roared with laughter, he took the opportunity to humorously explain Hollywood jargon, noting that "wrapped" was an insider term meaning "what's next," before throwing in a playful jab about needing another job. Reflecting on their time working together in Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events," Carrey sarcastically shared his initial nervousness about collaborating with Streep and then said, "Lucky for me, she was open and willing to learn."

He fondly recalled a moment during filming when she was "all over the place" in a scene, and he jokingly claimed he had told her, "Less is more," taking full credit for her remarkable performance. The anecdote had the audience laughing, as it perfectly captured Carrey's self-deprecating humor while spotlighting Streep's humility. Adding to the laughter, Carrey launched into impressions of well-known commercials featuring iconic actors, mimicking lines like Robert Downey Sr.'s "That's a spicy meatball" and Jack Nicholson's "I can't believe I ate the whole thing."

Carrey’s exaggerated impressions earned thunderous applause, but he seamlessly transitioned back to his genuine admiration for Streep. He marveled at her seemingly flawless career, questioning whether she might actually be a "shapeshifter" or a "body snatcher" to explain her unparalleled versatility as an actress. Carrey's humor didn't stop there. He teased the idea of breaking into Tina Turner's "Simply the Best" and joked about how music could make the tribute even more celebratory. He also made a cheeky plug for their upcoming film, Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events," before pretending to feel "cheap" for promoting it during such a special occasion.

Yet, beneath the jokes, Carrey’s deep admiration for Streep was crystal clear. At one point, Carrey addressed how easily embarrassed Streep gets when receiving compliments, remarking that the evening would be “very confronting” for her. He softened his tone to deliver a heartfelt message, expressing how lucky he felt to have worked with her and how much she had blessed the world with her talent. Fans online couldn’t help but shower Carrey with praise. @mikyM82 read, "They should give him an award for just that speech." @Bck-n9r remarked, "As much as there is no other Meryl Streep, there's also no other Jim Carrey......"