A Tale of Best Actor and Worst Actor: Will Smith vs. Jim Carrey
Recently I wrote a blog about the shame of Will Smith's actions in slapping Chris Rock at the Academy Awards. In it, we explored the Enneagram (an ancient, spiritual, personality roadmap) and why the real insult, and not surprisingly as Smith is an Enneagram 3, "The Performer," happened moments later. Smith proceeded to accept the award for Best Actor, telling the world how everything he does is for love." "It's about being able to shine a light on all of the people," shared Smith.
Indeed, he is a good actor, perhaps the "best actor." The question for an Enneagram 3, however, is do you want to spend your life acting or do you want to learn to be real, authentic, and honest? This is the work for all of us, particularly Enneagram 3s and definitely Will Smith.
Now, let me tell you the story of another actor, one just as prolific, though he never won an Oscar for best actor. His name is Jim Carrey, and perhaps you did not know, but now he is no actor at all.
Jim Carrey is most likely not an Enneagram 3, but an Enneagram 7, "The Enthusiast." However, an unhealthy 3, like Will Smith, and an unhealthy 7, like Jim Carrey used to be, look a lot alike. In fact, many actors, particularly comedic actors, are Enneagram 7s for this reason. They are often funny, light, and like to entertain those around them, just like the 3, pretending to be somebody they are not. They can be the most shallow of all Enneagram types, at least when they are unconscious and un-evolved in their Enneagram work. They prefer to stay at the surface, and in the case of Jim Carrey, wearing a forced and fake grin, playing the part of happy, when in fact it is only a performance, living behind a mask.
Unlike Smith, however, Carrey didn't smack anyone. Rather, he was smacked by life, when back in 2015 his girlfriend died of a drug overdose.
Unlike Chris Rock who recovered quickly after being stunned by his smack, Jim Carrey never recovered. Literally, he never re-covered his face, putting on the mask of fake happiness, forced grinning, and a never-ending, depleting attempt to satisfy his fans, impress his Hollywood colleagues, or pretend he was something he was not.
Jim Carrey woke up after being slapped by life. He walked away from acting because, as he said, he was making everyone else happy, but inside he was lost, suffering, and felt like a fake. As a result, he was scorned by the media as "crazy," and spurned by Hollywood for taking off the mask. However, listen to Jim now and you'll know quite quickly and clearly, that this is not a man who has lost it, but finally found it.
He has gone deep beneath his Enneagram 7 shallowness to touch upon his suffering - what unhealthy 7s and 3s are terrified of touching.
He has risen high above his numbers selfishness and become a visionary and leader. (Interestingly Volodymyr Zelenskyy is an Enneagram 7, former comedic actor turned visionary and leader). He has, as we say in the Defiant Spirit approach to the Enneagram, defied his number and lived his spirit.
Will Smith, indeed you won best actor at the Oscars. However, that may very well be your curse. If you want to become a real light in this world, then maybe you should follow the leading man here, Jim Carrey. Turn in the Oscar. Become a worse actor, or no actor at all. Defy your number and finally take off the mask.