Carrey on fire

Jim Carrey made a suitably dramatic appearance last night at the UK premiere of his latest film, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.

15:54 17 December 2004

The irrepressible Jim Carrey overcame the elements last night to make a suitably dramatic appearance at the UK premiere of his latest film, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Filling out the red carpet at a packed-out Leicester Square with his larger than life persona, the man with a vulcanised rubber face wowed the crowds alongside co-star and Oscar-winner Meryl Streep.

But, in true Hollywood style, Carrey may not have turned up at all after a fire broke out at his London hotel just hours before the premiere was due to start.

Carrey, along with fellow actors Brad Pitt and Matt Damon, was forced to flee Claridges hotel after a small fire broke out in the kitchen area.

"No-one rescued me, no-one came, I had to find my own way out," Carrey told reporters.

Turning to the topic of the highly anticipated big screen adaptation of the children's book favourite, Carrey, who gives life to the dastardly master of disguise uncle Olaf, explained: "The movie's all about fire and disaster and so I get up for the [press] junket today and suddenly my house is burning down, and I'm on the balcony like a damsel screaming with a very high pitched voice."