In 1994, Cameron Diaz made his film debut in “The Mask”. At the time, the future actress was a model and had no experience in Hollywood, which frightened the producers. But director Chuck Russell insists on giving her the role of Tina Carlyle.
The Mask : the splendid number of Jim Carrey
After Freddy 3: Nightmare Claws And The BlobChuck Russell thinks to stay in the horror by adapting The Mask, the Dark Horse comic book. But, inspired by the talent of Jim Carrey, which then did not have the career that we know of him in the cinema, the director decided to transform the project into a comedy. In the film released in 1994, the actor lends his features to Stanley Ipkiss, a bank employee despised by his superiors and his owner, who has no other comfort than his dog and his passion for Tex Avery.
One night, Stanley gets his hands on an ancient mask whose powers heighten the personality of the wearer. As soon as he puts it on, the hero becomes The Mask, a cartoonish and extravagant character. Stanley hopes to be able to use this object to seduce Tina Carlyle (Cameron Diaz), a cabaret singer with whom he fell in love after a meeting at the bank. What he doesn’t know is that she’s under the thumb of mobster Dorian Tyrell (Peter Greene), determined to take down The Mask.
At its output, The Mask is a cardboard and confirm afterwards Ace Ventura, dog and cat detective that Jim Carrey is an actor bankable. For an estimated budget of 23 million dollars, the feature film reports more than 351 in the world. Thereafter, the actor connects other successes like Dumb and Dumber, batman forever, Ace Ventura in Africa or liar liar.
Cameron Diaz’s film debut
The film also marks the beginning of Cameron Diaz’s career. Originally, Chuck Russell envisioned give the role of Tina to former stripper Anna Nicole Smith. In 2019, the director assures variety that the latter “was charming and bubbly, but that she did not have the necessary qualities for the role”. Casting director Fern Champion then asks a friend at the head of a modeling agency if another top model could correspond to the character, and the name of Cameron Diaz is blown to her.
Fern Champion immediately perceives the endearing character of the future star and therefore enrolls him in theater and dance lessons. Chuck Russell wants to meet her after discovering her profile but members of the production assure her that she has no experience. What does not slow down the filmmaker, instantly convinced of the talent of Cameron Diaz. After several attempts that confirm her chemistry with Jim Carrey, the director insists that she play Tina:
(Cameron Diaz) was the only person made for the role in my opinion, from his first reading. And then I saw her chemistry with Jim. Eight tries later, including improvisations with Jim, I finally convinced the producers.
An alignment of the planets which subsequently resulted in memorable performances by a great actress in Mary at all cost, In the skin of John Malkovich, The Hell of Sunday, Charlie and his Charlie’s Angels or The Box.
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The Mask: why Cameron Diaz almost didn’t play in the film