Jim Carrey says his latest film, 'A Christmas Carol', mirrors his own journey out of depression.

Jim Carrey, the 'Ace Ventura: Pet Detective' actor – who has suffered from the mood disorder since 1994 and admitted to taking prescription drugs - said starring in the heartwarming traditional festive tale helped him to find perspective on  his own life.

He said: "Everybody loves a good transformational story - somebody who sees the light and finds out what's important in life. It was wonderful to get to the bottom of a character I've seen done a hundred different ways."

Speaking of turning his own life around, Jim, 47, said there is now "more light" since he has banished prescription drugs, switched to a healthy diet and became step-father to his partner Jenny McCarthy's autistic six year old son Evan.

He explained: "I created tools to help my treatment and I went down a path with some amazing scientific minds who are using supplemental treatments for depression."

Jim – who plays the role of Scrooge as well as the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future in the film - also said he enjoyed showing Evan the film and sitting with him through it for the first time.

He added to Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "I'm so happy to have a beautiful family and to be able to sit there with Evan showing him clips of the movie.

"I took him through the scary parts and told him the ghost was coming and he loved it."

Jim has previously been married twice, to waitress Melissa Wormer for eight years and ten months to actress Lauren Holly. (c) BANG