Trevor Noah Thanks Jim Carrey for Helping Him with Depression, at Awards

While admitting he is living his dream, South African comedian Trevor Noah has also revealed that he was suffering depression… and it was thanks to Hollywood star Jim Carrey that he realised it and was able to find a way to fight it.

Whilst accepting the Comedy Person of the Year Award at the Just for Laughs Awards on Friday night, 33-year-old Trevor got serious, saying: “Jim Carrey was one of the first comedians that described the beast that many of us face in this room and that’s depression. I didn’t know what that thing was. I just thought I liked sleeping for weeks on end sometimes…”

He then turned to Jim and said: “Then I read your story and I was like ‘oh s–t, that’s what’s going on’ and I thank you because, you know, I found a way to fight it.”

The American actor first went public with his battle with depression on ’60 Minutes’ in 2004.

Trevor said comedy has helped him fight his demons and called the comedy legends at the Awards his “community”.

Writing on facebook afterwards, Trevor said: “I cannot lie I am living my dream. I never dreamed I would ever meet some of the people who shaped how I saw funny in the world. I also never dreamed I would be on the same stage as them receiving an award!

“Thank you Jim Carrey for being as amazing in person as you’ve always been on screen. And thank you my friend @wkamaubell [referring to W. Kamau Bell, an American stand-up comic and TV host] for being in this picture and also in my life! #grateful #Dreams #Legend #Comedy”