Jim Carrey is Ewan McGregor's lover in new film

Jim Carrey plays a gay conman in his latest film, I Love You Phillip Morris.

The rubber-faced funnyman stars alongside Ewan McGregor in the true story of Steven Russell, a married policeman who realises he is gay, becomes a conman, and falls in love in prison.

The performance may surprise some Carrey fans, who have come to know the comic actor through his slapstick comedies and goofball antics.

But Jim defied potential critics by wholeheartedly embracing the role.

"There were a few people in the works that were like 'I'm not sure you wanna do this scene - are you sure you wanna do this scene?' and I said 'absolutely - let's go man...'".

I Love You Phillip Morris hits cinemas in the States on the 3rd December, and comes to the UK in March next year.