'Being "shameless" does not make a nation superpower'

Comedy star Jim Carrey took a sly dig at current US government and President Donald Trump saying people need to understand that being "shameless" does not make a nation superpower.

The 56-year-old star, who was presented with the Charlie Chaplin Britannia Award for Excellence in Comedy, however, did not mention Trump's name in his acceptance speech.

"We need to be clear: Shamelessness is not, and will never be a superpower. It is the mark of a villain, kidnapping children are not what great nations do. One half of America at this moment believes there is a sinister deep state diabolically plotting to what? Give them healthcare? We in America are misinformed.

"Reality shows have warped our idea of what a hero is or what the truth is so tonight I'd like to dedicate this award to those who remind us of our virtues, who remind us of the truth, to Sir Charles Chaplin, who battled McCarthyism into exile, to Christopher Steele who tried to pull a thorn out of the paw of an ungrateful beast, to Christine Blasey Ford (and) to Colin Kaepernick. He'll stand for the anthem when the anthem stands for him," Carrey said.

The actor concluded saying he was not his usual funny self in the speech because his aim was to "get the balance back".

"Dumb and Dumber" director Peter Farrelly presented the award to Carrey.