Jim Carrey has always been celebrated for his role in How The Grinch Stole Christmas; however, fans of the film have claimed it’s “ruined” after learning an interesting fact about its production
When it comes to festive films, it’s safe to say The Grinch ranks among many viewers’ favourites, but there are some behind-the-scenes details you might not be aware of. It appears Jim Carrey endured quite extreme conditions to transform into the green character in How The Grinch Stole Christmas, and supporters say it’s “ruined” the film for them.
The revelation surfaced on Reddit when a previous interview was posted featuring the Hollywood star. Carrey appeared on The Graham Norton Show several years ago when he disclosed just how gruelling his experience on set proved to be, and viewers were shocked.
A social media user posted: “Jim Carrey on receiving anti-torture training during filming of The Grinch.” The performer then revealed just how demanding preparation for the part actually proved, and audiences have been left astonished.
In the footage, Carrey said: “When I did The Grinch, literally the makeup was like being buried alive every day.” When questioned about how long the transformation into the character took, he added: “The first day was about eight and a half hours, and I went back to my trailer and put my leg through the wall, and I told Ron Howard I couldn’t do the movie.
“Then Brian Grazer came in being the fix it man, and came up with a brilliant idea, which was to hire a gentleman who is trained to teach CIA operatives how to endure torture, so that’s how I got through The Grinch.”
Although it may sound somewhat extreme, Carrey confessed it was “quite hilarious”, and he had to apply the makeup 100 times throughout production. Despite the ordeal, he said he understood he had to do it for “the kids”.
Nevertheless, Carrey revealed the specialist taught him distraction methods to help him develop particular mindsets to complete the film. This enabled him to manage the severe physical and mental discomfort.
It’s understood techniques included playing the Bee Gees repeatedly and smoking cigarettes through an extended holder to prevent his costume from catching fire. Occasionally, he would even strike himself in the leg.
After fans uncovered this piece of cinema history, they’ve been left completely astonished, with responses proving quite divided. People were shocked by how long it took him to transform into character.
One viewer commented: “800 hours is the amount of time I might spend on a particularly addictive game. I can’t imagine spending it sitting and doing nothing while layers are painted on my face.”
Another posted: “He did it for the kids. Likely was true. I think he knew it would be an instant classic. I will probably still watch The Grinch once a year or every other year during Christmas until I die.”
A third responded: “The fact that Jim Carrey can and will undergo torturous conditions in order to make a role work just makes me respect him even more.”
However, some viewers were left devastated upon learning the star endured such discomfort during production. When the account was recently shared on TikTok, people expressed their dismay.
One fan commented: “I read about this years ago. It makes me sad that he had to go through this.” Another wrote: “This is insane. I feel bad for saying this is one of my favourite movies now.”
Someone else remarked: “This has ruined The Grinch for me.” One more added: “No wonder it’s the saddest movie I’ve ever seen.”
Many confessed they still adore The Grinch, with several praising Carrey for his “sacrifice” to bring the film to life. For some, it remains amongst their most cherished festive films ever made.
