Jim Carrey is one of the most prominent actors of all time. The superstar is well known for captivating audiences with his remarkable performances. With a career spanning several decades, the superstar justified a wide array of roles, showcasing his acting prowess. However, there was one particular role that pushed Carrey to his limits and made him contemplate quitting the role.
In a shocking revelation, Carrey disclosed that his experience of working on the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas was so unbearable that he was ready to walk away from the project. The tormenting experience came from the extensive time spent in the makeup room, enduring the hectic process of covering his face in makeup. The superstar also revealed that the makers of the film brought a torture trainer who trained CIA operatives to make the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind star stay for the film and endure the arduous process of makeup.
Jim Carrey Wanted To Quit How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Jim Carrey portrayed the role of the Grinch, a green-furred creature who hates Christmas, in the 2000 film, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Carrey indeed delivered a memorable performance in the film. But behind the scenes, the superstar found himself pushed to the edge because of the gruesome process of makeup, which took an excruciating eight and a half hours on the first day. This took a toll on the Doing Time on Maple Drive star and he refused to continue with the project. To aid Carrey in coping with the unbearable makeup routine, the makers hired a specialist who is trained for teaching CIA operatives how to endure the torture.
“When I did The Grinch I was literally, the makeup was like being buried alive every day. The first day was 8 and a half hours. I went back to my trailer and put my leg through the wall and I told [director] Ron Howard I couldn’t do the movie. Then Brian Grazer came in and 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. And so that’s how I got through The Grinch! It was quite hilarious.”
Jim Carrey On Withstanding His Makeup Routines For The Grinch Role
Jim Carrey, reflecting on his experience in the film, shared the advice he received from his trainer. The Man on the Moon star shared that he even struggled to smoke on the set as he had to use a giant cigarette holder so his Grinch prosthetics made up of Yak hair wouldn’t catch fire. In the end, the superstar shared that he recalled his children as he pushed his boundaries in the film.
“Eat everything you see and if you’re freaking out and you start to spiral downward turn the television on, change your pattern. Have someone you know come and smack you in the head, punch yourself in the leg, or smoke, smoke as much as you possibly can… And this cigarette holder so the yak hair wouldn’t go on fire. The green yak hair turned inward and went crack. It was horrifying! It was horrifying! I was just like, ‘It’s for the kids, it’s for the kids, it’s for the kids, it’s for the kids’. I did makeup 100 times.”
Enduring the hectic prosthetic makeup routine a staggering 100 times reflects The Truman Show star’s determination for his roles. Despite the incredible challenges he faced, Jim Carrey still managed to deliver a compelling performance on-screen which surely impressed the audiences.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is available on Max.
Source: The Graham Norton Show
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