Summary

• Jim Carrey revealed that the makeup process for The Grinch was particularly grueling, and he received CIA training in techniques to overcome torture.
• Kazuhiro Tsuji, the reknowned makeup artist for the film, also struggled with Carrey's reactions, but Tsuji did return to finish filming.
• Despite Carrey's discomfort, his portrayal of the Grinch remains a holiday favorite for Christmas each year.

While the Grinch has become even more iconic thanks to Jim Carrey's movie portrayal, it's rarely mentioned how much work went into transforming the actor into the character. That said, Carrey isn't afraid to talk about how much of an ordeal it was to undergo the make-up for the 2000 film How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

During a 2014 appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Carrey explained that the behind-the-scenes process to turn him into the Grinch took roughly eight and a half hours the first time. Once he was done, he claimed he "kicked a hole in the wall" and told director Ron Howard that he couldn't do the role under these conditions. Rather than lose Carrey, producer Brian Grazer hired a CIA operative to train the actor in techniques to overcome torture.

Updated December 10th, 2023 By David Giatras: Jim Carey's portrayal of the Grinch in 2000's How the Grinch Stole Christmas is nothing short of iconic. During the holiday season, the film is a must-watch and a lot of that has to do with Carrey's Golden Globe-nominated performance. Each year, fans are reminded of the unique circumstances that Carrey undertook for the role.

How Jim Carrey Dealt With His Grinch Transformation

CIA Training and Distractions Helped Jim Carrey Cope

Carrey described the process of applying the Grinch prosthetics as the equivalent of being buried alive. While makeup processes can vary, there have been countless advancements to ensure actors don't experience what Carrey had to endure to be the Grinch. That said, people have varying levels of patience, and what is easy for some may not be for others. Suffice it to say, Carrey had to be extremely patient and if he had given up early on, the history of Christmas movies would have been robbed of his fantastic performance.

To cope with the long hours required for getting into character, Carrey had to find ways to distract himself. That included eating whatever he could, changing the channel or a song to break the monotony of the process, and smoking multiple cigarettes — the latter of which Carrey vigorously followed. During the filming of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, he would also remind himself he was doing it for the kids, which helped to make it all worth it in the end. But first, Carrey had to find a way to channel his anger towards someone or something other than the makeup artist.

Makeup Artist Kazuhiro Tsuji Found Himself In Carrey's Crosshairs

The movie's makeup artist was the renowned Kazuhiro Tsuji, who won 2 Academy Awards for Best Makeup & Hairstyling, in addition to 4 nominations. Tsuji won a BAFTA for his work on the film, but early on he had to deal with Carrey's frustration with the makeup. Tsuji said that due to Carrey's frustrations, the production did not go as planned. In an interview, Tsuji commented, "After two weeks, we only could finish three days’ worth of shooting schedule, because suddenly he would just disappear and when he came back, everything was ripped apart. We couldn’t shoot anything.” Conditions were so bad on the set that Tsuji was granted a leave of absence and was unsure of returning due to Carrey's behavior.

The movie's makeup artist was the renowned Kazuhiro Tsuji, who won 2 Academy Awards for Best Makeup & Hairstyling, in addition to 4 nominations.

In the end, Tsuji returned to finish his work on the film, but it did not come easily. Carrey called him and asked him to come back, and so did director Ron Howard. Carrey realized how important Tsuji was and how great Tsuji's work was, and he knew that the film could not finish without him. After returning, Tsuji found that Carrey's attitude had changed, and he was able to finish the film. Despite the relatively happy ending, Tsuji went to therapy after production ended to come to terms with working in the industry with actors such as Carrey.

The Grinch's Practical Effects May Have Informed Carrey's Performance

Jim Carrey's Discomfort Might Have Led to a More Accurate Grinch

Ironically, the ordeal of turning into the green curmudgeon may have helped Jim Carrey to get into character. While it isn't confirmed, the idea of being under eight hours of make-up can make anyone more than a little grouchy. But when becoming a character known for being edgy and unpleasant most of the time, this could only help bring him to life. If it did, there's no denying it has since helped catapult that role to fame, as most fans of How the Grinch Stole Christmas can't go a holiday season without quoting one of his many lines.

Carrey may be one of the most famous character actors of a generation, but his story only proves that even the greats have limits. But where one hurdle presents itself, there are always ways to overcome them. In some instances, it can be through technological advancements, while others involve CIA methods to deal with torturous situations. Carrey's determination and great patience, with the help of a CIA operative, have earned him a place among the greats of Christmas movies.

The Makeup Likely Caused Carrey To Never Reprise The Role

Upon release, the film was wildly successful, as it was the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2000 and spent four weeks atop the box office earnings in the United States. It has since gained a cult following over the years, with many revisiting it each Christmas season. Earlier this year, reports said that a sequel was in development with Carrey returning as the Grinch. However, Carrey denied the report through his representative, dashing fans' hopes of seeing him play the Grinch once again.

It should not be much of a surprise that Carrey would not return to the role if a sequel came to fruition. Firstly, it has been 23 years since the film came out and Carrey is probably not interested in making a legacy sequel to the film. Also, Carrey confirmed last year that he is semi-retired from acting and currently has no projects on his plate since Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Despite a book sequel, How the Grinch Lost Christmas!, released in September of this past year, fans should not get their hopes up to ever see Carrey reprise the role. However, what Carrey gave through his performance in the film is iconic and timeless in its own right, and will be seen by generation after generation with many appreciating all the grueling aspects the actor had to go through.