Jim Carrey Described Filming This Holiday Classic as Pure Torture

While How the Grinch Stole Christmas has become a staple of the holiday season since its release in 2000, the experience of making it was far from festive for its leading man. The beloved family comedy required a transformation process that pushed Jim Carrey to his absolute physical and mental limits. Looking back on the production, the actor has compared the ordeal to being buried alive every single day.

The core of the problem was the extensive prosthetics and costume required to bring the Dr. Seuss character to life. On the very first day of shooting, Carrey sat in the makeup chair for eight and a half hours. The suit was made of yak hair which caused intense itching, and he was forced to wear enlarged contact lenses that severely restricted his vision.

Carrey later admitted that the sensation of confinement was so overwhelming that he reached a breaking point almost immediately. After that first grueling makeup session, he returned to his trailer and kicked a hole in the wall. He famously told director Ron Howard that he simply could not go through with the movie under those conditions.

Fearing the production would collapse, producer Brian Grazer came up with a radical solution to keep his star on set. He hired a specialist who trained CIA operatives to endure torture. This expert spent a weekend with Carrey, teaching him techniques to manage the extreme discomfort and claustrophobia of the costume.

The advice Carrey received was unconventional, to say the least. The expert told him that if he felt himself spiraling, he should eat everything in sight, turn on the television to change his mental pattern, or even have someone punch him in the leg. Physical pain was used as a distraction to break the psychological loop of panic caused by the makeup.

One of the most prominent coping mechanisms Carrey adopted was chain-smoking. The actor recalled sitting in the full Grinch costume, using an extended cigarette holder to ensure the flammable yak hair didn’t catch fire. He often repeated to himself that he was doing it “for the kids” to maintain his resolve through the 92 days of filming.

Despite the behind-the-scenes nightmare, the film became a massive box office success and remains a fan favorite. Carrey credits the Bee Gees with helping him survive the remainder of the shoot, as their music provided a necessary escape during the long hours in the chair.

If you know of other movies with surprisingly difficult production stories, share your thoughts in the comments.