Jim Carrey Wants to Play the Grinch Again but Only via Motion Capture; the Makeup Transformation Was ‘Extremely Excruciating’: I Could ‘Hardly Breathe’

As a seasoned cinephile who’s witnessed the evolution of Hollywood over several decades, I must say that Jim Carrey‘s journey in film is nothing short of extraordinary. His transformative roles have left an indelible mark on cinema, and his portrayal of The Grinch was no exception. However, after learning about the grueling makeup process he endured for the role, I can’t help but empathize with him.

Jim Carrey was recently asked by ComicBook.com which character from his successful film career he would like to portray again, given the chance. His response? He’d choose The Grinch, but only if he could use motion capture technology instead of being in makeup for extended hours, as he finds the transformation process “painful.

Well, you realize, if we could crack the Grinch character,” Carrey expressed. “The truth is, on set, I performed it with a lot of makeup, making breathing quite challenging. It was an incredibly painful experience. Throughout it all, I kept thinking about the kids. ‘It’s for the kids. It’s for the kids. It’s for the kids.’ Now, with motion capture technology and similar advancements, I can be liberated to explore other aspects of acting. In this world, anything is possible.

Jim Carrey portrayed the main character in the 2000 Christmas movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” directed by Ron Howard, which was adapted from Dr. Seuss’s 1957 children’s book with the same title. The film received a mix of criticisms but was a massive commercial success, grossing $346 million globally. In the U.S., Carrey’s portrayal of the Grinch was the highest-grossing film of 2000, and worldwide, it ranked as the sixth-highest grossing film of that year.

Working alongside Jim Carrey to transform him into the Grinch was anything but a pleasure for me. It was an excruciating experience, both for the actor and for special effects makeup artist Kazuhiro Tsuji, who admitted to seeking therapy following their collaboration on the Grinch makeover due to Carrey’s challenging behavior during the makeup process.

In the trailer where makeup was applied, Tsuji recounted to Vulture an instance where the subject abruptly stood up and scrutinized himself in the mirror, remarking, “This shade differs from what you applied yesterday.” However, he had used the same shade as the previous day. He demanded a change, and so, following his instructions, Tsuji adjusted it. Every day was filled with such incidents.

According to Tsuji, he felt so drained by Carrey’s energy that the lead makeup artist, Rick Baker, granted him a brief leave from the film. Later on, during his break, Carrey contacted Tsuji weeks later and requested his return. Tsuji also mentioned that Carrey managed his anger for the rest of the shoot, but after wrapping up, he reflected, “If I had the option, I wouldn’t always be in this emotional state.

2024-12-12 02:16

Jim Carrey Wants to Play the Grinch Again but Only via Motion Capture; the Makeup Transformation Was ‘Extremely Excruciating’: I Could ‘Hardly Breathe’

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