Jim Carrey nearly quit "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" over gruelling makeup process

Carrey says transformation into the Grinch took hours making the experience extremely uncomfortable

Jim Carrey has revealed that he nearly walked away from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" due to the intense and physically demanding makeup process required to transform him into the iconic Dr. Seuss character.

The actor, who starred in the beloved 2000 holiday film directed by Ron Howard, opened up about the challenges that pushed him to the brink during production.

According to Carrey, the daily transformation into the Grinch involved hours of prosthetics, body paint and hair application, making the experience extremely uncomfortable.

The process was so overwhelming that Carrey seriously considered quitting the film altogether, struggling with feelings of claustrophobia and physical distress while wearing the elaborate costume.

The actor explained that the situation became so difficult that the production brought in a CIA-trained specialist who taught him techniques to endure the discomfort.

With guidance on how to manage pain and anxiety, Carrey was eventually able to push through the grueling process and continue filming, though he has described the experience as one of the toughest of his career.

Despite the hardships behind the scenes, Carrey’s performance as the Grinch went on to become one of his most iconic roles.

The film was a massive box office success and has remained a holiday classic for more than two decades, with Carrey’s transformation and comedic performance often cited as its standout element.

Looking back, Carrey acknowledged that while the process was incredibly challenging, the end result made the struggle worthwhile.