Jim Carrey‘s Grinch Costume HELL on The Graham Norton Show was undoubtedly a memorable moment. Carrey shared his experience of transforming into the iconic character, revealing that the makeup process was like being buried alive every day. The first day alone took a whopping 8 and a half hours, which left Carrey so overwhelmed that he wanted to quit. Fortunately, producer Brian Grazer came to the rescue and hired a specialist who trained CIA operatives in enduring torture.
To cope with the grueling makeup process, Carrey was given some unique advice. He was instructed to eat everything he saw and change his patterns whenever he felt overwhelmed. In fact, he even mentioned turning on the television or getting physically smacked in the head to avoid spiraling downward. But perhaps the most unusual advice was to smoke as much as possible to stay calm. Carrey even joked about the giant cigarette holder he had on set, ensuring that the green yak hair on his costume wouldn’t go up in flames.
Carrey also shared a heartwarming story about his family’s involvement in his career. He explained how he had the pleasure of working with his brother Clint, who is an actor, and his father Rance, who is still acting in his 80s. Unfortunately, Carrey’s mother is no longer with them, but she did land a role in the film Apollo 13, which almost didn’t happen until Carrey convinced the director to cast her. It was a proud moment for Carrey and his family, with his mother even receiving praise in The New York Times review.
In addition to Carrey’s tales, the interview on The Graham Norton Show took an unexpected turn when the topic of celebrity look-alikes arose. Carrey’s fellow guest, Bryce Dallas Howard, revealed that people often mistook her for Jessica Chastain. This case of mistaken identity had occurred even before either of them achieved fame. Similarly, Tandie Newton mentioned her encounters with people who mistook her for Zoe Saldana. To lighten the mood, Norton suggested that Newton could play it off as a method acting approach to her British accent.
The interview also included reminiscing about past collaborations. Carrey expressed his desire to obtain Cher’s phone number, as he longed to connect with the iconic performer. Norton noted how remarkable it was for Carrey, who had been a fan in his school days, to now sit next to Cher on the show. Another fun revelation came from Ron Howard, who disclosed that he was considered for directing a Harry Potter film but declined due to the difficult post-production process of working on The Grinch. Howard also joked about missing out on the role of Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter series.
Lastly, Norton highlighted the unique family dynamic between Ron Howard and his daughter, Bryce Dallas Howard. As the daughter of an Oscar-winning director, Bryce grew up fascinated by the world of film. She often visited her father on set and gained insight into the industry. In fact, Ron Howard once showed up to the Grinch set dressed in Jim Carrey‘s costume to demonstrate solidarity with the actor’s challenging experience.
With hilarious anecdotes, surprising revelations, and heartwarming moments, The Graham Norton Show once again delivered an entertaining and insightful interview with its star-studded guests.
