“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” opened in theaters on November 17, 2000.
By all accounts, it was destined to shine brighter than a Whovillian Christmas ornament.
But despite all of its merits, the movie initially garnered mixed reviews.
In fact, film critic Roger Ebert oncecalled it"a dank, eerie, weird movie."
Nevertheless, money speaks louder than words and by that measure, the film was a smash hit.
As some “Grinch” actors recalled, it wasn’t an easy job.
So, what became of all those Whos down in Whoville?
The film was a massive blockbuster but it wasn’t Carrey’s first cinematic triumph.
Still, the Grinch held a special place in Carrey’s heart.
“I’ve always loved this character.
I think that he’s great,” the actor toldE!
He’s the ultimate disenfranchised guy."
But becoming the Grinch wasn’t an easy feat.
For one thing, Carrey had to spend hours every day in hair and makeup.
His yellow contact lenses, he recalled, “were like knives in my eyes.”
Eventually, the comedian contacted a Navy SEAL, who taught him a few pain tolerance techniques.
“It was hellish,” Carrey confessed (via theGlobe and Mail).
“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.
It was very claustrophobic.”
As you might imagine, the comedic legend has been quite busy since “The Grinch.”
She played Cindy Lou Who, the rosy-cheeked optimist who helps the Grinch discover the true meaning of Christmas.
Unlike her adult costars, Momsen didn’t have to wear uncomfortable prosthetics for her role.
However, she did wear fake teeth.
“Personally, I don’t really consider myself an actress,” the singer toldEllein 2022.
“I wouldn’t call it a passion.
It was just something I always did.”
In 2021, The Pretty Reckless released their fourth album, “Death by Rock and Roll.”
“I’m kind of the same person,” she said.
But in real life, Irwin is a legendary entertainer and a professional clown.
Post-“Grinch,” Irwin has continued dominating the screen and the stage.
Baranski was already a massive star when she joined the “Grinch” cast.
She scored her first acting credit as a pre-teen in 1964.
Despite her celebrity status, Baranski was starstruck by the rest of the “Grinch” cast.
Like her co-stars, Baranski underwent a complete physical transformation for her role in the movie.
“But it was a little too real I looked like a Who with a nose job.
A Beverly Hills Who.”
These days, Baranski looks as glamorous as ever, and she’s still a superstar.
Young Martha May was played by Landry Allbright, who was already a burgeoning movie star.
The starlet melted hearts with her adorable smile and loop-de-looping braids.
And the scene where she waves flirtatiously at the young Grinch remains an iconic moment in the film.
Since “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Allbright has continued plowing forward in her show business career.
She’s guest-starred in numerous television shows, including “7th Heaven” and “S.W.A.T.”
Allbright has also racked up credits as a writer, editor, and producer.
While serving up meals, Shannon even crossed paths with her future “Grinch” co-star, Jim Carrey.
“I served him hamburgers.
Isn’t that funny?”
Of course, Shannon has come a long way since her burger-slinging days.
In 2022, the comedy golden girl also released her memoir, “Hello, Molly!”
His first major break came in 1979 when he starred in the sitcom “The Ropers.”
Later, he appeared in cinema classics like “Girl Interrupted” and “Something About Mary.”
For Tambor, it was an exciting challenge to play the role of Augustus May Who.
So it was quite an opportunity for me."
He’s also known for his Emmy-winning role as Maura Pfefferman on Amazon’s “Transparent.”
However, Tambor was fired from the show in 2018 amid sexual misconduct allegations.
His latest acting credit came in 2020.
Howard grew up in an illustrious Hollywood family.
The actor was just 2 years old when he debuted on “The Andy Griffith Show” in 1962.
Five years later, he starred in the television series “Gentle Ben.”
By 2000, Howard was a familiar face in movies and television.
Today, Howard remains a Hollywood icon.
Although he’s a minor character, Dru is one of the first Whos that we see on screen.
As Howard recalled in 2000, preparing for the role was more grueling than expected.
“During rehearsals, any spare time we had was spent in Who-school,” the actor toldIGN.
“Yes, Who-school.
That’s where we learned how to be a Who.”
According to Howard, performing his scenes was the easiest part of the job.
“I really approached my character lightly,” he recalled.
“I was just a Who-teen having fun.
It was easy to do, because just being on the set was fun.”
Scared, happy, whatever the occasion."
These days, the former Who-teen continues to thrive.
Mindy Sterling (Clarnella)
Mindy Sterling played Clarnella, one of the Grinch’s adoptive moms.
For Sterling, the best part of playing Clarnella was the process of transforming into a real-life Who.
“When you put on that kind of facial prosthetics and the wigs.
You really do become a Dr. Seuss character.
It is a lot of fun.”
After “The Grinch,” Sterling continued her reign as a comedy queen.
She also found a love for voice acting.
She told theDaily Actorin 2010, “I love voice-over.
and “The Great North.”
