Benedict Cumberbatchis feeling positively Grinch-y.
The Boris Karloff cartoon I learned embarrassingly late in the game was in existence at all.
But I absolutely love both.
Credit: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock; Illumination and Universal Pictures
I basically knew the picture book.
That was the thing that made an impact.
I knew exactly what the character was, who he was, who the Whos were.
I think Dr. Seuss is remarkable.
Despite the Grinch being a Grinch and not really a human, its very human.
It strikes [a chord] for an Englishman with Charles Dickens andA Christmas Caroland Scrooge.
[That is] the manifestation of the true Christmas spirit.
For certain performative strokes definitely.
But its not like facial capture, I never did anything of that nature.
Youre a fixed point.
You have to create a lot of energy, but its around a really fixed access of a microphone.
Your voice has to be supported by the action that makes it sound that way.
Did you have a favorite scene or moment to record?
Having stolen it and not liked it.
That was a lot of fun.
Every single scene had an element of [fun], even through boredom or insanity or sheer joy.
We ran the spectrum on this.
And theyre like, Yes, of course.
I think I could embellish that moment for you or give you a sound in that moment of action.
Christmas is a great time to do that.
Its much more to do with having time with those people, and not everyone has that.
So seasonally, its a big thing to remember.
Its a childrens film.
But as usual, with Illumination and this genre of filmmaking, its done with such lightness and wit.
Its moving and important, but its also really entertaining.
Its also technically a stunning film to look at.
Was that always the direction of the story?You dont necessarily get the whole script.
Theres pitches all along the way and you know where its going.
But I did say quite early on I really want to know why he is the way he is.
Maybe there is a reason behind that, that hes been hurt before.
Why is he outside?
Why is he green?
Why does he live on his own in a mountain?
What is all that about?
The sort of motivational questions that a navel-gazing actor always asks.
But you do need to make sense of characters.
They cant just exist in a vacuum, even if theyre animated characters in a family film.
Were living [through] environmental disaster after environmental disaster.
Toys are made of plastic as well.
Its plastic on plastic.
That is the thing that gets me Grinch-y.
Everything else is just part of the season.
Last minute Christmas shopping?
Often youve only got yourself to blame.
But I just cant stand all the excess that goes with consumer goods and packaging.
Its about decorating of course the tree, the house.
I like getting out there and being with friends and family.
I really love that sense of it being a holiday.
I just enjoy the effort that people go to everywhere with decorations.
