The 2000 holiday classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas almost had a completely different face behind the iconic green fur as the star of Full House John Stamos revealed that he once auditioned for the lead role.

On the Dec. 23 episode of "Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast"—hosted by "Saturday Night Live" star James Austin Johnson and produced by Wondery in association with Dr. Seuss Enterprises—John Stamos shared a surprising revelation, explaining why his chance to play the Grinch ultimately fell through.

Stamos, now 61, said that during a make-up test, he had an allergic reaction to the prosthesis needed to transform into the Grinch. This reaction caused him to walk away from the role, which eventually paved the way for her Jim Carrey to jump in and give his unforgettable performance.

"Hey, you know, I have something. Here's an interesting fact that you don't know about me," Stamos said on the podcast. "I was originally supposed to play you in a movie that got Jim Carrey. Did you know that? I went for a make-up test."

"And I was allergic to, you know, all prosthetics," he revealed.

Despite the behind-the-scenes issues, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" was a huge success, grossing over $345 million worldwide. The film won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hair and secured Jim Carrey a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy.

The beloved film also featured Taylor Momsen, Jeffrey Tambor and Christine Baranski, cementing its place as a holiday staple.

In 2018, Illumination Studios—the animator behind hits like “Despicable Me” and “The Secret Life of Pets”—released a computer-animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! simply called "The Grinch". Directed by Scott Mosier and Yarrow Cheney, this adaptation sought to blend the timeless charm of Dr. Seuss's classic story with a vibrant, contemporary animation style designed to captivate modern audiences.

The movie was shown Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of the Grinch, bringing a unique interpretation of the iconic character. Cumberbatch brought the Grinch a balance of grumpiness, wit and vulnerability, adding layers to his personality that made him fun and relatable. His refined British tone gave the Grinch a gritty edge, while still leaving room for warmth and humor to shine through at key moments.

While staying true to the original narrative, "The Grinch" (2018) expanded on the Grinch's backstory, offering insight into why he despises Christmas so deeply. The film portrays him not just as a bitter loner, but as a character shaped by loneliness and childhood trauma, making his transformation ultimately feel more genuine and earned.

Jim Carrey recently said ComicBook that he might be open to reprising his iconic role as the Grinch, but with one big condition.

"The thing is, I do it during the day with tons of makeup on and I can barely breathe. It was an extremely painful process," he explained. "The kids were on my mind the whole time. 'It's for the kids. It's for the kids. It's for the kids.' And now, with motion capture and stuff, I could be free to do other things in this world.

Jim Carrey, known for his transformative performances, recently opened up about the challenges of wearing heavy prosthetics in some of his most iconic roles.

In "Sonic 3," Carrey wore a bald cap and exaggerated mustache to portray the eccentric villain, but described the process as relatively painless.

"There was no challenge like the Grinch," he said Us Weekly. "(For) The Grinch, I had to be trained by a guy who actually tells people and CIA operatives how to endure torture. That's how I went through the Grinch. So that was the worst."

His portrayal of the Grinch in the 2000 holiday classic required hours in the makeup chair every day, with layers of prosthetics, green fur and contact lenses transforming him into the grumpy anti-hero Dr. Seuss.