Even if you’re not chronically online, chances are you’ve probably seen a refreshed and slightly on the Black spectrum version of The Grinch come across your feed. Whether it’s his “what’s poppin’ twin” or mimicking the Gen Z’ers trying to “6,7” him to death, this newest version of the beloved Grinch has all eyes on him!

Universal Studios’ current Grinch may be the best thing to wear this shade of green since Jim Carrey! His name is Nick Darnell and Jim Carrey is one of his biggest inspirations, obviously. Darnelle sat down with BET Current to share his reaction to his virality and why character work matters to him.

“When I was younger, I looked at him [Carrey] as a godly figure. I was like, ‘There's no way I would reach that level.’ Then, as I got older and just kept on impressions. It did feel like a calling,” he said. “So I would coin the phrase: ‘I'm the chocolate Jim Carrey.’ Like, I am coming.” 

Darnell is an actor and theme park performer whose viral rendition of The Grinch makes hearts grow three sizes. Fans can’t help but notice what has been called “on the spectrum of Blackness” — little cultural vocal inflections and mannerisms that give the Whoville curmudgeon fresh life.

As the 28-year-old character actor puts it, he “definitely feel[s] seen by my people… connected, welcomed” when audiences pick up on his personal flair. Darnell loves that The Grinch is a villain who is beloved. “I feel like nowadays it's glorified, like antiheroes and villains are much more at the forefront,” he said.

Darnell’s secret sauce is a lifetime of character work that he started sharing on social media in 2020. He “grew up studying Jim Carrey, like all of his work,” Darnell said. He especially loved Carrey on the comedy sketch show “In Living Color.” Darnelle said he admired how the comedic genius was “unapologetically himself… able to kick it with all these Black [comedians]” without changing who he was. That blend of confidence and creativity was his catalyst. 

He also traces his approach to character work through idols like Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, and Raven-Symoné. 

“Eddie Murphy and Jim Carrey started off doing impressions,” he noted, so Darnell spent hours doing everyone from Chris Tucker voices to SpongeBob. “For me, it’s just training that muscle and developing that,” he said.

Darnell has been able to fold himself into The Grinch, rather than imitating the original or making him a stereotype. He walks this delicate line with precision. The character is famously a lovable jerk, and Darnell just “dial[s] in” to that world, letting fans “know his thoughts and [what’s on] his mind,” but as The Grinch. 

He’s intentional about tone as well. “I do not ever want to represent a very negative person,” he said, mindful of the many kids watching. “Even Chris Tucker has crazy characters… I try not to curse… I try not to wear anything too revealing,” he added. “I just want to be a clean performer.”

And yet he never loses the slapstick joy. “I fell in love with Jim Carrey for the physicalness of it all,” Darnell grinned, even invoking Raven-Symoné’s Disney-era acrobatics (he mentioned how Raven throws herself down from the ceiling and said “that type of comedy never gets old.”)

Above all, Darnell carries his faith, positive messaging, and possibilities of dreaming out loud, but urged, “Don’t tell people your dream, show them.” The result of this for Darnell is a powerful performance that kids and grown-ups can both enjoy. In fact, theme park character actors have become TikTok stars in their own right. One Universal Grinch clip from 2021 received more than 19 million views as a fan called the actor, “hot.” With Darnell, Black social media users say, “Do I hear my people…” or “When the Grinch from Atlanna (not Atlanta).”

Darnell isn’t surprised by his own breakout; he said he doesn’t even have imposter syndrome. “I’ve worked really hard to get here to this level of virality,” he said, and he’s just getting started carving out his own path, following the trail led by Carrey, Murphy, Symoné, and Lawrence, but with a clean, clever, and inherently Black twist.

“I just want to be one of the best, and if I can stay consistently praying and keeping God in the loop, I think I'll be alright, he said.

Follow Nick Darnell’s journey on his social media to see what character he’ll inhabit next.