With Christmas just around the corner, festive movies are once again on the agenda – but fans may be shocked to learn that Cindy Lou Who star Taylor Momsen is worlds away from her alter ego in How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
The actress, now 32, was just seven-years-old when she shot to fame in the film adaptation of the Dr Seuss classic, alongside comedy legend Jim Carrey.
The pair became fast friends on set, with Momsen even recalling how ‘protective’ and ‘kind’ he had been to her during their time working together.
Speaking to PEOPLE recently, she recalled: “I just love that he was very protective of me. He was always very kind. And just the entire experience of filming Grinch and getting to know him so well, even in all the makeup, was just wonderful.”
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The comments came as the pair reunited for the first time in 25 years as they attended a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on November 8.
Yet while Carrey has continued to act in multiple films since the movie’s millennium debut back in 2000, Momsen has stepped away from acting - despite a formidable stint on Gossip Girl - to pursue a new artistic venture instead.
These days, Momsen is actually the lead singer of a metal rock band called The Pretty Reckless – and needless to say, fans were stunned!
One person commented: “Wait. Can we just circle back to something. Taylor Momsen is singing metal????? HWAT?”
While another said: “Finding out lil jay was Cindy was the most mind boggling thing I’ve ever experienced tbh.”
A third commented: “I am baffled ! Cindy Lou was LITTLE JAY THIS WHOLE TIME!?
And an equally baffled person wrote: “MISS LITTLE J WAS THE ONE WHO PLAYED MISS CINDY LOU WHO??? I didn’t know that.”
Formed in 2009, The Pretty Reckless consists of Momsen (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ben Phillips (lead guitar, backing vocals), Mark Damon (bass), and Jamie Perkins (drums).
To date, the band have released four albums and even made history as the first female-fronted band to have seven number-one singles.
The decision to quit acting came in 2011, when Momsen decided to pursue her true passion for music after stepping away from Gossip Girl, where she played a regular cast member alongside Blake Lively.
Announcing the news in an interview with Elle back in 2016, Momsen revealed: “I quit acting, actually. I quit Gossip Girl and now tour and am in a band, and that’s pretty much all I want to do.
"Hopefully I’ll be able to only do that for the rest of my life."
Despite swapping acting for music, it appears Momsen isn't quite ready to say goodbye to her Grinch past, with the singer announcing last month that a festive EP was on the way, inspired by the movie which saw her shoot to fame.
Sharing the news on Instagram, Momsen wrote: "25 years in the making — “Where Are You Christmas?” is OUT NOW! 'Taylor Momsen’s Pretty Reckless Christmas,' a brand-new holiday EP featuring 4 original songs and 2 Grinch classics - arrives October 31."
Topics: Jim Carrey, Music, Celebrity
Phoebe Tonks