In a moment of pure festive magic, the actress who stole hearts as Cindy Lou Who has been reunited with her famously grumpy green co-star a quarter of a century after their iconic film was released.
A Whoville Reunion Decades in the Making
Taylor Momsen, now 32, shared the stage with Jim Carrey, 63, at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on November 8. The pair originally worked together on the beloved 2000 live-action film How the Grinch Stole Christmas, in which a seven-year-old Momsen played the kind-hearted Cindy Lou.
Momsen described the long-awaited meeting to PEOPLE magazine as "absolutely insane, kismet, universally aligned, mind-blowing and amazing". She confessed that just seeing Carrey again "was the most wonderful thing that could have possibly happened".
"The crazy thing is that he was the same guy," Momsen revealed. "I didn’t know what to expect because it’s been 25 years. When we actually saw each other, hugged and embraced, it was like this overwhelming, overwhelmingly warm feeling of 'I know you like that'."
From Whoville to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
The reunion marks a significant full-circle moment for Momsen, whose career has evolved dramatically since her childhood role. After finding fame in the festive classic, she became a gothic queen bee on the hit series Gossip Girl, playing Jenny Humphrey, and later forged a successful path as a rock musician.
Despite the years and her shift into a rockstar persona, Momsen's fondness for Carrey's portrayal of the Grinch remains undimmed. She echoed Cindy Lou's iconic line, stating she still believes the character is "sweet", even if he is "mean and hairy and smelly".
Reflecting on their emotional hug, the singer said Carrey "felt like home", calling it the most accurate way to describe their connection.
The Enduring Legacy of a Christmas Classic
The film that brought them together, directed by Ron Howard and based on Dr. Seuss's 1957 tale, continues to be a staple of holiday viewing. Its legacy is cemented by an impressive 18 award wins and 37 nominations, securing its place as one of the most acclaimed Christmas releases of all time.
For Momsen, the reunion seems to have inspired a renewed festive spirit. She recently released a Christmas single, a project she said involved "blood, sweat, and tears" and was 25 years in the making. Her happiness, she concluded, now comes from the "joy and smiles from all the responses" to her music.
"I’m so glad that people are loving it and that I can share a piece of myself in this full circle way," Momsen said. "It’s Christmas magic in its best form. I love it."
