​Taylor Momsen Says Filming The Grinch Influenced Her New Career

Actor Taylor Momsen has said filming 2000 festive flick How The Grinch Stole Christmas helped shape her career in the entertainment industry, not only through watching Jim Carrey perform, but also by getting to see behind-the-scenes of the film's musical score.

Momsen, who starred in the film as Cindy Lou Who when she was just seven years old, later became well-known for featuring in teen drama series Gossip Girl, before retiring from acting to focus on music - fronting rock group The Pretty Reckless.

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Speaking to Today, the 27-year-old revealed that her time on set of The Grinch influenced her career in various ways.

Recalling what it was like working with Jim Carrey, Momsen said: "I remember him being so kind, so concerned, but so methodical with what he was doing.

"Even at that young of an age, I remember watching him and going, 'I'm watching an artist right now at work'."

Universal Pictures

She continued: "I think that people love The Grinch just simply because the core of the story is so sweet and it's so heartwarming and it has such a good message.

"Aside from how amazing Jim Carrey's performance is and the theatrics that went into the shoot, just the way the film looks and moves and is edited is amazing in its own right."

But the role also impacted her move into music, having been inspired by seeing celebrated composer James Horner at work in the studio.

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Momsen said: "The thing that I remember the most that probably resonated with me to this day as an adult was the first time that I went into a recording studio and got to work with the amazing James Horner.

"And I'll never forget walking into this beautiful studio, with this immaculate console in front of me, and putting headphones on and singing into a microphone for the first time, singing 'Where Are You Christmas'."

"That was such an impactful moment in my life because it made me go, 'I wanna make music for the rest of my life. I love being in a recording studio'."

She added: "I'm in my bedroom singing 'Where Are You Christmas' with the flashlight. I mean, essentially, that was my first music video. So I always get a kick out of that. And I remember thinking that was a really fun scene to film."

Topics: Entertainment, Celebrity

Jess Hardiman

Jess is a journalist at LADbible who graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics - indecisiveness at its finest, right there. She also works for FOODbible and its sister page Seitanists, which are both a safe haven for her to channel a love for homemade pasta, fennel and everything else in between. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

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