Jim Carrey & Taylor Momsen Reunite 25 Years After Filming The Grinch

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Jim Carrey and Taylor Momsen are kicking off the holiday season with a bang.

Jim Carrey and Taylor Momsen, who starred as the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who in the 2000 film How the Grinch Stole Christmas, came together again at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on November 8th, 2025. They were in Los Angeles at the Peacock Theater to honor rock band Soundgarden as they were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Following the event, Jim—wearing a black pinstripe coat and a T-shirt—posed for pictures with Taylor in the press room. Taylor was dressed in a large leather jacket and a short, black lace dress. The heartwarming reunion had been eagerly anticipated for a long time.

Jim, 63, mentioned to photographers in a TikTok video that it had been a long time since he and Taylor, 32, last saw each other – about 25 years, Taylor confirmed.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since the movie—based on the beloved Dr. Seuss book—first came out! As a huge fan, I was so touched to hear the Pretty Reckless singer talk about her special connection with the comedian who starred in it. She really shared a beautiful memory of their time working together on set.

Taylor shared with People magazine that the actor was incredibly kind and protective of her. She described filming The Grinch with him as a wonderful experience, saying she enjoyed getting to know him, even with all the makeup he wore.

The former Gossip Girl star, who last appeared on a CW television series, gained valuable performance experience by watching Jim work.

She explained that seeing an artist deeply committed to their work when she was young had a significant and lasting effect on her life.

Taylor added, “I’m excited to be able to tell him that as a grownup.”

The singer recently remembered filming the movie when she was only seven years old. Even though she was heavily teased at school because of it, she looks back on the experience with happy memories.

Reflecting on the experience, she said on the November 5th episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast that everything that happened while making the film was actually wonderful. She questioned why she’d been distancing herself from it, realizing, ‘I am Cindy Lou Who. I am still that girl.’

Keep reading for more on the making of How the Grinch Stole Christmas…

Jim Carrey famously stayed in character both on and off screen while portraying comedian Andy Kaufman in the 1999 film Man on the Moon.

Because filming for both How the Grinch Stole Christmas and another movie started in the same year, the lead actor had to work on both projects at the same time.

During a Q&A at the 2017 Venice Film Festival, where his documentary Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond premiered, Jim Carrey explained that he felt his persona at that time wasn’t truly himself. He said, ‘Jim Carrey didn’t exist at that time,’ and added that the influence of Andy Kaufman even extended to his performance as the Grinch.

Carrey mentioned he once spent two hours on a phone call with Howard, but he stayed in character as Andy the entire time, going through notes together.

“It was psychotic at times,” he admitted.

According to director Ron Howard, Jim Carrey even met with Audrey Geisel, the widow of Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geisel), while preparing to play the Grinch.

Audrey controlled her late husband’s legacy, having the final say on any projects related to it.

But apparently she appreciated Carrey’s commitment to both characters.

I remember Howard telling Empire magazine back in 2000 about how he brought Mrs. Geisel – Dr. Seuss’s wife – onto the set. He’d put on this incredible performance for her, switching back and forth between impersonating Andy Kaufman and then becoming the Grinch, complete with that famous grin! She was absolutely captivated. When I finally pitched my idea to her, she immediately said she loved it and wanted Jim Carrey to play the Grinch. Honestly, that’s exactly what I was hoping for – I couldn’t imagine making the movie with anyone else!

This was just the start of a successful voice acting career for Carrey, as he also lent his voice to the popular 2008 animated film, Horton Hears a Who!

In Dr. Seuss’s “Horton Hears a Who!” (1954), it’s impossible to know you’re even in Whoville—or even on it—because the entire world is said to fit on just a tiny speck of dust.

Interestingly, the tiny Whos that Horton hears are actually from the same Whoville featured in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, according to the established stories of Dr. Seuss.

Taylor Momsen, the actress who played Cindy Lou Who at age seven, used to receive candy bars from Jim Carrey, who brought them from his home country of Canada.

According to the Gossip Girl actress, he would jokingly tell people she used to spoil him with candy. He’d blame forgetting his lines on being “hyped up” from the sugar, and she said it was just a funny story he liked to share, as she told TopMob in 2000.

Although she remembered giving him toffees, she couldn’t recall what chocolate bar he liked best. However, Carrey clearly remembered being surrounded by his favorite treat.

She knew I loved Crunchies, a Canadian chocolate bar, and kept buying them for me,” he explained to TopMob.

Working with James Horner, the Academy Award-winning composer of Titanic, on the songs for Cindy Lou helped Momsen discover her passion for making music.

Taylor Momsen of Pretty Reckless recalled a pivotal moment from 2020 on TODAY: walking into a stunning recording studio and experiencing the joy of singing into a microphone for the very first time – performing ‘Where Are You, Christmas?’ She said that experience solidified her passion, making her realize she wanted to pursue a career making music and spending her life in the recording studio.

Performing the tune on set, Momsen said, “essentially, that was my first music video.”

Jim Carrey remembered feeling like they were creating something extraordinary. He told TopMob that whenever he arrived on set, he couldn’t help but think, ‘This is absolutely wild!’

He described feeling as though he’d stepped into The Wizard of Oz, constantly wondering about the creative process behind the film and marveling at how imaginative it was.

Meanwhile, Momsen did her communing with the 1939 Judy Garland classic before she came to set.

“I love how creative you are,” she said. “When I was little, I used to dress up as Dorothy or pretend to be Glinda and play around the house.”

Makeup artist Kazu Hiro initially created a Grinch look that the studio felt was too different from Jim Carrey. They asked him to make the transformation less extreme so audiences could still clearly see the actor.

I remember working with Jim Carrey on How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and it was fascinating seeing his process. Initially, he envisioned a very subtle transformation – just some green makeup, highlights, and a wig – because he wanted maximum movement. He even filmed himself making Grinch faces, and they looked good! But we all quickly realized that simply looking green wasn’t enough to become the Grinch. Jim came around to that idea too, and thankfully, agreed that our more involved approach to the character’s design was the right way to go.

After numerous failed attempts to refine the Grinch’s appearance, and with filming rapidly approaching, the team reverted to Hiro’s original design, just days before they were scheduled to begin shooting.

Hiro remembered his typical workday beginning between 5 and 6 a.m. He estimated he spent around three months applying makeup to Jim Carrey about four days a week. The makeup process itself took roughly two hours and ten minutes. Working quickly, with assistance from his makeup assistant Amy Schmiederer, was a priority so Jim wouldn’t have to sit for extended periods.

The makeup process involved three key stages: first, applying foam rubber pieces to his face, covering everything except his lower lip and chin; next, painting the color; and finally, attaching the hairpieces and wig. Jim took a 10 to 30 minute break after completing each stage.

Hari said the hardest part was making sure the makeup lasted all day, explaining that things like moving around and sweating can cause it to fade or smudge.

Hari explained that Jim Carrey was always fidgeting during filming, requiring frequent makeup adjustments. However, once Carrey began a scene, he was committed to repeating it multiple times, striving for the perfect take. He’d often perform a shot three or more times, and during those repeated takes, he didn’t want anyone to interrupt him for touch-ups.

The artist carried a heavy tool belt—makeup expert Rick Baker guessed it weighed around 100 pounds—to ensure he had everything needed while working with the actor.

In 2001, Gail Rowell-Ryan, the key hairstylist, and her team won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

Time did not make Carrey’s heart grow fonder for the Grinch costume.

He remembered on The Graham Norton Show in 2014 that the first time he had full makeup applied took eight and a half hours, which he described as feeling like “being buried alive.”

He explained that he returned to his trailer, intentionally damaged his leg through the wall, and told director Ron Howard he had to drop out of the film. Fortunately, producer Brian Grazer stepped in with a creative solution: hiring someone who trains CIA agents in resisting torture.

Carrey remembered being told to distract himself from difficult feelings in any way possible. This included indulging in whatever he wanted, and if he began to feel overwhelmed, to interrupt the downward spiral by changing the activity – whether that meant turning on the TV, seeking company, or even physically shocking himself, like hitting his head or smoking heavily.

Asked how long this went on for, Carrey said he was in makeup 100 times.

“And you know what got me through it?” he added. “The Bee Gees.”

Carrey wasn’t joking about that.

Hiro told the LA Times that while she was applying makeup, he’d usually be watching a DVD or listening to music, often a Bee Gees live album. He played a CD of the Bee Gees almost every day, possibly their 1977 album Here at Last…Bee Gees…Live.

The artist explained that she started applying makeup in sync with the music on an album. She used the rhythm of the songs to make sure she wasn’t rushing or falling behind. One Friday, a colleague named Jim borrowed the CD. The artist worried he might not return it, which would disrupt her makeup routine. To be safe, she bought another copy of the album and brought it to work the following week.

Which was good thinking, he said, because Carrey did forget to bring the CD back.

Carrey later autographed Hiro’s copy.

On the day Carrey recalled putting his leg through the wall, Hiro felt the tension in the air.

He explained to the LA Times that while every first day of filming usually has some issues, this was the first time they’d fully tested the final look on Jim, and they weren’t sure how he’d react. Both he and Jim were anxious, and it turned out Jim didn’t like how the wig covered his neck. They had to make adjustments on the spot, delaying the start of filming.

And, he added, “Jim is a perfectionist, and every time there was a change, he said something.”

You know, the real trouble with Jim’s makeup wasn’t the prosthetics or anything like that – it was the contact lenses. They were filming with this fake snow, which was surprisingly just crushed paper, and it created a ton of dust on set. Poor Jim was constantly getting tiny particles stuck under his lenses, right against his eyes. It was really painful for him, honestly. I felt so bad watching him deal with that!

Howard said Carrey was a guy who really couldn’t wear contacts.

The director explained to Empire that the actor had to go through with a difficult process because it was essential for his character. However, they often had an eye doctor on set with a strong magnifying glass, as the actor frequently got debris in his eyes, which sometimes prevented them from filming.

A mistake during editing led to a single frame from the 2000 film How the Grinch Stole Christmas going viral in 2022. The frame shows Jim Carrey, as the Grinch, reacting to the Whos still celebrating Christmas, and it clearly reveals the special contacts he wore to play the character, as his eyes appear bare and brown.

Okay, so Jim Carrey actually told me – well, the Times, but it feels like he told me – about this insane thing he did to deal with being uncomfortable while filming. He basically taught himself Zen! He’d literally punch himself in the leg when things got too much, and it was hilarious because everyone knew what he was doing! He called it ‘pain deferment’ – distracting yourself with a little pinch so you don’t focus on the real discomfort. It was brutal at first, those first couple weeks, but he said he eventually just…got used to it. Honestly, it’s mind-blowing what we humans can adapt to, isn’t it? He just transcended it! I’m obsessed with this story.

Carrey would waste no time getting de-Grinched after filming wrapped for the day.

According to Hari, when filming wrapped, the lens, suit, and I would rush over to help Jim Carrey quickly remove parts of his Grinch costume. He’d be left with just the Grinch mask and the black suit he wore underneath all the fur. Then he’d head back to his trailer to start taking off the makeup himself.

Jim Carrey saved the bits of foam rubber that came off his face during makeup, putting them in a bag with the daily shooting schedule. He then gave these pieces to crew members as keepsakes.

At the time, Hiro said all was well that ended well.

According to an interview with the Times, about two months after filming wrapped, Jim and I spoke again. He told me he appreciated my work and thanked me for a job well done. I thanked him in return, acknowledging how challenging the experience was for everyone involved. I consider How the Grinch Stole Christmas the most difficult film I’ve ever been a part of. It’s a fond memory, but we definitely wouldn’t repeat it!

Hiro, who later won two Academy Awards for his work on the films Darkest Hour (2017) and Bombshell (2019), began attending therapy following his time on HTGSC.

In a 2018 interview with Vulture, Hiro explained that things became so difficult, a producer actually suggested he temporarily leave the project. The idea was to demonstrate to Jim Carrey just how vital Hiro was to creating the Grinch’s look. While the film employed a large makeup team, Hiro was the sole artist specifically credited with working on the Grinch’s makeup.

According to Hiro, Carrey didn’t respond to his call after a week. However, Howard said Carrey promised he was working on improving his behavior.

Although his friends suggested he ask for a significant raise, the artist, who was born in Kyoto, decided to request assistance from the studio with obtaining a green card instead.

It was successful, and he later became a U.S. citizen. He also discovered through therapy that he was naturally an introvert.

Boris Karloff, famous for playing Frankenstein, actually narrated and provided the voice for the Grinch in the 1966 animated TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Because of this, many people mistakenly believed he also sang the well-known song, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”

Actually, it wasn’t him. The singer had long gone unacknowledged, but it was Thurl Ravencroft – he was also the voice of Tony the Tiger in Frosted Flakes commercials for many years.

For the 2000 film, sans exclamation point, Carrey did his own vocal on the classic tune.

Howard acknowledged the production was quite unusual. The set and costume teams, who had the children’s book as a starting point, were stuck waiting for the writers to complete the script.

Jim Carrey didn’t need a script, and he spontaneously came up with lines like, “6:30 p.m. Dinner with me. I can’t cancel that again.”

Director Ron Howard has frequently cast his brother, Clint Howard, in his movies, appearing in 17 films together over the years—from 1977’s Grand Theft Auto all the way to 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story.

That’s Clint portraying Mayor Augustus May and his flattering assistant, Bris, in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

Clint also came up with the idea of having his older brother dress up as the Grinch to cheer everyone up.

Howard explained to Empire that morale was low, and he wanted to do something to lift spirits. He decided to surprise everyone by showing up to work in full makeup. He snuck into the makeup chair around 3:30 a.m., put on the costume, and shocked Jim, which made the crew laugh. He felt it showed he was willing to put up with a little discomfort to brighten things up.

He didn’t like wearing contact lenses. Howard explained it wasn’t worth the cost of getting a custom pair for just one day, and added, quite simply, that he “didn’t want to wear the damn things.”

Howard remembered that Carrey struggled with intense anxiety and claustrophobia while wearing the suit, sometimes needing to breathe into a paper bag. The director often tried to boost Carrey’s spirits, and would later share the film’s impressive $350 million worldwide box office success with him.

Howard, a former child actor on a 1950s sitcom, knew the actor was a big fan of Don Knotts, who famously played Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show. So, Howard invited his former co-star to visit the set.

In a 2023 interview with Graham Bensinger, Howard recalled wishing he’d been filming when Jim Carrey, who he called a “genius impressionist,” flawlessly imitated Don Knotts while wearing his Grinch costume.

According to Howard, he recognized the pain Jim Carrey was experiencing, but he also believed Carrey needed to do what he felt was necessary.

And, er, why was Carrey doing this again?

He explained that his lifelong love of the Grinch was what originally inspired him to take on such a challenging project.

He told TopMob in 2000 that he’s always been moved by the idea that anyone can change. He believes most people simply want to feel included and will join in if given the chance.

And he also wanted to call foul on the avarice.

Jim Carrey explained that the book’s message is about the true meaning of Christmas. He believes Dr. Seuss wanted to remind people what Christmas is really about – connecting with family, showing love and acceptance, and recognizing our shared humanity. Despite all the commercial aspects of the holiday, Carrey feels that its core message of family and love will always resonate because it speaks to something deeply meaningful within us.

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2025-11-09 22:49