Taylor Momsen Wears Grinch Cindy Lou Who Dress 25 Years Later

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Taylor Momsen is still stealing hearts 25 years after How The Grinch Stole Christmas. 

The former Gossip Girl star revisited her childhood role as Cindy Lou Who. She wore one of the original costumes she used in the 2000 film, where she acted alongside Jim Carrey’s Grinch, when she was just six years old.

Taylor shared a video on Instagram December 22nd revealing it was her original costume from the movie The Grinch. She joked that, 25 years later, it still almost fits, calling it a strange and wonderful holiday season.

In the video, the 32-year-old actress tries on the old plaid outfit. Instead of forcing herself into the original, short-sleeved style, she easily wears it as a strapless, off-the-shoulder top.

Taylor finished the outfit by adding black combat boots, showcasing her own style. But she also kept a few key elements from the original look: Cindy’s red cape with its furry collar, and a fresh pair of pink mittens that were very similar to the first.

Taylor didn’t go for her usual elaborate hairstyle. Instead, she wore her blonde hair in natural waves and playfully added a touch of fake snow at her roots for a festive look.

Taylor recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of her role as the Grinch by recalling how she landed the part at a very young age. She remembered having to memorize the whole script because she was still learning to read.

I’ll never forget getting the call about landing the role! I was actually back home in St. Louis, driving with my mom, and we were absolutely thrilled. We were just giddy with excitement, honestly – it was a really special moment.

And while Jim’s character was grumpy, Taylor had nothing but fond memories of working with him. 

She said she always felt secure and comfortable around Jim. She enjoyed his company, and even as a young person, she was impressed by his dedication and artistry. Watching him fully commit to such a flamboyant role showed her how much effort and talent he possessed.

Jim, meanwhile, called Taylor a “total pro.”

Jim told Vulture that it was immediately clear she was a remarkably gifted child. He said she was very intelligent for her age and had perfect comedic timing.

For more secrets from The Grinch, keep reading…

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

As a huge Jim Carrey fan, I remember things got a little hectic when he started filming How the Grinch Stole Christmas around the same time as another movie he was working on. It meant schedules overlapped, which was definitely a challenge for him!

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 the time was separate from 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 with him.

“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 final approval over any projects related to it.

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

Howard recounted to Empire magazine in 2000 that he’d invited Mrs. Geisel to the film set. He described how Jim Carrey would switch between acting like Andy Kaufman and then fully embodying the Grinch – complete with the character’s signature grin – captivating her attention. When Howard finally presented his idea for a film, she immediately responded, ‘I love it, and I want Jim Carrey to play the Grinch.’ This was exactly what Howard had hoped for, as he wouldn’t have considered making the movie with any other actor.

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

In Dr. Seuss’s 1954 book, Horton Hears a Who!, the whimsical world of Whoville is so small that the entire planet fits on a tiny speck of dust – you wouldn’t even know you were there!

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

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.

She shared that he would jokingly blame forgotten lines on her generosity with candy. According to the Gossip Girl actress, he’d tell people she “used to give him too much candy,” claiming he was “all hyped up” from the sugar. She described it as a funny story he often repeats.

You know, it’s funny how memory works. I was thinking about a time I brought someone toffees, and while I couldn’t for the life of me recall what kind of chocolate bar they loved, I distinctly remember they were absolutely surrounded by it – totally indulging in their favorite treat. It just shows you what sticks with you, doesn’t it?

She knew I loved Crunchies – they were my favorite chocolate bar from Canada – and she kept buying them for me constantly, as I told TopMob.

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

Taylor Momsen of Pretty Reckless recalled a powerful early experience on TODAY in 2020: walking into a stunning recording studio and singing into a microphone for the very first time – the song was ‘Where Are You, Christmas?’ She said that moment made her realize she wanted to pursue music as a lifelong career, because she truly loved being in the studio.

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

Jim Carrey said they all felt like they were working on something extraordinary. He remembers walking onto the set and thinking, ‘This is unbelievable!’ as quoted in TopMob.

You know, being on set sometimes felt incredibly surreal, almost like stepping into The Wizard of Oz. I’d constantly find myself wondering what the original filmmakers were thinking, what sparked their incredible creativity. It was amazing to see how they brought those ideas to life, and it really made me appreciate the magic of filmmaking.

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’d 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 extreme. They wanted Jim Carrey to still be clearly recognizable, so they asked Hiro to make the makeup less dramatic.

In a 2000 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Hiro explained that the initial idea was simply to use makeup to color Jim green and give him a wig. Jim initially preferred minimal makeup so he could move freely, even creating a video of himself making ‘Grinch’ faces that looked promising. However, Hiro and Jim eventually realized that just changing his color and adding a wig wouldn’t fully transform him into the Grinch, and they agreed that a more comprehensive approach was necessary.

Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE the drama! They tried SO many different versions of how the Grinch would look – seriously, at least six! – but then, like, a week before they were supposed to start filming, they finally realized Hiro’s original design was the only way to go. It was a close call, honestly! I was so worried they’d mess it up, but thankfully they came to their senses!

Hiro remembered that a typical day began between 5 and 6 a.m. He estimated he worked on Jim Carrey’s makeup four days a week for three months. The makeup application itself took around two hours and ten minutes. With his assistant, Amy Schmiederer, he worked quickly to avoid keeping Jim in the makeup chair for too long.

He explained that creating the look involved three main stages: first, attaching foam rubber pieces to his face, covering everything except his lower lip and chin; then, applying makeup to color the prosthetics; and finally, adding hairpieces and a wig. Jim took a 10 to 30 minute break after completing each of these steps.

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 he began a scene, he’d want to repeat it multiple times, striving for the perfect take. He’d often do each shot three or more times, and during those takes, he didn’t want anyone to bother him with touch-ups.

The artist carried a heavy tool belt filled with everything he needed – makeup expert Rick Baker thought it weighed around 100 pounds – to stay right 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 spending eight and a half hours getting into full makeup on the first day, telling Graham Norton in 2014 that it felt like “being buried alive.”

He explained that he returned to his trailer, physically injured himself by putting his leg through the wall, and told Ron Howard he had to drop out of the movie. Luckily, Brian Grazer, the producer, stepped in with a solution: hiring an expert who normally trains CIA agents in resisting torture.

I’ll never forget what Carrey shared – the advice he got when he was struggling. It was… intense! He said someone told him to just completely indulge, and if he started to panic and fall apart, to immediately distract himself. Anything worked – turn on the TV, do something completely different, or even have a friend physically snap him out of it. He even mentioned self-inflicted things like hitting himself or, believe it or not, smoking a lot to try and break the cycle.

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. He often played a Bee Gees live album – it may have been 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 even used the album’s timing to make sure she wasn’t rushing or falling behind. When a colleague, Jim, asked to borrow the album one Friday, she gave it to him. But she worried he might forget to return it, disrupting her makeup routine. So, the following week, she bought a copy of the album and brought it to her makeup trailer.

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.

As a longtime fan, I always find it fascinating to hear behind-the-scenes stories! I recently read an interview where they talked about the very first day of shooting with Jim in the full costume. Apparently, it was a bit of a nail-biting experience! They’d never actually put the complete look on him before, and everyone was worried about how he’d react. It turned out Jim wasn’t thrilled with how the wig covered his neck – it just didn’t feel right. They had to make adjustments right there on set, which meant filming got delayed a bit. It’s funny to think about all the little things that happen even on big productions!

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

Hiro explained that Jim’s biggest issue with the makeup was his contact lenses. The set used fake snow made of crushed paper, and tiny particles were constantly floating in the air. This dust kept getting under the lenses and irritating Jim’s eyes, making it really painful for him.

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

You know, directing can be unpredictable! The director shared with Empire that a particular actor really committed to his role, even if it meant some on-set challenges. He was getting things in his eyes constantly – seriously, we had an optometrist on standby with a super magnifying glass to help! There were even days we couldn’t film because of it. It was tough, but everyone agreed it was worth it to get the performance just right.

A mistake during the editing of the 2000 film How the Grinch Stole Christmas briefly showed Jim Carrey’s real eyes beneath his contact lenses. In one frame, as the Grinch discovers Whoville is still celebrating Christmas, you can clearly see Carrey’s natural brown eyes, and the moment went viral in 2022.

Jim Carrey described learning to cope with discomfort as a “real lesson in Zen.” He explained that he’d sometimes jokingly punch himself in the leg when feeling pain, which helped him redirect his focus. He discovered a technique of briefly pinching himself to distract from other discomfort. While challenging at first, he eventually got used to it, remarking on the incredible adaptability of people.

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

Hari remembered telling the LA Times that when filming wrapped, the lens, suit, and he would rush over to help the actor quickly remove parts of the Grinch costume. All that remained on the actor was the Grinch face—without the hair—and the black spandex suit he wore underneath. Then, the actor would return to his trailer to begin removing the remaining makeup.

I remember being on set with Jim Carrey and it was amazing! He’d peel off bits of the foam latex he wore for his masks – like The Grinch or Riddler stuff – and instead of throwing it away, he’d carefully collect it. He’d put the pieces in a plastic bag along with the daily filming schedule, and then give it to us, the crew and other people on set, as little keepsakes. It was such a thoughtful and funny thing to do, and I still have mine!

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 complimented my work, thanked me for my effort, and I thanked him for going through such a challenging experience. 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!

Interestingly, Hiro—now a two-time Oscar winner for his work on the 2017 film Darkest Hour and the 2019 film Bombshell—began attending therapy following his time on HTGSC.

I remember reading an interview with Hiro back in 2018 where he shared something really wild. Apparently, things got so tense on set that a producer actually suggested he leave, just to prove to Jim Carrey how vital Hiro was to getting the Grinch character right! It’s incredible when you think about it – the makeup team was massive, but Hiro was the only one specifically credited with working on the Grinch himself. It really highlights how irreplaceable he was.

According to Hiro, Carrey didn’t respond to his call after a week. However, Howard said Carrey promised to do better.

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

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

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

It wasn’t him. The singer was actually Thurl Ravencroft, and he famously voiced Tony the Tiger for Frosted Flakes for many years.

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

Howard described the production as 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 screenplay.

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 overly flattering assistant, Bris, in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

You know, it was actually Clint’s idea to have his older brother dress up as the Grinch for a day. He thought it would really lift everyone’s spirits, and honestly, it did! It was such a fun thing, and a real boost to our morale.

Howard explained to Empire that morale was low, and he decided to try and lift spirits. He told them, ‘If you could do something unexpected, like wear makeup, it would show people you understand things are difficult.’ One morning, he surprised everyone by showing up in costume around 3:30 a.m. He particularly shocked Jim and got a good laugh from the crew, and he believes they appreciated his willingness to go along with it for a day.

He didn’t enjoy 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’.

According to Howard, Carrey struggled with claustrophobia while wearing the suit, experiencing panic attacks and even needing to breathe into a paper bag. The director often tried to lift his spirits, though he hadn’t yet been able to 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 old costar to visit the set.

In a 2023 interview with Graham Bensinger, Howard lamented not having the camera ready when Jim Carrey, who he called a “genius impressionist,” flawlessly impersonated Don Knotts while wearing his Grinch costume.

According to Howard, he recognized the pain Carrey was experiencing, but ultimately believed Carrey had to make his own choices and do what he needed to do.

And, er, why was Carrey doing this again?

Okay, so, honestly? It all started with the Grinch. I mean, I’ve always loved him, since I was a kid! That’s why I just had to take on this huge, crazy project – it was a total obsession, really. The Grinch just… pulled me in, you know?

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, at its core, is about the true meaning of Christmas. He believes Dr. Seuss wanted to remind people what Christmas is really about – focusing on family, love, and accepting others. Despite how commercial Christmas has become, it still resonates with people because of these important values, and the feeling that we’re all connected as one big family.

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2025-12-23 22:49