Without her role as Cindy Lou Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, it’s possible that Taylor Momsen would have never pursued a career as a singer. In an interview with Today, the former Gossip Girl star affirmed that her time on the movie served as a catalyst for her future with the Pretty Reckless band.
Starring alongside Jim Carrey in the popular ‘00s film, Taylor was only seven at the time of filming. It was one of her earliest roles, and later led to more acting opportunities that included Hansel and Gretel and Gossip Girl. However, she revealed to Today that the film’s personal impact went beyond an eventual career in acting.
First time
Looking back, she recalled the moment that she stepped into the studio to record the film’s soundtrack. “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, she said.
She credits that moment with changing her life, saying, “It made me go’ I wanna make music for the rest of my life. I love being in a recording studio’.”
Grinch
Looking back to one scene in the Grinch, Taylor also noted that the film served her music in another way. “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,” she said.
Since that moment, Taylor has had plenty more musical opportunities. The Pretty Reckless has appeared at countless festivals, and toured with the likes of Evanescence and Soundgarden. And as Taylor told Today, the New Year will bring even more music from the band, as The Pretty Reckless is set to release a brand new album.