The Grinch fans still can't believe the actor who played Cindy Lou is now famous for something completely different
How the Grinch Stole Christmas first hit our screens - and warmed our hearts - back in 2000, boasting a star-studded cast fronted by none other than Jim Carrey as the titular character.
The film is arguably one of the finest yuletide movies out there, along with Home Alone and Elf - remaining a seasonal staple after all these years.
The story follows the Grinch, who resides on the fringes of Dr Seuss' Whoville - a town inhabited by Whos who absolutely adore Christmas.
However, he utterly despises the holiday until he befriends Whoville resident, Cindy Lou, and his heart finally warms to the festive spirit.
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And now, two decades on from starring in the blockbuster smash-hit, the actress who played little Cindy has shocked fans with her stark career move from Hollywood into the music industry.
The beloved character was played by a seven-year-old Taylor Momsen - yep the same Taylor Momsen who fronts American metal rockband The Pretty Reckless, responsible for tracks like 'Make Me Wanna Die', 'Heaven Knows' and 'House on a Hill'.
She also starred as the character Jenny Humphrey - or 'Lil Jay' - in Gossip Girl between 2007 and 2012.
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Fans of the flick clearly hadn't been keeping tabs on Momsen, with many previously rushing to social media to share their shock with one writing: "Wait. Can we just circle back to something. Taylor Momsen is singing metal????? WHAT?"
A second penned: "Finding out Lil Jay was Cindy was the most mind boggling thing I’ve ever experienced tbh."
"I am baffled! Cindy Lou was LITTLE JAY THIS WHOLE TIME!?"
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And an equally baffled person echoed: "MISS LITTLE J WAS THE ONE WHO PLAYED MISS CINDY LOU WHO??? I didn’t know that."
Momsen, 31, previously discussed her life following the fame after starring in The Grinch with her former Gossip Girl co-star Penn Badgley on the Podcrushed podcast.
"First of all, The Grinch changed my life in a multitude of ways - one of them being I was made fun of relentlessly," she revealed.
"Every time I would start a new school or go somewhere else, I don't even think the kids knew my name. I was just 'Grinch Girl'. Not even the character name, just 'Grinch Girl'. I got used to it, but it was alienating."
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Despite the childhood jeering, Momsen's assured she totally gets why the film is so loved around the globe. "The fact that it comes back around every year - I think it’s something to look forward to," she said in a 2020 interview with NBC’s Today.
"And I think it just kinda brings happiness and joy to anyone who watches it."
Topics: Christmas, TV And Film, Music, Celebrity, Gossip Girl
Rhiannon Ingle