What Cindy Lou Who Actor Taylor Momsen Is Doing Today As She Reunites With Jim Carrey For The First Time In 25 Years

As Christmas gets closer and festive movies return to living rooms everywhere, many fans may be surprised to find out just how different Taylor Momsen’s life looks today. She played Cindy Lou Who in How The Grinch Stole Christmas, yet her world now is far removed from the innocent character she portrayed as a child.

Momsen, now 32, was only seven when she became widely known for starring in the live-action remake of the Dr. Seuss classic. She acted alongside Jim Carrey, who played the Grinch, and the two bonded throughout filming, creating memories that stuck with her long after the movie wrapped.

The pair formed a close friendship on set, and Momsen has often mentioned how much she appreciated Carrey’s kindness and protective nature while navigating such a big project at such a young age.

Speaking to PEOPLE recently, she reflected on those early years and said: "I just love that he was very protective of me. He was always very kind. And just the entire experience of filming Grinch and getting to know him so well, even in all the makeup, was just wonderful."

The sweet memories came up as she and Carrey reunited for the first time in 25 years at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony held on November 8. Their reunion sparked a wave of nostalgia among longtime fans of the holiday classic.

While Carrey has continued acting in a long list of major films since the movie’s release in 2000, Momsen made a very different choice. After her successful run on Gossip Girl, she stepped back from acting entirely to pursue a new creative path.

Taylor Momsen starred as Cindy Lou Who in the classic festive movie Universal Pictures

These days, Momsen fronts a metal rock band called The Pretty Reckless, and the shift in her career shocked many who grew up watching her as Cindy Lou Who. Her dramatic change in image and genre caught a lot of people off guard.

One stunned fan wrote: "Wait. Can we just circle back to something. Taylor Momsen is singing metal????? HWAT?"

Another added: "Finding out lil jay was Cindy was the most mind boggling thing I've ever experienced tbh."

A third person reacted with: "I am baffled ! Cindy Lou was LITTLE JAY THIS WHOLE TIME!?"

And someone else, just as surprised, commented: "MISS LITTLE J WAS THE ONE WHO PLAYED MISS CINDY LOU WHO??? I didn't know that."

The Pretty Reckless formed in 2009 and includes Momsen as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Ben Phillips on lead guitar and backing vocals, Mark Damon on bass, and Jamie Perkins on drums. Together, they have built a strong following and a solid career in rock music.

Momsen and Jim Carrey reunited for the first time in 25 years last week Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage

So far, the band has released four full-length albums and even made music history as the first female-fronted band to earn seven number-one singles on the charts. Their success shows just how deeply Momsen has committed herself to her new profession.

Her decision to leave acting came in 2011, when she chose to follow her passion for music. She stepped away from her role on Gossip Girl, where she had been a regular cast member alongside actors like Blake Lively.

In a 2016 interview with Elle, Momsen explained her choice and said: "I quit acting, actually. I quit Gossip Girl and now tour and am in a band, and that's pretty much all I want to do."

Momsen swapped the silver screen to pursue music Theo Wargo/Getty Images

"Hopefully I'll be able to only do that for the rest of my life."

Although she dedicated herself fully to performing and writing music, she still finds ways to honor her connection to the film that first made her famous. Last month, she announced that she had a holiday-themed EP on the way, inspired by her time on the set of the beloved Christmas movie.

Sharing the update on Instagram, Momsen wrote: "25 years in the making — "Where Are You Christmas?" is OUT NOW! 'Taylor Momsen's Pretty Reckless Christmas,' a brand-new holiday EP featuring 4 original songs and 2 Grinch classics - arrives October 31."