Taylor Momsen - Wikipedia Taylor Momsen Taylor Momsen Momsen performing with The Pretty Reckless at River City Rockfest 2017 Taylor Michel Momsen ( 1993 - 07 - 26 ) July 26, 1993 ( age 24 ) St. Louis, Missouri, US Occupation Singer songwriter actress model Years active 1997 -- present Musical career Genres Alternative rock hard rock post-grunge Instruments Vocals guitar Labels Interscope Razor & Tie Cooking Vinyl Associated acts The Pretty Reckless Taylor Michel Momsen ( born July 26, 1993 ) is an American singer, songwriter, former actress and model. She is known for portraying the character of Jenny Humphrey on the CW teen drama series Gossip Girl ( 2007 -- 2012 ) and Cindy Lou Who in the film How the Grinch Stole Christmas ! ( 2000 ). She is also known for being the lead singer and frontwoman of the American rock band The Pretty Reckless. Contents 1 Early life 2 Acting 3 Modeling 4 Music 5 Discography 6 Filmography 7 References 8 External links Early life Momsen was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Her parents are Michael and Collette Momsen and she has a younger sister, Sloane Momsen, who is also an actress. She has Russian ancestry. She was raised Roman Catholic and attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School for elementary school and later Herbert Hoover Middle School in Potomac, Maryland. She studied dance at the Center of Creative Arts in St. Louis. Momsen was signed with Ford Models at a very young age : `` My parents signed me up with Ford ( Modeling ) at the age of 2. No 2 - year - old wants to be working, but I had no choice. My whole life, I was in and out of school. I did n't have friends. I was working constantly and I did n't have a real life. '' She began acting professionally at three years of age in a 1997 national commercial for Shake ' n Bake. She was then cast in The Prophet 's Game. Momsen is included on the list of Unclaimed Coogan accounts for performing children whose partial childhood earnings are mandated to be put in a special fund but who have yet to claim their earnings. Momsen attended the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan for high school alongside Connor Paolo, Gregori Lukas and Sarah Hyland. Acting Momsen at the Metropolitan Opera in 2008 In 2000, Momsen played the role of Cindy Lou Who in Dr. Seuss ' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, her breakout role. In 2002, she was given the role of Gretel in the motion picture : Hansel and Gretel, as well as Alexandra, the President 's daughter, in Spy Kids 2 : The Island of Lost Dreams. Momsen 's career came to a halt for over three years until she received a lead role in the WB series Misconceptions, which was never aired, after that she also appeared in the 2006 film Saving Shiloh. She also auditioned for the title role in Hannah Montana, and was in the top three, but the role was instead awarded to Miley Cyrus -- a decision that Momsen was happy with in retrospect. In 2007, she starred in the Walt Disney Pictures film Underdog as Molly and as Jennifer in the movie Paranoid Park, directed by Gus Van Sant. Beginning in 2007, she played the character of Jenny Humphrey in The CW television series Gossip Girl, based on the book series by Cecily von Ziegesar. Momsen 's appearances on the series became increasingly sporadic, and by the end of the first half of the fourth season, she had only appeared in four episodes. It was then announced that the actress would be scheduled for an indefinite hiatus from the show, which ended with her leaving the series as a regular cast member after the completion of the fourth season in 2011. On August 16, 2011, Momsen told Elle magazine that she had quit acting to focus on her music career. On October 16, 2012, it was reported that Momsen would be returning to Gossip Girl for its final episode, in which she appeared briefly in the wedding sequence. Modeling In June 2008, at the age of fourteen, Momsen signed to IMG Models. She was the face of British fashion chain New Look for its spring / summer 2010 collection. After weeks of speculation about who would be the face of Madonna 's 2010 fashion line `` Material Girl '', Momsen was announced on July 15, 2010. A week later, Momsen was announced as the model for John Galliano 's new women 's fragrance, scheduled to launch in autumn 2010. In 2010, she appeared in a video for Galliano 's `` Parlez - Moi d'Amour '' fragrance ad campaign. Momsen is the face of Samantha Thavasa 's handbag line. She has done multiple photoshoots, press events, and commercials. Momsen appeared on the cover of Page Six Magazine when she was 15 years old in 2009. She also appeared on the February 2010 cover of Seventeen. In October 2010, Momsen wore a pair of platform stilettos, thigh - high stockings, and a holster strapped around her leg for Revolver. She appeared on the cover of FHM 's March 2012 edition and FHM ranked Momsen # 29 in its 2012 Hot 100 issue. She also made her cover debut for Maxim in the November 2013 issue. Music Momsen performing in April 2010 Momsen has said that `` music is where I can be me '', stating that `` acting is easy. I 've been doing it for so long and I totally love it. But you 're playing a character instead of yourself. Music is more personal because you 're writing it and you 're involved in every step of it. '' At 5 years old, Momsen recorded the song `` Christmas, Why Ca n't I Find You ? '' for the soundtrack to How the Grinch Stole Christmas. In 2002, she recorded the songs `` One Small Voice '' and `` Rudolph The Red - Nosed Reindeer '' for the compilation album School 's Out ! Christmas. In March 2009, Momsen stated in an interview with OK ! magazine that her band The Pretty Reckless had signed a deal with Interscope Records. She played her first tour with her band opening for The Veronicas on their Revenge Is Sweeter Tour in spring 2009. After the tour, Momsen began working with guitarist Ben Phillips, who would soon join the band. Momsen subsequently swapped out her former bandmates. She co-writes songs with Phillips ; in addition to lead vocals, Momsen also plays rhythm guitar. The band 's debut album Light Me Up was released on August 30, 2010 in the UK, where it debuted at number 6, as well as at number 18 in Ireland. The first single `` Make Me Wanna Die '' was released on May 30, 2010, while the second single `` Miss Nothing '' which was released on August 23, 2010 peaked at number 39. `` Just Tonight '' was released as the album 's third single. Songs from this album have been in the movie `` Kick - ass '' as well as shows like `` The Vampire Diaries '' and `` Gossip Girl ''. Television personality Heidi Montag recorded `` Blackout '', a song written by Momsen. According to Momsen, she wrote the song when she was 8 years old and recorded it as a demo with a producer. Montag released the song as a digital only single, with the music video being directed by her husband Spencer Pratt. Momsen commented about the recording : `` I 'm like, okay, dude, you 're singing an 8 - year - old 's words, but that 's cool. It 's so funny because I did n't shop it or anything and I get this call going, ' Did you write a song for Heidi Montag ' ? And I 'm like, ' What ? ' ''. The track was later included on Montag 's debut studio album Superficial ( 2010 ). On July 27, 2011, Momsen announced via Twitter that the band would be the supporting act for Evanescence during the fall of 2011. Throughout 2012, Momsen and her band toured North America ; the second headlining tour, titled the Medicine Tour, began in March 2012 and culminated with supporting dates for Marilyn Manson 's 2012 world tour Hey Cruel World... Tour. Momsen also appeared as guest vocalist on the first track of ex Ministry member Paul Barker 's 2012 album Fix This. On November 30, 2012, it was announced that The Pretty Reckless ' fourth single `` Kill Me '' would be released on December 11. The track was the last song to be featured in the Gossip Girl series finale. Momsen cites Kurt Cobain, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd, AC / DC, Marilyn Manson, Oasis and Shirley Manson of Garbage as some of her personal influences. Going to Hell was released on March 18, 2014. The release marked the band 's largest sales week to date and landed at # 5 on the Billboard 200 with over 35,000 copies sold in its first week. The success of the record saw Taylor, along with the rest of the band, break records when they became the first female - fronted band to reach No. 1 on the rock radio charts with its first two singles : `` Heaven Knows '' in March 2014 and `` Fucked Up World '' in September 2014. The Pretty Reckless also spent the majority of late 2013 throughout 2014 on tour supporting Going To Hell. In 2014, her band also supported Fall Out Boy in their European leg of the Save Rock n Roll Tour along with New Politics. Throughout 2015, Momsen continued to record new material for the third Pretty Reckless album. On September 29, 2016, the band released the single `` Take Me Down '', which reached number two on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart. The third album, Who You Selling For was released in October 2016. Discography Main article : The Pretty Reckless discography Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1999 Prophet 's Game, The The Prophet 's Game Honey Bee Swan 2000 How the Grinch Stole Christmas Cindy Lou Who Nominated -- Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Female Newcomer Nominated -- Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor Nominated -- Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film -- Young Actress Age Ten or Under 2002 We Were Soldiers Julie Moore 2002 Spy Kids 2 : The Island of Lost Dreams Alexandra 2002 Hansel & Gretel Gretel 2006 Saving Shiloh Samantha Wallace 2007 Paranoid Park Jennifer 2007 Underdog Molly Nominated -- Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film -- Supporting Young Actress 2008 Spy School Madison Kramer Television Year Title Role Notes 1998 Early Edition Allie Uncredited ; episode : `` A Minor Miracle '' 2006 Misconceptions Hopper Watson Unaired WB series 2007 -- 2010 ; 2012 Gossip Girl Jennifer `` Jenny '' Humphrey Main cast ( season 1 -- 4 ) Special guest star ( season 6 ) : 66 episodes Nominated -- Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Breakout Star : Female Nominated -- Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series ( Comedy or Drama ) -- Leading Young Actress References Jump up ^ `` Taylor Momsen Biography ''. TV Guide. Retrieved October 18, 2010. Jump up ^ Aleksander, Irina ( September 18, 2008 ). `` Taylor Momsen : Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman ''. The New York Observer. Archived from the original on September 21, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2018. Jump up ^ Momsen, Taylor ( July 8, 2013 ). `` Twitter : taylormomsen : @ Zheka_Kinoman yes, I 'm part Russian ''. Twitter.com. Retrieved July 16, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Taylor Momsen Gets Spiritual -- Daily Intelligencer ''. Nymag.com. Retrieved September 2, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Taylor Momsen ''. Movies.yahoo.com. April 20, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2013. ^ Jump up to : Blonska, Joanna. `` The Young and the ' Reckless ' ''. Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved February 4, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Taylor Momsen, Age 3, In Shake ' N Bake Commercial ( VIDEO ) ''. Huffington Post. November 15, 2010. Retrieved December 1, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Unclaimed Coogan Fund list ''. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Taylor Momsen Glad She 's Not ' Hannah Montana ' ''. www.starpulse.com. January 25, 2010. Archived from the original on October 26, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2010. Jump up ^ Ausiello, Michael `` ' Gossip Girl ' Sidelines Taylor Momsen '', Deadline Hollywood, November 22, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Momen Quit Acting ''. www.yahooblogs.com. August 16, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Taylor Momsen Returning To ' Gossip Girl ' Along With Connor Paolo ''. The Huffington Post. AOL. October 16, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2012. Jump up ^ Murray, Rheana ( October 17, 2012 ). `` ' Gossip Girl ' Alums Taylor Momsen and Connor Paolo Make Surprise Return for Show 's Final Episode ''. Daily News. Retrieved November 12, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Taylor Momsen : From Gossip Girl to Supermodel ''. Offtherack.people.com. June 25, 2008. Retrieved June 25, 2010. Jump up ^ Vogue, Teen. `` Taylor Momsen : Girl on Film ''. Teenvogue.com. Retrieved June 25, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Taylor Momsen for new look ''. The Express online. March 8, 2010. Retrieved April 4, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Grazia Fashion : Taylor Momsen is the face of Material Girl ! ''. Graziadaily.co.uk. Retrieved August 10, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Grazia Fashion : Taylor Momsen To Model For Galllano ! ! ''. Graziadaily.co.uk. Retrieved August 10, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Samantha Thavasa Will Have You Know Taylor Momsen Is Employable ''. Retrieved June 20, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Taylor Momsen Seventeen Cover -- Interview and Pictures of Taylor Momsen ''. Seventeen.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2010. Retrieved February 9, 2014. Jump up ^ `` FHM at Taylor Momsen 's sexy house party ! Girls ''. FHM.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Hot 100 ''. FHM. 2012. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved January 11, 2013. Jump up ^ Tweet ( October 10, 2013 ). `` Taylor Momsen Pictures of a Pretty Reckless Singer ''. Maxim. Retrieved February 9, 2014. ^ Jump up to : Wightman, Catriona, `` Taylor Momsen : ' Music is my only goal ' '', Digital Spy, November 3, 2010, retrieved November 3, 2011 Jump up ^ `` Taylor Momsen Not Kissing Chace Crawford Offscreen ''. Okmagazine.com. March 3, 2009. Retrieved June 25, 2010. Jump up ^ `` TAYLOR MOMSEN 'S `` Pretty Reckless '' : The Veronicas Pick `` GOSSIP GIRL '' Band As Tour Opener ``. Huffingtonpost.com. April 17, 2009. Retrieved November 8, 2011. Jump up ^ New Song from Taylor Momsen 's Pretty Reckless By Avery Spofford on July 12, 2010 5 : 56 pm -- Spin Jump up ^ DREAMSEEKERS : THE BEST MUSIC YOU 'VE NEVER HEARD. ( March 19, 2011 ). Billboard -- the International Newsweekly of Music, Video and Home Entertainment, 123, A, B, C, D. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/868612104 ^ Jump up to : Harp, Justin, `` Momsen ' surprised by Montag song cover ' '', Digital Spy, October 15, 2010, retrieved January 3, 2011 Jump up ^ `` Taylor Momsen announces tour with Evanescence, AHN, July 27, 2011, retrieved July 31, 2011 Jump up ^ The Pretty Reckless Bring ' Medicine Tour ' Stateside By Tara Hall on January 31, 2012 5 : 56 pm -- Soundspike Jump up ^ `` Kill Me ( Explicit ) ''. Amazon.com. Amazon.com. 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless -- ' Wikipedia : Fact or Fiction ? ' ''. Loudwire. Retrieved March 28, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Taylor Momsen : ' I admire Shirley Manson ' -- Music News ''. Digital Spy. August 29, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2012. Jump up ^ `` I love Oasis. I love Noel Gallagher. He 's a great songwriter. I 'd love to be able to write a song with him at some point ''. The A.V. Club. March 10, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2017. Jump up ^ `` THE PRETTY RECKLESS TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM ' GOING TO HELL ' MARCH 18, 2014 ON RAZOR & TIE ''. Razor & Tie Direct L.L.C. January 21, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2016. Jump up ^ `` ' Frozen ' Soundtrack Earns Its Biggest Sales Week Yet, Recalling Adele 's Longevity ''. Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Pretty Reckless Only Female - Fronted Band to Top Mainstream Rock With First 2 Hits ''. Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Video Premiere : THE PRETTY RECKLESS 's ' Take Me Down ' ''. blabbermouth.net. September 29, 2016. Retrieved September 29, 2016. Jump up ^ `` The Pretty Reckless -- Chart history Billboard ''. www.billboard.com. Retrieved September 29, 2016. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Taylor Momsen. Official website Taylor Momsen on IMDb Taylor Momsen on Twitter The Pretty Reckless Taylor Momsen Ben Phillips Jamie Perkins Mark Damon Nick Carbone Matt Chiarelli John Secolo Studio albums Light Me Up Going to Hell Who You Selling For Extended plays The Pretty Reckless Hit Me Like a Man EP Singles `` Make Me Wanna Die '' `` Miss Nothing '' `` Just Tonight '' `` Kill Me '' `` Heaven Knows '' `` Messed Up World '' `` Follow Me Down '' `` Take Me Down '' `` Back to the River '' Tours Light Me Up Tour The Medicine Tour Going to Hell Tour Who You Selling For Tour Related articles Discography Interscope Records BIBSYS : 8030377 BNE : XX4862922 BNF : cb15683982x ( data ) GND : 141515686 ISNI : 0000 0000 8356 3618 LCCN : n2003080676 MusicBrainz : d1ecf86c - 3d89 - 420e - b8c1 - bceb6b101c61 SUDOC : 124063888 VIAF : 10175733 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Taylor_Momsen&oldid=841744884 '' Categories : 1993 births Living people 20th - century American actresses 21st - century American actresses 21st - century American singers 21st - century women singers Actresses from St. Louis Actresses of Russian descent Alternative rock guitarists American alternative rock musicians American child actresses American child models American child singers American female guitarists American female rock singers American female singer - songwriters American feminists American film actresses American hard rock musicians American people of Russian descent American rock guitarists American rock songwriters American Roman Catholics American singer - songwriters American television actresses Female models from Missouri Female post-grunge singers Feminist musicians Guitarists from Missouri Kerrang ! 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Question: the girl that played cindy lou who in the grinch
Answer: Taylor Michel Momsen