Taylor Momsen, best known as a child star, stepped away from Hollywood a decade ago, trading acting for a thriving music career. Depending on when you first saw her, Momsen might be familiar as the wide-eyed Cindy Lou Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas or as the edgy, fashion-obsessed teen Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Girl. After more than ten years in TV and film, Momsen retired from acting in 2010, at 18, and has since devoted herself entirely to her band, The Pretty Reckless. Now 27, she continues to make music and has evolved her style significantly over the years.
Momsen’s acting career began at just seven years old. She made a major impact starring alongside Jim Carrey in How the Grinch Stole Christmas in 2000, a role she fondly remembers for the opportunity to witness Carrey’s craft firsthand. She also appeared in smaller film roles in Hansel & Gretel, Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams, and We Were Soldiers, but it was her 2007 casting as Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Girl that became her most recognizable TV role. Jenny, a teen striving to fit in with Manhattan’s elite, remained central to the series until Momsen’s departure in the fourth season, though she returned for a cameo in the finale. Momsen later expressed mixed feelings about her connection to the show, calling it a “past life,” while still appreciating fans recognizing her from it.
Music, however, became her true passion. Recording “Where Are You, Christmas?” on The Grinch soundtrack inspired her to pursue singing, leading to the formation of The Pretty Reckless while still on Gossip Girl. Her transformation influenced the show, requiring writers to adapt Jenny’s character to reflect Momsen’s evolving look and persona.
Today, Momsen and The Pretty Reckless remain active in the music scene, releasing their fourth album, Death by Rock and Roll, earlier this year. She cites influences ranging from The Beatles to ’90s grunge and classic rock, explaining that music is not just a career but central to her identity. Unlike acting, which she describes as a job she enjoyed, Momsen says she couldn’t imagine her life without music and fully committed to it once she gained autonomy over her choices.
