Pretty Reckless: The Evolution of Taylor Momsen

From little Cindy Lou in ‘The Grinch’ to 'Gossip Girl's' Jenny Humphries to now fully fledged rock frontwoman with The Pretty Reckless Taylor Momsen has had quite the career evolution before our very eyes. Now with her band's second album 'Going to Hell' being released Momsen might finally be getting the rock and roll recognition she's been longing for. So how did the little girl who tamed the 'Grinch' end up fronting a rock band?

Taylor Momsen fronting her band The Pretty Reckless

Taylor Momsen's entry into showbusiness started before she could even say anything about it, when her parents signed her up to Ford Modelling agency at the age of two. It's something that Taylor has since spoken out about saying, 'no 2-year-old wants to be working, but I had no choice. My whole life, I was in and out of school. I didn’t have friends. I was working constantly and I didn’t have a real life.’ Still she doesn't regret her parent's decision. Small parts in commercials followed but it wasn’t until 2000 that Taylor would land her breakout acting role.

It came when she was cast opposite Jim Carrey in ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’,  as Cindy Lou the little girl who struck up an unlikely friendship with the green creature. Roles in other kid oriantated movies followed. She was Gretel in ‘Hansel and Gretel’ alongside Dakota Fannng and as the President’s daughter in ‘Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams’. Then in 2006 she found herself nearly cast in the role of ‘Hannah Montana’, but eventually the part went to Miley Cyrus. Instead a different and more suitable part would come Taylor’s way a year later.

More: Taylor Momsen Wouldn't Rule Out Playboy

Taylor started playing Jenny Humphrey  in the CW series ‘Gossip Girl’ in 2007. As the younger sister of Dan, Jenny started out as a sweet Brooklyn girl trying to fit in among her wealthy classmates at the exclusive Constance High School. The fashion obsessed budding designer Jenny soon became popular among most viewers and there was even talk of Taylor getting her own spinoff. Though soon Jenny would begin to grow up very quickly and viewer's were treated to a much more rebellious 'Little J' who helped deal drugs and even slept with resident bad boy Chuck Bass. As the character's personality began to change so did her wardrobe, her hair got blonde their was darker eye makeup and much edgier clothing. Much like Jenny, Taylor herself began evolving her style and soon it seemed people were unable to tell when Momson stopped being Jenny Humphries and became Taylor.

Taylor Momsen back in her 'Gossip Girl' days

Rumors of on set problems with Taylor during the show's fourth season, didn't help matters and by the mid seson finale she was announced as being on an ‘indefinite hiatus’ from the show. All the drama didn't seem to bother Taylor, who had begun preparing to make a move into the music world, when she was still very much Jenny Humphrey. She’d already had some early experience, recording the song ‘Christmas, Why Can't I Find You?' for the 'Grinch' soundtrack and  two songs for the 2002 compilation album entitled,  'School's Out! Christmas'. This time, however, Momsen was going to do things very differently. In 2007 she began working with producer Kato Khandwala who would eventually introduce her to guitarist Ben Phillips, soon The Pretty Reckless were born.

More: From Gossip Girl to the Pretty Reckless.