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 _T_he 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'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.
Whether or not everybody's ready to accept Taylor the rockstar is immaterial to the singer - for her this new career is very much a rebirth rather than a side project. Indeed she's recently said, "...when I got to a place where I realized I was in control of my own life, and had found the right band, and everything was coming to fruition, it wasn’t even a question: I was going to quit my day job. I came to set every day with a guitar."
Taylor the child actress might have been sweet, but Taylor the rockstar is badass and because of that, we're happy to leave Jenny Humphrey behind also.
More: The Pretty Reckless New Album: Are Critics Rocking Out To 'Going To Hell'? [Video]