How the Grinch Stole the Red Carpet: Jim Carrey and Taylor Momsen Reunite 25 Years After a Christmas Classic

A quarter-century after How the Grinch Stole Christmas first hit theaters, Jim Carrey and Taylor Momsen reunited in heartwarming fashion — and fans can’t stop smiling.

The beloved on-screen duo, who played the Grinch and little Cindy Lou Who in the 2000 holiday blockbuster, posed together on the red carpet at the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday night. Their touching reunion came 25 years after Ron Howard’s festive film first captured hearts around the world.

According to People, photographers caught the pair laughing, hugging, and sharing memories in the press room before the event began. Carrey, 63, sported a brown pin-striped trench coat layered over a graphic tee, black trousers, and polished shoes — his trademark mix of eccentric and effortless. His shaggy hair was slicked back, completing the laid-back but classic look.

Meanwhile, Momsen, now 32, leaned fully into her rock-star aesthetic. The “Make Me Wanna Die” singer and The Pretty Reckless frontwoman wore a black leather jacket, a slinky slip dress, and platform boots. Her smoky eyes and platinum hair were pure edge — a far cry from the sweet-faced Whoville girl audiences fell in love with two decades ago (Variety).

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“He Was Always Very Kind”

Speaking to People on the red carpet, Momsen reflected fondly on working with Carrey, calling him “very protective” and “incredibly kind” during filming.

“I just love that he was very protective of me,” she said. “He was always so gentle, even though he was buried under all that makeup. The whole experience was magical, and I remember feeling like I was part of something really special.”

At the time of filming, Momsen was just seven years old, while Carrey was already one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, fresh off hits like The Truman Show and Liar Liar. Despite the intimidating prosthetics and heavy yak-fur costume that transformed him into Dr. Seuss’s grumpy green recluse, Carrey made sure his young co-star felt at ease.

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“I Didn’t Know What Jim Looked Like”

In a recent episode of Call Her Daddy, Momsen admitted she “didn’t even know what Jim Carrey looked like” while they were filming.

“I had never seen him out of costume,” she said, laughing. “Someone had to point him out to me at the premiere and say, ‘That’s Jim,’ and I was like, ‘Oh! Jim!’”

The revelation delighted fans who grew up watching the film, which has become a staple of holiday television and a defining Christmas classic. The movie — based on Dr. Seuss’s 1957 book — grossed over $345 million worldwide and remains one of the highest-grossing holiday films of all time (BBC Entertainment).

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Carrey’s Christmas Legacy

Carrey has often spoken about the film’s enduring popularity and what it means to him personally. In a 2024 interview with Extra, the Canadian-born actor described The Grinch as “a lucky thing” in his career.

“It really makes me feel good,” he said. “How it happened, my gosh, I don’t know, but I’m so gratified by the idea that that’s one of the yule logs people go to every year. It’s a lovely thing.”

The role, which required nearly four hours of prosthetic application each day, was famously challenging. Makeup artist Rick Baker — who later won an Academy Award for his work on the film — once told The Hollywood Reporter that Carrey’s dedication “bordered on superhuman,” recalling that he even underwent “torture-resistance training” to endure the costume’s claustrophobic design.

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From Whoville to Rock Royalty

Now an acclaimed rock musician and the face of her band The Pretty Reckless, Momsen has long since traded Whoville for the world’s biggest stages. But her affection for the Grinch remains unwavering.

“I’ll always love that movie,” she said. “It’s part of who I am. Every Christmas, I still get people saying, ‘You’re Cindy Lou Who!’ and it makes me smile every time.”

The duo’s reunion was a full-circle moment — one that reminded fans of the magic, mischief, and heart that How the Grinch Stole Christmas brought to generations of viewers. As The Guardian wrote in a 2020 retrospective, the film “endures not just because of its visual spectacle, but because Carrey’s performance found the humanity in a creature who learns, ultimately, that love and community matter most.”