Jim Carrey and Taylor Momsen reunited at the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Los Angeles on November 8, marking a joyful return to the holiday spotlight. The actors, famed for their roles as The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who in the 2000 film How the Grinch Stole Christmas, shared a moment together after 25 years, delighting fans with their long-awaited reunion.
The 2000 adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s beloved children’s book remains a seasonal favorite, and this reunion underscored the lasting impact of the film, highlighting both Carrey’s dedication to his role and Momsen’s early beginnings in Hollywood. Their appearance at the Peacock Theater, where they supported the induction of Soundgarden into the Rock Hall of Fame, rekindled memories of a cherished holiday classic while demonstrating the enduring bond between these two performers.
Reuniting After 25 Years Brings Warm Memories
Following the ceremony, Jim Carrey, clad in a black pinstripe trench coat, stood alongside Taylor Momsen, who wore an oversized leather jacket paired with a black lace minidress, for photographers in the press room. This reunion marked their first meeting since filming How the Grinch Stole Christmas in 1999.
“We haven’t seen each other since The Grinch,”
Jim Carrey shared with photographers in a TikTok video, to which Taylor Momsen added,
“25 years!”
Taylor, who was only 7 years old when she played Cindy Lou Who, reminisced about her experiences with Carrey on set, describing him as protective and kind during the production.
“He was very protective of me. He was always very kind,”
she told People on November 9.
“The entire experience of filming Grinch and getting to know him so well, even in all the makeup, was just wonderful.”
Momsen emphasized how observing Carrey at work influenced her own artistic path, highlighting his seriousness about his craft and the enduring effect it had on her creative development.
“As a young person watching an artist at work and taking their craft so seriously,”
she explained,
“that left a really powerful, lasting impact on me as an adult now.”
She expressed excitement about sharing her admiration directly with him during their reunion.
“I’m excited to be able to tell him that as a grownup.”
Despite enduring teasing at school for her role as Cindy Lou Who, Taylor looks back fondly on the experience, embracing the character as an integral part of her identity.
“Looking back on it, I go, ‘No, all of those things that happened and all of those experiences of making this film was (sic) wonderful,’”
she reflected during a November 5 episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast.
“So why am I shunning this? I am Cindy Lou Who. I am that girl. I’m still that girl.”
Jim Carrey’s Method Approach Influenced the Grinch Role
Jim Carrey’s preparation for The Grinch intertwined with his earlier deep immersion into portraying Andy Kaufman in the 1999 film Man on the Moon. Carrey’s intense method acting for Andy Kaufman overlapped with the start of filming for the Grinch movie, impacting his performance.
“Jim Carrey didn’t exist at that time,”
Carrey said during a 2017 Venice Film Festival event screening Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond.
“Andy actually affected the Grinch as well.”
He recounted spending hours on the phone with director Ron Howard while fully embodying Kaufman’s persona, describing the experience as “psychotic at times.”
Audrey Geisel Endorsed Carrey’s Dual Commitments
As the guardian of Dr. Seuss’s legacy, Audrey Geisel played a pivotal role in approving the project and choosing Carrey for the role of the Grinch. According to director Ron Howard, Carrey’s persistence in character impressed her greatly.
“He invited Mrs. Geisel to the set,”
Howard told Empire in 2000.
“For a while he was talking to her like Andy Kaufman. And then he’d drop that and turn back to her and be the Grinch for a whole minute of Grinchiness, including the big grin, and she was totally enthralled. By the time I came to her with my idea, she said to me, ‘I love it, and I want Jim Carrey to play the Grinch.’ Which is what I wanted to hear because I probably wouldn’t have done the movie with anyone else.”
This endorsement anchored Carrey’s involvement and marked the beginning of a memorable holiday film career, later supplemented by his voice work as Horton in 2008’s Horton Hears a Who!
Connections Within Dr. Seuss’s Imaginative World
The Seussian universe unites the worlds of Whoville and Horton’s microscopic community, as revealed in Dr. Seuss’s writings. According to Seuss canon, the Whos from Horton Hears a Who! reside on the same speck of dust as Whoville from How the Grinch Stole Christmas, weaving a greater thematic continuity through the author’s work.
Sweet Traditions on Set Fostered Camaraderie
Taylor Momsen’s youthful gestures towards Carrey on set created a sweet and lighthearted bond between the actors. As a young actress, she frequently brought him candy bars from his native Canada.
Carrey recalled the sugar rush that sometimes made him forget lines during filming.
“[She] used to give him too much candy,”
Momsen shared in 2000.
“That’s just a funny story that he tells.”
Carrey himself fondly remembered Momsen’s habit of supplying his favorite Canadian chocolate.
“She was buying me Crunchies, which was my favorite Canadian chocolate bar,”
he told E!
“So she was plying me with Crunchies all the time.”
Musical Inspiration from James Horner Shaped Momsen’s Future
Working with Oscar-winning composer James Horner on her first songs as Cindy Lou Who left a lasting impact on Taylor Momsen’s aspirations. Recording “Where Are You, Christmas?” in a professional studio was a formative experience that confirmed her passion for music.
“I’ll never forget walking into this beautiful studio, with this immaculate console in front of me,”
Momsen revealed on TODAY in 2020.
“Putting headphones on and singing into a microphone for the first time… That was such an impactful moment in my life because it made me go, ‘I wanna make music for the rest of my life.’”
She describes performing the song on set as her very first music video.
On-Set Energy Echoed Iconic Classic Films
Jim Carrey felt the filming environment had a special magic reminiscent of legendary movies like The Wizard of Oz. The atmosphere on set inspired a sense of awe and excitement throughout the production.
“We all knew we were part of something really special,”
Carrey told E!
“Every time I walked on set, I’d just go, ‘Come on, this is insane.’”
Carrey reflected on the legacy of iconic films, wondering if the creators felt similar enthusiasm during production.
“I felt like I was part of The Wizard of Oz. I was just like, ‘I wonder if they were thinking those things when they did that movie,’ because I was always amazed at what they came up with.”
Taylor Momsen shared how she herself connected with the same classic film, often imagining herself as Dorothy or Glinda before arriving on set.
“I like all that imagination,” Momsen said.
“I used to walk around the house dressed up as Dorothy or pretending I was Glinda.”
Designing the Iconic Grinch Look Presented Challenges
Kazu Hiro, the lead makeup artist for the Grinch character, initially proposed a radically transformative design, which the studio rejected, preferring a more recognizable Jim Carrey beneath the makeup.
“The last one was only to paint him green with shadow and highlight and put on a wig,”
Hiro recounted to the Los Angeles Times in 2000.
“At first Jim wanted the lighter makeup, as light as possible, so he could move a lot… But just painting him green and giving him a wig doesn’t make him a Grinch.”
After experimenting with multiple makeup versions, the team reverted to Hiro’s original plan shortly before filming began, aligning with Carrey’s eventual understanding of the necessary design approach.
Extensive Preparation and Makeup Application Required Commitment
Applying the Grinch’s makeup was a demanding process that began early in the day and often required over two hours to complete. Hiro worked on Carrey’s face four days per week over a three-month filming period, balancing speed with meticulous care.
“An average day started at 5 or 6 in the morning,”
Hiro said, describing the application phases—including foam rubber pieces, painting, and hair attachments.
“After each step, Jim would have a break of 10 to 30 minutes.”
Maintaining the makeup over the course of filming was equally challenging, as factors like movement and sweat threatened its durability.
“Carrey was constantly moving around so there was constant touch-up on the set,”
Hiro said.
“But once Jim starts a scene, he wants to keep going and do it again and again. Every shot he did, he tried at least three times or more to come up with something better, and during that time he didn’t want to be touched up.”
The makeup team carried a heavy array of tools, with supervisor Rick Baker estimating the wearables weighed about 100 pounds. Baker and hairstylist Gail Rowell-Ryan eventually earned an Oscar in 2001 for Best Makeup and Hairstyling for their work on the film.
Carrey’s Struggles with Suit and Makeup Were Intense
Jim Carrey candidly reflected on how difficult his time in the Grinch costume was, describing the first day’s preparation as like “being buried alive.”
“I went back to my trailer and put my leg through the wall, and I told Ron Howard I couldn’t do the movie,”
he recalled on The Graham Norton Show in 2014. Producer Brian Grazer then intervened with support, leading to advice from a professional trained to endure torture.
“Eat everything you see and if you start to spiral downward, turn the television on, change a pattern, have someone come up and smack you in the head. Punch yourself in the leg or smoke—smoke as much as you possibly can.”
Carrey went through the makeup process about 100 times during filming, crediting the Bee Gees with keeping his spirits up.
Music Helped Set the Pace of Carrey’s Makeup Routine
Makeup artist Kazu Hiro shared how Carrey listened almost daily to a Bee Gees live album while getting ready in makeup, with their music even dictating the rhythm of the makeup application process.
“After a while I was doing the makeup in time with the album, and I could tell if I was a little bit late or a little bit fast by the music!”
Hiro explained.
“Jim wanted to take this album home that day, so we took it out and gave it to him. But he forgot to bring it back, so I bought another copy to keep the rhythm.”
Carrey later signed Hiro’s replacement CD, symbolizing their close working relationship.
Tensions and Adjustments Marked the Production Start
The first day of shooting posed difficulties not only for Carrey but for Hiro as well. The final makeup design was tested for the first time, and Carrey was uneasy about the wig covering his neck, requiring on-set adjustments that delayed filming.
“Every first day has some kind of problem you have to deal with, but this was the first time we tried the final design on Jim, and we were not sure if he would like it or not,”
Hiro told the LA Times.
“Jim is a perfectionist, and every time there was a change, he said something.”
Contact Lenses Caused Physical Strain During Filming
A major challenge in Carrey’s Grinch makeup was the use of contact lenses, which irritated his eyes due to fake snow particles on set, causing painful discomfort.
“The biggest problem with the makeup for Jim was the contact lenses,”
Hiro said.
The paper pulp snow particles flew around and got between the lenses and his eyes.”
Director Ron Howard noted Carrey’s difficulty wearing contacts but acknowledged his commitment to the role.
“He had to because he knew it was right for the character,”
Howard said.
“There were days when an optometrist was on standby because he got stuff in his eyes, and filming had to stop.”
Notably, a 2022 viral video revealed a moment in the film where Carrey’s natural eyes appear without the lenses.
Learning to Endure Pain and Discomfort Was Crucial
Carrey described the physical and mental resilience needed to endure the demanding makeup and costume conditions.
“It was a real lesson in Zen,”
he told the Los Angeles Times.
“I learned about pain deferment—you pinch your leg or your arm and take the focus out of your discomfort. It was tough the first couple of weeks, but I was able to transcend it.”
Removing the Grinch Persona After Filming Took Time
After wrapping each day’s shooting, a team of technicians swiftly removed Carrey’s costume and makeup so he could rest and recover, while he peeled off foam pieces himself during breaks.
“The lens technician, the suit technician and I would run over to him and start to remove everything we could,”
Hiro recounted.
“Then he’d go back to his trailer and start peeling the makeup pieces off himself.”
Carrey preserved some of the foam rubber pieces along with call sheets as keepsakes for colleagues on set.
Kazu Hiro and Carrey Reflected on Their Challenging Experience
Months after filming ended, Hiro and Carrey reconnected to express mutual admiration for enduring the film’s demanding makeup work.
“About two months after filming, Jim said he admired me and told me I did a great job and said thanks. I thanked him too, because he went through that whole thing,”
Hiro told the LA Times.
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas was the hardest film I’ve ever worked on. It is a good memory, but if we had to do that again…we won’t do it!”
Hiro later disclosed that the challenge of the project led him to therapy and a break; he also successfully obtained a U.S. green card through studio assistance and eventually became an American citizen.
Behind the Grinch’s Voice and Iconic Narration
While Boris Karloff narrated and voiced the Grinch in the 1966 animated TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, the famous song
“You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”
was sung by the lesser-known Thurl Ravencroft, who also provided the voice for Tony the Tiger.
For the 2000 movie, Jim Carrey performed his own vocal rendition of the classic song.
Improvised Lines Added Spontaneity to the Film
Director Ron Howard described the production as unconventional, with scriptwriters still completing the screenplay while costume and set designers worked from Dr. Seuss’s original book. However, Carrey took creative initiative by improvising lines, contributing memorable moments to the film.
“6:30 p.m. Dinner with me. I can’t cancel that again.”
Clint Howard’s Surprising Role and Morale Boost
Ron Howard’s brother, Clint Howard, appeared in the film as Mayor Augustus May Who’s assistant Bris Who. Clint also played an unexpected role in lifting cast spirits by donning the Grinch makeup for a day.
“He said to me, ‘Everybody’s getting a little down. If there’s maybe some kind of stunt you could pull, wear the makeup, let people know you know it’s tough,’”
Ron Howard said.
“I slipped into the makeup chair at 3:30 a.m., donned the costume, shocked Jim, and got a cheap laugh from the crew.”
Despite this, Clint avoided wearing the uncomfortable contact lenses, citing cost and personal reasons.
Director Supports Carrey Amid Production Challenges
Ron Howard recalled Carrey’s struggles with claustrophobia inside the bulky costume, often requiring encouragement and emotional support during difficult moments of filming.
“Carrey was having panic attacks and breathing into a paper bag,”
Howard said. To boost morale, Howard invited Don Knotts, famous from The Andy Griffith Show, to visit the set.
“I wish I’d had the camera rolling,”
Howard recounted, praising Carrey’s perfect Don Knotts impression while in the Grinch costume.
“I understood the kind of agony he was going through, but whatever he had to do he had to do.”
Carrey’s Connection to the Grinch’s Message Fueled His Performance
At the heart of Carrey’s dedication to the role was a deep appreciation for the story’s theme of transformation and belonging, capturing the essence of the holiday spirit despite commercial pressures.
“The story of his change of heart has always been really important to me, that anybody’s reachable,”
Carrey said in 2000.
“Most people just want to be part of the party and part of the club, and if you give them the opportunity, they will be.”
Carrey emphasized the original intent behind Dr. Seuss’s message about Christmas.
“Just look at the book and look at what Dr. Seuss’s original intent was,”
he said.
“I think he intended to show people what Christmas was all about… it’s about family and love and acceptance. It’s the thing that makes people realize we’re all part of a family.”
