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Cindy Lou Who still thinks the Grinch is a “sweet” guy — 25 years later.
Taylor Momsen, the actress who played Cindy Lou Who when she was 5, revealed to PEOPLE in an exclusive chat at iHeartRadio 102.7 KIIS FM’s Jingle Ball on Dec. 5 how good it felt to recently reunite with Jim Carrey, who played the titular character in 2000’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
“The entire experience was absolutely insane, kismet, universally aligned, mind-blowing and amazing,” the 32-year-old musician said of their Nov. 8 reunion at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, where she performed with Soundgarden after Carrey, 63, introduced the band.
Momsen continued, “Just seeing him again was the most wonderful thing that could have possibly happened. The crazy thing is that he was the same guy. Like, I didn’t know what to expect because it’s been 25 years.”
Ben Trivett
“When we actually saw each other and hugged and, you know, embraced, it was like this overwhelming, overwhelmingly warm feeling of ‘I know you like that,’ ” she added. “He felt like home to me is what I keep saying, and it’s just the most accurate way to describe it. It was amazing.”
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Carrey portrayed the Grinch — the Christmas-hating Dr. Seuss character — in the holiday classic, but Momsen’s Cindy Lou Who memorably said in the film, “I know he’s mean and hairy and smelly. His hands might be cold and clammy, but I think he’s actually kinda sweet.”
At Jingle Ball, Momsen also told PEOPLE about her band The Pretty Reckless’ reimagined rock version of “Where Are You Christmas?”
“It was something we worked on for a really long time,” she said, adding that she had “resisted [doing it] for a really long time.”
Momsen continued, “I came around to it and, you know, blood, sweat, and tears went into it. The fact that it’s out and bringing joy and smiles from all the responses I’ve seen, like, it just makes me so happy. I’m so glad that people are loving it and that, you know, I can share a piece of myself in this full circle way and have it have the response that it’s having.”
“It’s Christmas magic in its best form. I love it,” she concluded.
Taylor Momsen’s Pretty Reckless Christmas EP is out now.
