Taylor Momsen revealed in Vulture’s oral history on “How the Grinch Saved Christmas” that Jim Carrey once stopped production in the middle of filming when a stunt involving his child co-star nearly harmed her. Momsen was 7 years old when she filmed “Grinch,” which marked her feature film debut in a major Hollywood studio movie.
“I remember when we were shooting the scene coming down the mountain on the sled. It was this real sled that was up on a giant spring that was being controlled and moving from side to side, very aggressively,” Momsen told Vulture. “Jim is leaning over and being extravagant Jim. There was a moment where I almost fell out of the sled, and he freaked out. He called cut and started checking in on me. I was having a great time. I was laughing; I wasn’t thinking about the fact that I just almost fell very high off the ground.
“I always felt really safe with Jim,” Momsen continued. “I liked being around him. At such a young age, to watch an artist who is that serious at what they’re doing even while playing this very over-the-top character, it was clear to me how much he was putting into it and how much of an artist he was.”
Carrey told Vulture that he could tell instantly that Momsen was “an incredibly precocious child” and “smart beyond her years” when they first met before filming on the “Grinch” movie started, adding: “Her comedy timing was impeccable. A total pro. I don’t think she ever went up on a line or missed a cue or anything like that.”
Momsen “never knew what Jim looked like” in real life, as she only ever saw him in full Grinch makeup when they were filming scenes together. The first time she actually met the real Jim Carrey was at the film’s premiere. The two recently made headlines after they reunited in November at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and posed together for photos. It was the first time Momsen and Carrey saw each other in 25 years.
“I turned around in the hallway, and she was standing there,” Carrey told Vulture about the unexpected reunion. “I don’t know if she had heels or not, but she’s towering. I’m going, ‘What?’ She has a really powerful manner. I was so glad she’s done so well for herself. She’s been through some challenges in her life and come out the other side. It was very exciting to see her again. And she brought me a Crunchie, which is my favorite chocolate bar. That was awesome.”
Head over to Vulture’s website to read the full “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” oral history.
