Taylor Momsen
Taylor Momsen | |
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![]() Momsen performing at the Warped Tour Kick-Off Party in April 2010
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Born | Taylor Michel Momsen July 26, 1993 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
Occupation | Musician, Actress, Model |
Years active | 1997[1] –present |
Musical career | |
Genres | Alternative rock, hard rock |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
Labels | Interscope, Cooking Vinyl, Razor & Tie |
Associated acts | The Pretty Reckless |
Taylor Michel Momsen (born July 26, 1993)[2] is an American singer-songwriter, former actress, and model. She is known for portraying the character of Jenny Humphrey on the CW television series Gossip Girl (2007–12) and Cindy Lou Who in Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000).[3] Since 2007, she is the frontwoman of the rock band The Pretty Reckless.
Contents
Early life
Taylor Momsen was born on July 26, 1993, in St. Louis, Missouri. Her parents are Michael and Collette Momsen and she has a younger sister, Sloane Momsen, who is also an actress. She has Russian ancestry.[4] She was raised Roman Catholic[5] and attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School[6] for elementary school and later Herbert Hoover Middle School in Potomac, Maryland.[7] She studied dance at the Center of Creative Arts in St. Louis.
Momsen was signed with Ford Models at a young age: "My parents signed me up with Ford [Modeling] at the age of 2. 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."[7] She began acting professionally at three years of age in a 1997 national commercial for Shake 'n Bake.[8] She was then cast in The Prophet's Game.
Momsen is included on the list of Unclaimed Coogan accounts for performing children whose partial childhood earnings are mandated to be put in a special fund but who have yet to claim their earnings.[9]
Momsen attended the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan for high school alongside Connor Paolo, Gregori Lukas and Sarah Hyland.[citation needed]
Acting
In 2000, Momsen played the role of Cindy Lou Who in Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, her breakout role. In 2002, she was given the role of Gretel in the motion picture: Hansel and Gretel, as well as Alexandra, the President's daughter, in Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams.
Momsen's career came to a halt for over three years until she received a lead role in the WB series Misconceptions, which was never aired. Also at this time, Momsen appeared in the 2006 film Saving Shiloh. She also auditioned for the title role in Hannah Montana, and was in the top three, but the role was instead awarded to Miley Cyrus—a decision that Momsen was happy with, in retrospect.[10] In 2007 she starred in the Walt Disney Pictures film Underdog, as Molly and as Jennifer in the movie Paranoid Park, directed by Gus Van Sant.
Beginning in 2007, she played the character of Jenny Humphrey in The CW television series Gossip Girl, which is based on the book series by Cecily von Ziegesar. Momsen's appearances on the series became increasingly sporadic, and by the end of the first half of the fourth season, she had only appeared in four episodes. It was then announced that the actress would be scheduled for an indefinite hiatus from the show,[11] which ultimately resulted in her leaving the series as a regular cast member, following the completion of the fourth season in 2011. Later that year, on August 16, 2011, Momsen told Elle magazine that she had quit acting to focus on her music career.[12] However, on October 16, 2012, it was reported that Momsen and Connor Paolo, whose recurring role as Momsen's stepbrother had also been significantly decreased following the fifth season, would be returning to Gossip Girl for the final episode of the sixth and final season.[13][14]
Modeling
In June 2008, at the age of fourteen, Momsen signed to IMG Models.[15][16]
Taylor was the face of British fashion chain New Look for its spring/summer 2010 collection.[17] After weeks of speculation of who was the face of Madonna's 2010 fashion line "Material Girl", Momsen was announced on July 15, 2010.[18] A week later, Momsen was announced as the model for John Galliano's new women's fragrance, scheduled to launch in autumn 2010.[19] In 2010, she appeared in a video for John Galliano's "Parlez-Moi d’Amour" fragrance ad campaign
Momsen is currently the face of Samantha Thavasa's handbag line. She has done multiple photoshoots, press events, and commercials.[20]
She covered Page Six Magazine when she was fifteen years old in 2009. Momsen also covered on the February 2010 cover of Seventeen[21] In October 2010, Momsen wore a pair of platform stilettos, thigh-high stockings, and had a holster strapped around her leg for Revolver. Two months after she covered French magazine Rock One's. Momsen graced the cover of FHM’s March 2012 edition [22] and FHM ranked Momsen #29 in its 2012 Hot 100 issue.[23] She also made her debut Maxim cover in the November 2013 issue [24]
Music
Momsen has said that "music is where I can be me",[25] stating that "acting is easy. I've been doing it for so long and I totally love it. But you're playing a character instead of yourself. Music is more personal because you're writing it and you're involved in every step of it."[25] At 5 years old, Momsen recorded the song "Christmas, Why Can't I Find You?" for the soundtrack to How the Grinch Stole Christmas. In 2002, she recorded the songs "One Small Voice" and "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" for the compilation album School's Out! Christmas.
In March 2009, Momsen stated in an interview with OK! Magazine that her band The Pretty Reckless had signed a deal with Interscope Records.[26] She played her first tour with her band opening for The Veronicas on their Revenge is Sweeter Tour in spring 2009.[27] After the tour, Momsen began working with guitarist Ben Phillips, who would soon join the band. Momsen subsequently swapped out her former bandmates. She co-writes songs with Phillips; in addition to lead vocals, Momsen also plays rhythm guitar.
The band's debut album Light Me Up was released on August 30, 2010 in the UK,[28] where it debuted at number 6, as well as at number 18 in Ireland. The first single "Make Me Wanna Die" was released on May 30, 2010, where it peaked at number 16, while the second single "Miss Nothing" which was released on August 23, 2010 peaked at number 39. The third single released has been "Just Tonight".
Television personality Heidi Montag recorded "Blackout", a song written by Momsen. According to Momsen, she wrote the song when she was 8 years old and recorded it as a demo with a producer.[29] Montag released the song as a digital only single, with the music video being directed by her husband Spencer Pratt. Momsen commented about the recording: "I'm like, okay, dude, you're singing an 8-year-old's words, but that's cool. It's so funny because I didn't shop it or anything and I get this call going, 'Did you write a song for Heidi Montag'? And I'm like, 'What?'".[29] The track was later included on Montag's debut studio album Superficial (2010).
On July 27, 2011, Momsen announced via Twitter that the band would be the supporting act for Evanescence during the fall of 2011.[30] Throughout 2012, Momsen and her band toured North America; the second headlining tour, titled the Medicine Tour, began in March 2012 [31] and culminated with supporting dates for Marilyn Manson's 2012 world tour Hey Cruel World... Tour. Momsen also appeared as guest vocalist on the first track of ex Ministry member Paul Barker's 2012 album Fix This.
On November 30, 2012, it was announced that The Pretty Reckless' fourth single "Kill Me" would be released on December 11.[32] The track was the last song to be featured in the Gossip Girl series finale.
Momsen cites Kurt Cobain, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, and Shirley Manson of Garbage as some of her personal influences.[33][34]
Going To Hell was released on March 18, 2014.[35] The release marked the band's largest sales week to date and landed at #5 on the Billboard 200 with over 35,000 copies sold in its first week. [36] The success of the record saw Taylor, along with the rest of the band, break records when they became the first female-fronted band to reach No. 1 on the rock radio charts with its first two singles - "Heaven Knows" in March 2014 and "Fucked Up World" in September 2014. [37] The Pretty Reckless also spent the majority of late 2013 throughout 2014 on tour supporting Going To Hell. In 2014, her band also supported Fall Out Boy in their European leg of the Save Rock n Roll Tour along with New Politics.
After the Going to Hell World tour was finished, the next album was in the early stages. In late 2015, Taylor confirmed through twitter, that new music was on the way. On April 14, 2016, Taylor Momsen confirmed via Twitter that the new album was being finished. On May 9, she further teased the band's return on Facebook. [38]
Discography
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Studio albums
- Light Me Up (2010)
- Going to Hell (2014)
EPs
- The Pretty Reckless EP (2010)
- Hit Me Like a Man EP (2012)
Singles
- "Make Me Wanna Die" (2010)
- "Miss Nothing" (2010)
- "Just Tonight" (2010)
- "Kill Me" (2012)
- "Follow Me Down" (2013)
- "Going to Hell" (2013)
- "Heaven Knows" (2013)
- "Fucked Up World" (2014)
- "House on a Hill" (2014)
- "Follow Me Down" (2014)
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | The Prophet's Game | Honey Bee Swan | |
2000 | Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Cindy Lou Who | Nominated—Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Female Newcomer Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor Nominated—Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film – Young Actress Age Ten or Under |
2002 | We Were Soldiers | Julie Moore | |
2002 | Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams | Alexandra | |
2002 | Hansel & Gretel | Gretel | |
2006 | Saving Shiloh | Samantha Wallace | |
2007 | Paranoid Park | Jennifer | |
2007 | Underdog | Molly | Nominated—Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actress |
2008 | Spy School | Madison Kramer |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | Early Edition | Allie | Uncredited; episode: "A Minor Miracle" |
2006 | Misconceptions | Hopper Watson | Unaired WB series |
2007–2010; 2012 |
Gossip Girl | Jennifer "Jenny" Humphrey | Main Cast (Season 1–4) Special Guest Star (Season 6): 66 episodes Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Breakout Star: Female Nominated—Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young Actress |
References
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The New York Observer
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- ↑ Ausiello, Michael"'Gossip Girl' Sidelines Taylor Momsen", Deadline.com, November 22, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
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- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Wightman, Catriona, "Taylor Momsen: 'Music is my only goal'", Digital Spy, November 3, 2010, retrieved November 3, 2011
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ New Song from Taylor Momsen's Pretty Reckless By Avery Spofford on July 12, 2010 5:56 pm – Spin
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 Harp, Justin, "Momsen 'surprised by Montag song cover'", Digital Spy, October 15, 2010, retrieved January 3, 2011
- ↑ "Taylor Momsen announces tour with Evanescence, AHN, July 27, 2011, retrieved July 31, 2011
- ↑ The Pretty Reckless Bring 'Medicine Tour' Stateside By Tara Hall on January 31, 2012 5:56 pm – Soundspike
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External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to [[commons:Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 506: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).|Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 506: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).]]. |
- Official website
- Taylor Momsen on TwitterLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Taylor Momsen at the Internet Movie Database
- Use mdy dates from September 2011
- Articles with hCards
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- 1993 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- Actresses from St. Louis, Missouri
- American child actresses
- American child models
- American child singers
- American female guitarists
- American female heavy metal singers
- American female models
- American female rock singers
- American feminists
- American film actresses
- American people of Russian descent
- American rock songwriters
- American television actresses
- Female post-grunge singers
- Feminist musicians
- Kerrang! Awards winners
- Musicians from Missouri
- Sex-positive feminists
- Musicians from St. Louis, Missouri