Taylor Momsen

Gossip Girl star Taylor Momsen stopped by Good Day NY to talk about the non-profit Namm's National Wanna Play Music Week Campaign.

The purpose of the campaign is to promote the benefits of music education programs.

Taylor was born on July 26th, 1993 in St Louis, Missouri to parents Michael and Colette Momsen. She began her acting career at age 3 with a national commercial for Shake-N-Bake.

She first landed the role of Honey Bee Swan in The Prophet's Game (1999). Her first big role was as Cindy Lou Who in 'Jim Carrey''s How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000). After that, Taylor landed the role of Julie Moore in We Were Soldiers (2002) which also starred her younger sister, Sloane Momsen.

After landing roles in movies such as _Hansel & Gretel (2002)_Spy Kids II,, Saving Shiloh (2005), Doubting Thomas (2005), she will soon be seen in a new series for WB, "Misconceptions" (2006) in which she has a lead role.

 

  

Source: My Fox MY

'Gossip Girl' star Taylor Momsen talks her debut single, upcoming album, and why she doesn't like pants 

Actress Taylor Momsen is best known to audiences as Gossip Girl‘s rebellious Jenny Humphrey. But the 16-year-old is hoping that soon people will also see her as a rock star. Momsen and her band, the Pretty Reckless, are set to drop their debut album this summer and have recently released their first single, “Make Me Wanna Die,”which is on the Kick-Ass soundtrack. EW chatted with Momsen about this new career path.

EW: Your band, the Pretty Reckless, has a song (“Make Me Wanna Die”) on the Kick-Ass soundtrack.

Taylor Momsen: It’s a tragic love song. It’s Romeo and Juliet—can’t live without your lover so you die. It’s the Pretty Reckless’ first single. We just shot a video for it, but I don’t wanna say too much. It fits the song. It’s very dark.

EW: How’s the album progressing?

TM: It’s coming out this summer. We wrote it as a record, so every song is part of a bigger thing. I don’t know—I just want people to hear it!

EW: Who would you say is your biggest musical inspiration?

TM: The Beatles did everything first, and they did it the best.

EW: You’re often compared to Courtney Love.

TM: I don’t wanna be Courtney Love—I wanna be Kurt Cobain. He’s brilliant and his songs are genius. The Hole records are great. Everyone always compares me to Courtney Love because they think we like dress the same and we both have blond hair, wear lipstick and dresses. But I’m sorry, don’t a lot of girls dress like that? I look at Nirvana. I don’t look at Hole.

EW: How do you imagine juggling music and acting?

TM: I’ve been acting since I was 2. I don’t dislike it by any means, but it’s a job to me. It can never be as personal as music, because you’re playing a character and saying someone else’s words. Music is who I am.

EW: Your GG costar Leighton Meester is also trying to launch a music career. Ever talk about it?

TM: No. I’m not really close with my cast. We’re all cordial and nice to each other, but we’re not really friends outside of the set. And we’re doing a different thing: She’s putting out a pop record, which is awesome.

EW: I heard Jenny is going to be MIA for the beginning of next season.

TM: I’m gonna be on tour. But as far as next season goes I don’t really know what’s going on. I don’t wanna talk about that because it’s up in the air. At the end of the season, you’ll see.

EW: I saw you perform in New York City last year, and you seemed to have forgotten to put on pants. What was up with that?

TM: I don’t really like pants, man. I like tights. I’m not really a pants person.

EW: You’re a rocker now—you can choose not to wear pants.

TM: And I do! I choose not to wear pants.

Source: Music Mix

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'Gossip Girl' Star Taylor Momsen Rocks Her Sweet 16 Birthday Party With Pretty Reckless

Ed Westwick, Chace Crawford, Jessica Szhor, others cheer their castmate on.

NEW YORK — OK, not everyone has a sweet-16 birthday party that was sponsored by MySpace, was held at one of Manhattan's hottest venues and was DJed by MisShapes — and doubled as your new band's homecoming show after a stint opening for the Veronicas' North American tour.
But then again, not everyone is "Gossip Girl" star/ Pretty Reckless frontwoman Taylor Momsen.
Momsen accomplished a lot in the first 15 years of her life, and, judging by the crowd at Tuesday night's party/concert, she's made a lot of friends too. Holding it down in the Hiro Ballroom's VIP section was the majority of the "Gossip Girl" cast — notably Ed Westwick (who was very close with Jessica Szhor) and Chace Crawford. The crew made their way to the front of the stage for one song to show support for their castmate before being whisked away from the screaming fans.
Arriving just in time for the concert was "NYC Prep" star Sebastian, who made sure to get front and center before sneaking away to the VIP lounge. Cheering Taylor on from downstairs included her onscreen best friend/ stepbrother, Connor Paolo and Matthew Settle, who sported a pair of glow-in-the-dark shades.
But this party was about the music, and Momsen and Pretty Reckless took the stage with authority. Backstage, Momsen warmed up by singing Britney Spears' "... Baby One More Time," and then the curtain rose to the sounds of thunder and lightning. The band thrashed through a loud, grunge-inspired and guitar-driven set; the boys wore eyeliner and Momsen channelled Hole-era Courtney Love in messy, peroxide-blonde hair and a hot pink slip dress. Her raspy singing voice sounded years beyond 16.
Momsen broke out her guitar for "Zombie," and the band closed its set with the catchy "Good Girls Go to Heaven" (a line that is followed by "bad girls go everywhere"). Not long after, Momsen's mother and sister surprised her onstage with a birthday cake (the audience got cupcakes!) and the band played one last song.

Source: MTV