The Leading Ladies From How The Grinch Stole Christmas Have Totally Transformed 25 Years Later

It's been 25 years since "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" first hit our screens, and, in that time, the movie's leading ladies have undergone even bigger transformations than The Grinch's take on Christmas. We got a glimpse at just how much Cindy Lou Who actor Taylor Momsen had changed when she reunited with The Grinch actor Jim Carrey at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on November 8. "I just love that he was very protective of me. He was always very kind. And just the entire experience of filming 'Grinch' and getting to know him so well, even in all the makeup, was just wonderful," Momsen told People of her favorite memories from the set.

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But if you haven't seen Momsen since she appeared in the movie, you'd be forgiven for not recognizing the star (who's also appeared in "Gossip Girl" and "Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams"). And that got us thinking. What do Momsen and her fellow leading ladies look like today compared to when the movie was made in 2000? So we found out. And, honestly, the results have us feeling all toasty inside.

Not only does Taylor Momsen have one of the most dramatic transformations of the "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" cast, but she's also had one of the most double-take-inducing transformations of any child actor. Her fresh-faced smile and golden blond hair made the 7-year-old the quintessential innocent Cindy Lou Who in 2000. In 2025, though, she's the lead singer of rock band The Pretty Reckless (with hits like "Makes Me Wanna Die") with a gothic-inspired look. Her signature aesthetic includes long, cool blond waves, uber-dramatic makeup (black eyeshadow), fair skin, and a nude lip.

Christine Baranski starred as The Grinch's love, Martha May Whovier, and her vampy vibe was perfect for the uber-glamorous character. Since then, she's confronted aging with confidence, still rocking her voluminous bob in an updated sandy blond shade. She's also adapted her makeup for a softer look with a more sheer take on red lipstick. Most impressive, though? Baranski has been on a steady career incline since 2000. "I got the number one position in my career and I was in my 60s. These are the best years of my career," she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2019.

At the festive movie's premiere, Betty Lou Who actor Molly Shannon wore a brunette bob and brown, monochrome makeup. When she stepped out 25 years later, though, you'd never know that long had passed. Her caramel-brown hair was slightly longer, but she had the same stunning, infectious smile and glowing skin. She'd grown more confident, too. Shannon (who released one of the best celeb memoirs of the 2020s) told People in July, "When I was younger I was like, 'Aw, my face is so round' — I would be hard on myself ... I feel less self-conscious [now]."

Landry Allbright was around 11 when she played a young Martha May Whovier in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," and she's enjoyed various TV roles ever since, including appearances on "Will & Grace" and "The West Wing." Allbright lives a more private life today (with no public social media) but proudly opened up to Lady Parts the Movie about her sexuality in 2018 — the same year she proved she was all grown up on the red carpet. Allbright's blond hair is much longer these days, but she still has that youthful, bright smile we saw in the movie.

Mary Stein played The Grinch's teacher, Miss Rue Who, in the 2000 movie, with her character adopting the same gorgeous red hair she has in real life. Back then, she sported it with a shaggy cut and bangs. In 2025, though, she'd adopted a more vibrant, rounded cut that proved why bobs are so flattering for older women. The star also adopted a less-is-more approach to makeup, letting her gorgeous skin show through her foundation, with a little lipstick and mascara.

Mindy Sterling appeared as Clarnella Who, one of The Grinch's adoptive mothers. Back then, she wore her hair in short, dirty-blond curls with minimal makeup, and would undergo a stunning transformation by 2025. Still sporting her signature curly 'do, her locks are an updated chocolate brown, slightly shaggier, and a little longer. Her megawatt smile, though? That's still the same. This star's career transformation has come full circle, too. In addition to starring in the likes of "My Own Worst Enemy" and "Reno 911!", she lent her voice to the 2018 version of "The Grinch."