Cast of the Grinch now from depression to 'substance abuse' and tragic deaths
How the Grinch Stole Christmas has been a staple family favourite since it was released in 2000 - but the stars have had a rough ride since it was first released two decades ago.
The film, based on the Dr Seuss book from 1957, became one of the most successful festive movies of all time, only getting beat by Home Alone when it was released. With its dazzling set design and cast of comedy legends, the classic Grinch is still as entertaining as it was two decades on.
As for the stars of Whoville, many of them have gone to further success, but sadly others have faced tragic fates. Here, we take a look back at the most famous faces and where they are today.
Jim Carrey - The Grinch
The Grinch was played by Jim Carrey (Getty Images)
He has since starred in Sonic the Hedgehog and written booksJim Carrey, who was already famous for Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Dumb and Dumber, took on the iconic role of the Grinch. He captivated viewers with his wacky personality and has a soft spot for the role. "I've always loved this character. I think that he's great," the actor told E! News. "I've always been kind of a little bit of an outsider and I think that he's the ultimate outsider. He's the ultimate disenfranchised guy."
Jim has been pretty busy since, winning praise for his role as Dr Robotnik in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and Mr. Popper's Penguins. The 61-year-old has published a children's book and a novel. Away from cameras, he has spoken of his struggles with depression. "Depression is your body saying, 'I don't want to be this character anymore. I don't want to hold up this avatar that you've created in the world. It's too much for me," he once said.
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Taylor Momsen - Cindy Lou Who
Cindy Lou Who was played by Taylor Momsen (EMPICS Entertainment)
She is now in American rock band The Pretty Reckless (Instagram/taylormomsen)When Taylor Momsen portrayed the role of Cindy Lou Who, befriending the Grinch to help him rediscover the joy of Christmas, she was just seven years old. She went on to star as Jenny Humphrey in the hit show Gossip Girl, and then put her acting days behind her to pursue music. But in an interview with the Today show, she said: "I grew up, but I think deep down I've still got a lot of Cindy Lou Who in me."
Taylor has said that she was "relentlessly" bullied after taking on the sweet and sugary role of blonde hair and blue-eyed Cindy Lou. Speaking on SiriusXM's Podcrushed podcast with her on-screen brother from Gossip Girl, Taylor admitted that starring as Cindy Lou in The Grinch changed her life in a "multitude of ways" before brazenly admitting: "One of them being I was made fun of relentlessly." She said: "Every time I would start a new school or go somewhere else, I don't even think the kids knew my name. I was just Grinch Girl." She went on: "Not even the character name, just 'Grinch girl'. I got used to it, but it was alienating."
Now 30 years old, Taylor has been the frontwoman in American rock band The Pretty Reckless for 14 years. But tragedy struck when two of her friends died in 2017 and 2018, plunging her into an 'utterly dark hole of depression and substance abuse'. "We went through a lot of loss and a lot of tragedy over the past few years in The Pretty Reckless world," Taylor told the Metro. "A lot of deaths, a lot of hits. And I won't speak for everyone, but I went very, very down.
"My life felt like it was over and I went very down to this utterly dark hole of depression and substance abuse and I was a mess. I was living in this hole of darkness that I was not sure I would ever get out of. I wasn't sure if I wanted to. I had kind of given up on life, I'd given up on everything at that point – I wasn't sure if I wanted to make music again. I'd given up as a person. It was very dark... It was music that saved me."
Christine Baranski - Martha May Whovier
Martha May Whovier was played by Christine Baranski (Melinda Sue Gordon/Imagine Ent/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)
She was in the Mamma Mia films and The Good Wife (WENN.com)Christine Baranski played Martha May Who, a former classmate and love interest of the Grinch. After her time in Whoville, she has appeared in many feature films, including Mamma Mia! in 2008 and its sequel. She was also in critically acclaimed US dramas, The Good Wife and The Good Fight.
Now 71 years old, Christine is a 15-time Emmy Award nominee and is well known for playing Leonard's mother, Dr Beverly Hofstadter in The Big Bang Theory. In 2014, she sadly lost her husband, actor Matthew Cowles, to heart failure aged 69. She has two daughters and reportedly lives in Connecticut, US.
Molly Shannon - Betty Lou Who
Betty Lou Who was played by Molly Shannon
She has since starred in White Lotus and A Good Person (WireImage,)Molly Shannon played Betty Lou Who, who was Cindy Lou's mum and the loving wife of Lou Lou. She has since enjoyed a successful acting career, starring in Wet Hot American Summer: The First Day of Camp, Will and Grace and The White Lotus. This year, she appeared in the Morgan Freeman drama, A Good Person.
At the age of 59, Molly is a mum of two and married to artist Fritz Chesnut. In 2017, the actor and comedian hosted Saturday Night Live, and that same year, she won the Film Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Other People.
Jeffrey Tambor - Mayor Augustus
Mayor Augustus was played by Jeffrey Tambor
He won Outstanding Lead Actor for Transparent (FayesVision/WENN.com)Jeffrey Tambor played the role of Mayor Augustus, the Grinch's childhood bully who became the mayor of Whoville. Since the film, Jeffrey has featured in a range of roles, starring in all three films in The Hangover trilogy and playing Oscar Bluth in Arrested Development. Most notably, he played transgender woman Maura Pfefferman in Transparent - which won him an Emmy.
However, he was fired from the show in 2018 amid accusations of sexual misconduct, which he denied. He said: "I am deeply sorry if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being sexually aggressive or if I ever offended or hurt anyone. But the fact is, for all my flaws, I am not a predator and the idea that someone might see me in that way is more distressing than I can express."
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- How the Grinch Stole Christmas airs on ITV1 at 3:20pm today on Saturday, December 23.
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