by Eric Anderson

NEW YORK, New York --

The socialites of New York’s Upper East Side have officially been put on notice – there’s a new developing diva in town and you can just call her “Little J.”

So far on the new season of “Gossip Girl,” viewers have watched as young Jenny Humphrey (played by rising star Taylor Momsen) stepped out of the shadows and firmly into the forefront as a new fierce force to be reckoned with.

But how exactly did this 14-year-old Hollywood up-and-comer from St. Louis make it on to one of the hottest shows on TV?

Actually, it all started with chicken.

“My first acting job was a Shake ‘n Bake commercial. I was three,” Taylor revealed to AccessHollywood.com. “I’m sure my parents have it somewhere still.”

Taylor’s first film role came in 1999, playing the part of Honey Bee Swan in “The Prophet’s Game,” starring Dennis Hopper. At the age of 7, Taylor scored a much more prominent role, opposite Jim Carrey, as darling little Cindy Lou Who in “How The Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Following roles in films including “We Were Soldiers,” “Spy Kids 2” and “Paranoid Park,” Taylor landed the role which would catapult her into the tween stardom spotlight – “Gossip Girl’s” Jenny Humphrey.

For Taylor, being familiar with the popular book series, it was an amazing opportunity, but one she didn’t get her hopes too high for.

“I actually auditioned pretty late in the game when the show was almost fully cast. I loved the book series and thought it would be so cool to be a part of it. But to be honest, I thought I looked nothing like Jenny in the books and there was no way it was going to happen,” Taylor explained. “But I went to New York and met with the director of the pilot. I didn’t think anything would come of it, but within a week they were calling me to come to LA and do a screen test. It’s cool. I’m glad they could see past my blonde hair.”

And while Taylor’s blonde hair may not match Jenny’s raven coif from the books, she sees another big difference between herself and her TV character.

“She’s very concerned with what people think of her,” Taylor added. “I feel like I’m not as concerned in my own high school setting. I have my friends. I don’t care what people I’m not really friends with think.”

However, there are a few traits the actress is happy to share with her Upper East Side alter ego.

“She’s very smart and very determined. She goes for what she wants, and I do that too,” Taylor said.

Unlike most of her cast mates, Taylor plays a character very close in age to her own. But despite the gap between her and her co-stars, the “Gossip” gang is a very tight unit.

“Everyone on the cast is like a little family. You build that little unit when you sign on to do a project like this. It’s fun coming to work everyday,” she explained. “But because I’m younger, I don’t really hang out with them off the set too much. They’ll go out to the clubs and stuff and I don’t do that. My character gets to do all that – not me.”

Of course, as anyone who watches the show knows, one of the true stars of the series – is the fashion.

“One of the best parts of filming the show is the wardrobe fittings,” she joked. “It’s so much fun to get to wear these designers.”

But as far as her own off-screen style, it’s a bit less complicated.

“I love wearing jeans and T-shirts. That’s like a uniform for me,” she revealed. “But at the same time, I love getting dressed up. I don’t follow trends with my everyday fashion. I wear what I feel like. Sometimes it doesn’t match and sometimes that’s okay.”

And while fashion puts up a fight for top billing on the show, the never-ending hookups certainly aren’t far behind. But as one of the youngsters on the show, it’s obviously not something that Taylor has to act out too often. But when it’s called for in the script, it’s something she knows comes with the territory.

“Jenny hasn’t had a lot of that yet, but for me personally, it’s acting. It comes with the job. You’re playing a character and you gotta go with it,” Taylor noted.

Of course, one hook-up Jenny had on the show, albeit by accident, was the masquerade ball kiss with Nate (played by Chace Crawford).

So what is it like puckering up with a Hollywood heartthrob like Chace?

“I think you’d have to ask Leighton [Meester] that! Chace is gorgeous, so yeah, it was torture!” she laughed.

As far as what comes next for Taylor, she said there aren’t any other projects lined up due to her busy schedule, but, if any studios do come calling, there is one leading lady she’d love to get the chance to work with.

“I’d love to work with Cameron Diaz,” Taylor said. “She’s one of my idols. I’d love to meet her and work with her. She is so talented and so fun. I think that would be such a cool experience.”

And while her schedule on “Gossip Girl” keeps her busy, it’s also zapped her TV-watching time, as she told Access.

“I was a TV watcher until I started working all the time,” she joked. “I’m more of a music person now. I like to spend time in my room, and I don’t have a TV in my room, so I just chill out and listen to music.”

So what artists make Taylor’s playlist?

“I have an eclectic taste. One of my favorite bands is Garbage. I love Paramore. I love Avril Lavigne – and I still love Britney Spears. I love dancing to her stuff,” she said.

Finally, does Taylor have any concerns about falling prey to some of the traps that befall other young Hollywood starlets?

Apparently, not in the least.

“You just do what’s appropriate for you age,” she said of her approach to staying out of trouble. “I don’t really find it a problem since I’m not out clubbing but you just do what’s allowed and follow the rules. I don’t think it’s that hard.”

Copyright 2008 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
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