Zooey Deschanel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zooey Deschanel
Deschanel in 2012
Born	Zooey Claire Deschanel (1980-01-17) January 17, 1980 (age 45) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education	Northwestern University (dropped out)
Occupation	Actress musician
Years active	1997–present
Works	Full list
Spouse(s)	Ben Gibbard ​ ​ (m. 2009; div. 2012)​ Jacob Pechenik ​ ​ (m. 2015; div. 2020)​
Partner(s)	Jonathan Scott (2019–present; engaged)
Children	2
Parents	Caleb Deschanel (father) Mary Jo Deschanel (mother)
Relatives	Emily Deschanel (sister)
Musical career
Genres	Indie pop folk Jazz
Instruments	Vocals Piano Ukulele
Labels	Merge Double Six Columbia Fantasy
Signature

Zooey Claire Deschanel (born January 17, 1980) is an American actress and musician. She is known for her unique acting style in comedy films. Some of her popular movies include Elf (2003) and 500 Days of Summer (2009).

From 2011 to 2018, she starred as Jess Day in the TV show New Girl. This role earned her nominations for major awards like the Emmy and Golden Globe Awards.

Besides acting, Zooey is also a talented musician. She formed the music group She & Him with M. Ward in 2006. They have released several albums together. She also sings and plays instruments like the piano and ukulele.

Zooey Deschanel also helped start HelloGiggles, a website for women.

Early life

Zooey Claire Deschanel was born in Los Angeles, California, on January 17, 1980. Her father, Caleb Deschanel, is a director and cinematographer. Her mother, Mary Jo Deschanel, is an actress. Zooey was named after a character from a book called Franny and Zooey. Her older sister, Emily Deschanel, is also an actress, known for the TV show Bones.

Zooey grew up in Los Angeles. She traveled a lot as a child because of her father's film work. Even though she didn't always like leaving her friends, she later appreciated the experience.

She went to Crossroads School in Santa Monica, a private school. There, she became friends with future actors Jake Gyllenhaal and Kate Hudson. Zooey loved singing in high school and planned to work in musical theater. She attended Northwestern University for a short time before leaving to become an actress.

Acting career

Early roles (1997–2002)

Zooey Deschanel first appeared on TV in Veronica's Closet in 1998. Her first movie role was in the comedy Mumford (1999). She also had a supporting role in the film Almost Famous (2000), playing the rebellious older sister of a teenage journalist. This movie was well-liked by critics.

In 2001, she acted in the drama Manic. Critics praised her performance, calling it "spontaneous" and "emotionally direct."

In 2002, Zooey appeared in several films. These included Big Trouble, The New Guy, The Good Girl, and Abandon. She also had a guest role in the TV show Frasier. By 2002, she was seen as a rising star in Hollywood. She was often cast as the main character's sarcastic best friend. Zooey didn't always like this, saying she didn't have many friends in high school herself.

Becoming a well-known actress (2003–2010)

Zooey Deschanel got her first main role in the independent drama All the Real Girls (2003). She played Noel, an 18-year-old who experiences a life-changing romance. Her acting in this film was highly praised. She even received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actress.

Also in 2003, Zooey starred with Will Ferrell in the Christmas comedy Elf. She played a department store worker and the love interest of a man raised by elves. Elf was a big success, earning over $220 million worldwide.

Deschanel at the premiere of 500 Days of Summer (2009)

In 2005, she played Trillian in the movie The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. She also appeared in Winter Passing (2005) and Failure to Launch (2006). From 2006 to 2007, she had a recurring role in the TV series Weeds.

In 2007, Zooey played a music teacher in Bridge to Terabithia. She also voiced a penguin in the animated film Surf's Up. She starred as DG in the miniseries Tin Man, a science fiction version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

In 2008, she starred with Mark Wahlberg in the thriller The Happening. She also appeared in the comedy Yes Man with Jim Carrey. This film earned over $223 million globally.

Deschanel reunited with Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the romantic drama (500) Days of Summer (2009). This film was very popular and earned much more than its budget. Critics praised Zooey and Joseph's performances and their chemistry. In December 2009, Zooey guest-starred in an episode of Bones, which was the first time she and her sister Emily appeared on screen together.

New Girl and recent projects (2010–present)

Deschanel at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards

In 2011, Zooey starred in the comedy Our Idiot Brother. She also played Belladonna in the fantasy-comedy Your Highness.

Zooey Deschanel then took on the lead role of Jessica "Jess" Day in the Fox sitcom New Girl. The show premiered in September 2011. Her performance was highly praised, and she received an Emmy Award nomination and three Golden Globe nominations for her role. The series ended on May 15, 2018.

In 2012, Zooey hosted Saturday Night Live. She also appeared in a commercial for the iPhone 4S (Siri).

In 2015, she played a singer in Rock the Kasbah. She also voiced Bridget, a kind-hearted Bergen, in the animated family comedy Trolls (2016). This movie earned $344 million worldwide.

In December 2020, Deschanel was in the music video for Katy Perry's song "Not the End of the World". In 2021, she co-hosted the TV show The Celebrity Dating Game with Michael Bolton.

In January 2022, she started co-hosting Welcome to Our Show. This is a podcast where she and her New Girl co-stars Hannah Simone and Lamorne Morris rewatch and discuss the show. In 2023, she appeared as Kelly in season 3 of Physical and Nancy in Dreamin' Wild. She also appeared as Terry in Harold and the Purple Crayon, which was released in 2024.

In March 2024, Deschanel was cast in a romantic comedy film called Merv. The movie is about a couple who take their dog on a trip to Florida after their breakup.

Music career

Singing and performing

In 2001, Zooey Deschanel formed a jazz cabaret group called If All the Stars Were Pretty Babies with actress Samantha Shelton. They performed in Los Angeles.

In 2006, Zooey teamed up with musician M. Ward to create the music group She & Him. Their first album, Volume One, was released in 2008. It was very popular with critics.

Deschanel and M. Ward performing as She & Him at the Newport Folk Festival in 2008

She & Him have released several other albums, including Volume Two (2010), A Very She & Him Christmas (2011), Volume 3 (2013), Classics (2014), Christmas Party (2016), and Melt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson (2022).

Zooey has also performed "God Bless America" at a baseball game in 2010. In 2011, she sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" before a World Series game. She also contributed to tribute albums for Buddy Holly.

In 2011, Zooey and Joseph Gordon-Levitt recorded a fun version of "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" for her YouTube channel. It quickly became very popular.

Film-related music

Deschanel performing in New York in 2008

Zooey Deschanel first sang on screen in The New Guy (2002). In Elf (2003), she sang "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Will Ferrell. She also sang "Auld Lang Syne" in the film.

In Winter Passing (2006), her piano music was used in the film. She also sang "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean". In Bridge to Terabithia, she sang "Someday" and "Why Can't We Be Friends?" with a group of children.

In Yes Man (2008), Zooey sang several songs for the movie and its soundtrack. She was part of a fictional band called "Munchausen by Proxy." In 500 Days of Summer (2009), she sang a cover of The Smiths's "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want" with She & Him. She also sang "Sugar Town" by Nancy Sinatra.

Zooey sang "The Greatest Most Beautiful Love Song in All the Land" with James Franco in Your Highness (2011). She also sang several songs for the soundtrack of Disney's animated movie Winnie the Pooh (2011). She received a Grammy Award nomination for the song "So Long." Zooey also wrote and performed the theme song for her TV show New Girl. In 2016, she voiced Bridget in the animated film Trolls, where she also sang.

Other work

In May 2011, Zooey Deschanel, along with Sophia Rossi and Molly McAleer, started the website HelloGiggles.com. It is an entertainment website for women. Time, Inc. bought HelloGiggles.com in 2015.

In 2023, Deschanel hosted the Max streaming show What Am I Eating?. This show was based on an earlier series she did called Your Food's Roots.

Personal life

Zooey Deschanel has allergies to eggs, dairy products, and soy. She used to be a vegan but found it hard to get enough calories because of her other food sensitivities. She is now a pescetarian, meaning she eats fish but no other meat.

In 2009, Zooey married musician Ben Gibbard. They separated in 2011 and divorced in 2012.

In 2015, she married film producer Jacob Pechenik. They have two children, a daughter and a son. Zooey and Jacob divorced in 2020.

In August 2019, Zooey met Jonathan Scott, a star from the show Property Brothers. They met while filming an episode of Carpool Karaoke: The Series. On August 13, 2023, Zooey and Jonathan announced their engagement in Scotland.

In January 2025, the childhood home of Zooey and Emily Deschanel in Pacific Palisades was destroyed by wildfires.

Filmography

Discography

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Zooey Deschanel para niños