Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Deschanel

Born 01/17/1980 (44 years old)
Los Angeles, California, USA

Biography

Zooey Deschanel is an entertainer in every sense of the word, bringing the classical leading lady back to the modern audience with her old fashioned charm. Lauded as “timeless”, “vintage” and “ethereal,” Deschanel’s recent starring roles in (500) DAYS OF SUMMER, opposite Joseph Gordon Levitt, and YES MAN, opposite Jim Carrey, have cemented her place as a mainstream presence with a handle for nuance. Cinemaphiles have long known Deschanel for her breakout performance in Cameron Crowe’s ensemble film ALMOST FAMOUS, opposite Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson and Frances McDormand, and ALL THE REAL GIRLS, for which she received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Lead Actress. Indie film buffs often cite Deschanel’s depth in films like THE GOOD GIRL with Jennifer Aniston and EULOGY with Debra Winger and Ray Romano, and kids of all ages fell in love with her memorable theatrical and vocal performances in the instant Christmas classic ELF, opposite Will Ferrell for director Jon Favreau. Deschanel’s music has only added to her performance tapestry. Her album She & Him: Volume 2 debuted at #6 on the Billboard Top 200 and was one of the most critically acclaimed albums in 2010.

Deschanel made her feature film debut in 1999 in Lawrence Kasdan’s ensemble drama MUMFORD. She played the loveable sidekick, Kit, in FAILURE TO LAUNCH with Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker and starred in the box office hit, HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO THE GALAXY with Sam Rockwell, Mos Def and John Malkovich.

Deschanel was seen in the Walt Disney film, BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA based on the Newberry Award-winning children’s novel, and she provided the voice of a surfing penguin alongside Shia LaBeouf and Jeff Bridges in the animated hit movie SURF’S UP. She also co-starred in THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD opposite Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck, in addition to the independent films LIVE FREE OR DIE with Aaron Stanford; GIGANTIC with Paul Dano; FLAKES with Aaron Stanford; THE GO-GETTER with Lou Taylor-Pucci; THE GOOD LIFE for writer/director Stephen Berra; and Adam Rapp’s WINTER PASSING, opposite Will Ferrell and Ed Harris.

Deschanel starred with Mark Wahlberg in the thriller THE HAPPENING; ABANDON for director Stephen Gaghan; BIG TROUBLE for director Barry Sonnenfeld; the period comedy YOUR HIGHNESS, opposite Natalie Portman and James Franco; and the hit Sci-Fi Channel Emmy® Award-nominated mini-series TIN MAN.

In addition to Deschanel’s work onscreen, she has earned rave reviews and popular acclaim for her collaboration with M. Ward on her band, She & Him. Pitchfork Media said, “She & Him has given Deschanel her best role yet, one that shows off her charm and intelligence to the best effect-- one that she is essentially writing for herself.” Music, having always been a passion for Deschanel, has produced two albums: Volume 1 and Volume 2, boasting 21 original songs written by Deschanel and covers of four of her personal favorites. She & Him has sold out tours in the US, UK and Europe.

Deschanel is the face of Rimmel Cosmetics and has starred in two campaigns for Cotton for which she also lent original music. She is co-creator and a frequent contributor to the website HelloGiggles. Next up is Disney’s WINNIE THE POOH, for which Deschanel sang the classic Sherman Brothers theme song and wrote and performed original music.

Deschanel, who was named for the male character in J. D. Salinger’s Franny and Zooey, spent much of her childhood on-location with her actress mother, Mary Jo, and her father Caleb, an Academy Award®-nominated cinematographer. She credits her father with instilling in her a keen visual sense and great style.

Big Beach, LLC

Actress

Movies
2024

Harold and the Purple Crayon

2023

Trolls Band Together

2022

Dreamin' Wild

2020

Trolls World Tour

2017

Trolls Holiday (TV movie)

2016

Trolls

2015

Rock the Kasbah

 

The Driftless Area

2011

Our Idiot Brother

Ads

Ads

 

Your Highness

2009

(500) Days of Summer

2008

Gigantic

 

The Happening

 

Yes Man

2007

Bridge to Terabithia

 

Flakes

 

Surf's Up

 

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

 

The Go-Getter

 

The Good Life

2006

Failure to Launch

 

Live Free or Die

2005

Once Upon a Mattress (TV movie)

 

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

 

Winter Passing

2004

Eulogy

2003

All the Real Girls

 

Elf

 

It's Better to be Wanted for Murder Than Not to Be Wanted at All

2002

Abandon

 

Big Trouble

 

The Good Girl

 

The New Guy

2001

Manic

2000

Almost Famous

1999

Mumford

Series
2023

Physical

 

Like No One’s Watching (S03E07)

 

Like You Mean It (S03E06)

 

Like Crazy (S03E05)

  more episodes (4)
2018

New Girl

 

Engram Pattersky (S07E08)

 

The Curse of the Pirate Bride (S07E07)

 

Mario (S07E06)

  more episodes (5)
2017

New Girl

 

Five Stars for Beezus (S06E22)

 

San Diego (S06E21)

 

Misery (S06E20)

  more episodes (9)
2016

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

 

The Night Shift (S04E04)

 

New Girl

 

Landing Gear (S05E22)

 

Wedding Eve (S05E21)

 

Return to Sender (S05E20)

  more episodes (23)
2015

New Girl

 

Clean Break (S04E22)

 

Panty Gate (S04E21)

 

Par 5 (S04E20)

  more episodes (8)
2014

New Girl

 

Cruise (S03E23)

 

Dance (S03E22)

 

Big News (S03E21)

  more episodes (21)
2013

American Dad!

 

Independent Movie (S10E06)

 

New Girl

 

Elaine's Big Day (S02E25)

 

Winston's Birthday (S02E24)

 

Virgins (S02E23)

  more episodes (21)
 

The Simpsons

 

Love Is a Many Splintered Thing (S24E12)

2012

New Girl

 

See Ya (S01E24)

 

Backslide (S01E23)

 

Tomatoes (S01E22)

  more episodes (23)
 

The Simpsons

 

Moonshine River (S24E01)

2011

New Girl

 

The 23rd (S01E09)

 

Bad in Bed (S01E08)

 

Bells (S01E07)

  more episodes (6)
2010

Funny or Die Presents...

2009

Bones

 

The Goop on the Girl (S05E10)

2008

The Simpsons

 

Apocalypse Cow (S19E17)

2007

Drunk History

 

Tin Man

 

Weeds

 

Doing the Backstroke (S03E01)

2006

Weeds

 

Pittsburgh (S02E12)

 

Yeah, Like Tomatoes (S02E11)

 

Mile Deep and a Foot Wide (S02E10)

2005

American Dad!

 

Stan Knows Best (S01E03)

2004

Cracking Up

2002

Frasier

 

Kissing Cousin (S10E04)

1998

Veronica's Closet

 

Veronica's Fun and Pirates are Crazy (S01E12)

1997

The Wonderful World of Disney

Documentaries
2023

What Am I Eating? with Zooey Deschanel (series) - guide

 

Is Chocolate the Lover You've Been Neglecting? - guide (E06)

 

No Pain, Eat Your Grain - guide (E05)

 

Stop Ghosting Greens - guide (E04)

  more episodes (3)
2021

History of the Sitcom (series)

2020

The Movies That Made Us (series) - a.f.

 

Elf - a.f. (S02E01)

2013

Letters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy

2011

These Amazing Shadows

2010

Ben Lee: Catch My Disease

 

Do It Again

2009

Not a Love Story: Making (500) Days of Summer

 

Summer at Sundance

2005

Inside 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' (TV movie)

1999

Making the Video (series)

Music videos
2020

Katy Perry: Not the End of the World

2015

Brian Wilson - On the Island

2010

She & Him: In the Sun

 

She & Him: Thieves

2009

Jenny Lewis: Carpetbaggers

2002

Jimmy Fallon: Idiot Boyfriend

1999

The Offspring - She's Got Issues

Video compilation
2005

The Offspring Complete Music Video Collection

Short
2010

Havin' a Summah

2009

CineMash: Sid and Nancy

2007

Raving

2003

House Hunting

 

Whatever We Do

2002

Sweet Friggin' Daisies

Director

Series
2016

New Girl

 

House Hunt (S06E01)

Guest