Zooey Deschanel's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) New Girl Jessica Day Tin Man DG

Main Movie Roles 2011 - Your Highness 2009 - Days of Summer 2008 - Yes Man 2008 - The Happening 2008 - Gigantic 2007 - Surf's Up 2007 - The Go-Getter 2007 - The Good Life 2007 - Flakes 2007 - Bridge to Terabithia 2007 - The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford 2006 - Failure to Launch 2006 - Live Free or Die 2005 - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 2005 - Winter Passing 2003 - All the Real Girls 2003 - Elf 2002 - The Good Girl 2002 - Abandon 2002 - The New Guy 2002 - Big Trouble 2001 - Manic 2000 - Almost Famous 1999 - Mumford

BIOGRAPHY:

Zooey Deschanel was born in 1980 into a showbiz family. Her father, Caleb Deschanel is an Academy Award-nominated cinematographer (perhaps most notably for The Passion of the Christ (2004)) and her mother, 'Mary Jo Deschanel' (n�e Weir) is an actress who starred in "Twin Peaks" (1990). Driven from an early age to become a successful actress, Zooey got her big break aged 17 playing a model in TV sitcom "Veronica's Closet" (1997). She got her first film role the following year in Mumford (1999), which prompted her to quit university to pursue acting full-time. Mostly thanks to a role in 'Cameron Crowe (I)'s popular biopic, Almost Famous (2000), Zooey's rise to fame has been steadily increasing as the 21st century wears on. Her distinctive acting style found her critical acclaim in 2003 when she was voted Best Actress at the Mar Del Plata Film Festival for her role in 'David Gordon Green's All the Real Girls (2003). She also gained a Best Female Lead nomination (for All the Real Girls (2003)) at the following year's Independent Spirit Awards, but lost out to 'Charlize Theron' .

Zooey is often compared to golden era Hollywood starlets and is also a talented singer. She has said in interviews that she believes her singing ability was pivotal in gaining the role of Jovie in Elf (2003). She also sang (and acted) in the Disney-produced musical, Once Upon a Mattress (2005) (TV).


TRIVIA:

• Engaged to 'Benjamin Gibbard' (qv) of 'Death Cab for Cutie' (qv) (December 2008).
• Interests include jazz singing, philosophy, fashion and photography.
• She pronounces her name "ZOH-ee" (not "zoo-ee").
• Ranked #95 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2008 list.
• Turned down a role in _Bully (2001)_ (qv) to star in _Big Trouble (2002)_ (qv).
• Is a big fan of actress 'Parker Posey' (qv).
• Her last name is pronounced "day-shuh-NELL", with "day" slightly more accented than the middle syllable.
• Named for the male character in 'J.D. Salinger' (qv)'s "Franny and Zooey".