Zooey Deschanel — Biography

Zooey Deschanel made her cinematic introduction in 1999 in the film Mumford, but it was her role as the troubled older sister Anita to William Miller in Cameron Crowe's 2000 semi-autobiographical feature Almost Famous that truly launched her career. She quickly gained popularity for her deadpan delivery and was often cast in "Manic Pixie Dream Girl" roles in notable films like Elf (2003), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), Failure to Launch (2006), Bridge to Terabithia (2007), The Happening (2008), Yes Man (2008), and (500) Days of Summer (2009). Currently, she stars in the Fox television series New Girl. Over her career, Deschanel has received nominations for prestigious awards, including the Golden Globe, Grammy, and Emmy. From 2001 for several years, she performed alongside actress Samantha Shelton in a jazz cabaret show titled If All the Stars Were Pretty Babies. Besides her singing prowess, she is accomplished with instruments like the keyboard, percussion, banjo, and ukulele. In 2006, she collaborated with M. Ward, resulting in the duo's debut album Volume One under the name She & Him, which came out in March 2008. They followed up with Volume Two, released in the U.S. in March 2010. Deschanel often showcases her vocal talent in the films she stars in. In September 2009, she wed Ben Gibbard, the lead singer of Death Cab for Cutie, but their marriage ended in divorce when she filed in December 2011. She has an older sister, Emily Deschanel. As of July 2024, Zooey Deschanel boasts 7.7 million followers on her Instagram account.