Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Deschanel was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Academy Award-nominated cinematographer and director Caleb Deschanel and actress Mary Jo Deschanel (née Weir).

She is of Irish and French ancestry (her surname means "from the channels" in French). She was named after Zooey Glass, the male protagonist of J. D. Salinger's 1961 short story collection Franny and Zooey.Her older sister Emily is also an actress.


Deschanel appeared in a guest role on the television series Veronica's Closet before making her film debut in Lawrence Kasdan’s 1999 comedy Mumford, and later in the year she appeared in the music video for The Offspring's single "She's Got Issues".

In her second film, director Cameron Crowe's autobiographical Almost Famous (2000), Deschanel played Anita Miller, the protagonist's rebellious older sister.


Deschanel played supporting roles in a series of films that included Manic (2001), Big Trouble (2002), Abandon (2002), and The Good Girl (2002).

In late 2002, The New York Times reported that Deschanel was "one of Hollywood's most sought-after young stars," and the Los Angeles Times wrote in early 2003 that Deschanel had become a recognizable type, due to "her deadpan, sardonic and scene-stealing [film] performances" as the protagonist's best friend.


Deschanel turned down several supporting roles and played her first lead role in All the Real Girls (2003).

Deschanel's performance as Noel, a sexually curious 18-year-old virgin who has a life-changing romance with an aimless 22-year-old, received critical praise,and she received an Independent Spirit nomination for Best Actress.

In 2004, Deschanel also starred in Eulogy, and as Trillian in the film adaptation of Douglas Adams' science fiction novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005).


In 2007, Deschanel appeared in two children's films, Bridge to Terabithia and the animated film Surf's Up, in which she voiced a penguin named Lani Aliikai.

In December 2007, she played DG, the lead in the new Sci Fi Channel miniseries Tin Man, a re-imagining of L. Frank Baum's children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

In March 2007, Deschanel contributed vocals to two songs ("Slowly" and "Ask Her To Dance") on the album Nighttiming by Jason Schwartzman's band Coconut Records.

In May 2007, singer-songwriter M. Ward, who had previously performed with Deschanel onstage, said that he was "just finishing work" on her debut album, which will feature songs written by Deschanel and produced by Ward.

In 2008, Deschanel will star opposite Mark Wahlberg in M. Night Shyamalan's environmental thriller The Happening, and opposite Jim Carrey in the romantic comedy Yes Man.