- Born
- Birth nameZooey Claire Deschanel
- Nicknames
- Zo
- Zuzu
- Height5′ 5″ (1.65 m)
- 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 (née Weir), is an actress who appeared in Twin Peaks (1990). Her paternal grandfather was French, and her other roots include English, German, Scottish, Irish, and Dutch.
Driven from an early age to become a successful actress, Zooey got her big break, at age 17, playing a model in the 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'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 has appeared in such films as 500 Days of Summer (2009), Our Idiot Brother (2011), Yes Man (2008) (opposite Jim Carrey), Elf (2003) (opposite Will Ferrell), Your Highness (2011), The Happening (2008) (opposite Mark Wahlberg), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) and is the star of the FOX sitcom, New Girl (2011).
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).- IMDb Mini Biography By: Spiraling Shape
- SpousesJacob Pechenik(June 21, 2015 - June 1, 2020) (divorced, 2 children)Benjamin Gibbard(September 19, 2009 - December 12, 2012) (divorced)
- ChildrenElsie Otter PechenikCharlie Wolf Pechenik
- Parents
- RelativesEmily Deschanel(Sibling)Henry Lamar Hornsby(Niece or Nephew)Calvin Hornsby(Niece or Nephew)
- Long dark hair with bangs
- Her big blue eyes.
- Frequently plays socially awkward, energetic and sweet-natured characters
- Quirky Personality.
- Has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and takes medication for it.
- Younger sister of actress Emily Deschanel.
- Went to high school with her Almost Famous (2000) co-star Kate Hudson.
- Plays the piano and the baritone ukulele.
- Mother, with her ex-husband Jacob Pechenik, of daughter Elsie Otter Pechenik (b. July 2015 in Austin, Texas) and son Charlie Wolf Pechenik (b. May 2017 in Los Angeles, California).
- I love old music, old movies, screwball comedies, vintage clothes and basically I'm an old-fashioned gal.
- I don't want to go to another rollercoaster ride of a movie. If I want that, I'll go to Magic Mountain. I'm really interested in the young directors that are doing different things in cinema. I think the movies people will hold onto are the Rushmore (1998)s and the Being John Malkovich (1999)s. Those are the kind of films I want to do; that's what I'm passionate about.
- I'm blessed with a lot of energy and stamina. I can't stand sitting still. I went to a spa once with my mom and I was like, "Get me out of here!'"
- I don't really like to go out very much. I'm not scandalous. I'm not, like, in this to be famous. I also find it so embarrassing when you read about people and it's like they were so trashed at Skybar and stumbling around. I don't want to be that person. That's just so embarrassing to have that written about you.
- I'm the worst at picking what movies are going to do well. I have no idea. I'm really surprised if a movie I like does well.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content