---
name: "Zooey Deschanel"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/zooey-deschanel"
fi1m_id: "zooey-deschanel"
imdb_id: "nm0221046"
tmdb_id: 11664
wikidata_id: "Q191719"
roles: ["Actor","Director"]
born: "17 January 1980"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 8
average_fi1m_score: 67
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-10-05T03:07:54.525436+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Zooey Deschanel

## Identity

Zooey Deschanel

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/zooey-deschanel
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** zooey-deschanel
- **IMDb ID:** nm0221046
- **TMDB ID:** 11664
- **Wikidata ID:** Q191719
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zooey_Deschanel, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q191719, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0221046/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11664

Actor and director. Born 17 January 1980 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Director
- **Born:** 17 January 1980, Los Angeles, California, USA
- **Active:** 2000–present
- **Also known as:** Zooey Claire Deschanel
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 8: 7 acting, 1 directing
- **Frequently works with:** [Peyton Reed](https://film.one/person/peyton-reed.md)
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 67, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 67 (5), 2010s 79 (2), 2020s 58 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 67 to 61 across 7 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 2 of 6 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 4, Drama 2, Family 2, Fantasy 2, Music 2, Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 11 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $887m across 6 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zooey_Deschanel, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q191719, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0221046/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11664

## Streaming the US now

- **The Roku Channel:** [*The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford*](https://film.one/film/the-assassination-of-jesse-james-by-the-coward-robert-ford.md) (84)
- **Hulu:** [*Almost Famous*](https://film.one/film/almost-famous.md) (82)
- **Disney+:** [*New Girl*](https://film.one/tv/new-girl.md) (80)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Trolls Band Together*](https://film.one/film/trolls-band-together.md) (58)
- **Peacock:** [*The Happening*](https://film.one/film/the-happening.md) (38)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Zooey Deschanel

> Zooey Deschanel's dry delivery and physical timing deserve more credit than the familiar talk of quirkiness allows. We like her comic precision, though parts built chiefly around being endearing can leave her with too little to do.

Zooey Deschanel's deadpan delivery lets a joke arrive without much fuss, which is worth remembering when so much fuss is made about her supposed quirkiness. In Cameron Crowe's *Almost Famous* (2000), she plays Anita Miller, an early supporting role in a film whose performances make its teenage enthusiasm convincing. We recommend it readily, with a reservation about Crowe's willingness to forgive the people he likes. The nostalgia softens behaviour that deserves a harder look, though the warmth is also part of what makes the film enjoyable. It is a better starting point for Deschanel than any checklist of endearing peculiarities.

Her early character-driven work includes *All the Real Girls* (2003), while Jovie in *Elf* (2003) took her into family comedy. The complaints about Summer in *(500) Days of Summer* (2009) concern a familiar danger: the quirky woman whose purpose is to interest somebody else. The move to *New Girl* (2011–2018), playing Jess Day, gave her a sustained lead and made physical comedy an important part of her reputation alongside the dry delivery. We rate the timing, but the repeated demand to be endearing can become restrictive, especially when eccentricity is expected to do the work of character. That is where the writing needs scrutiny: a recognisable manner should not be all an actor is given to play.

Bridget, her voice role in *Trolls Band Together* (2023), gives her still less to work with. We were disappointed that she gets her wedding and scarcely anything to do afterwards. A distinctive voice is useful in animation, but it cannot compensate for a part that the story has little use for. The film's carefully made textures deserve credit; the story receives less attention, and the boy band jokes cannot make it a satisfying evening for much beyond its young audience. For a longer stretch of her comic work, try *New Girl*, with some tolerance for the effort spent making Jess endearing.

## Biography

Zooey Deschanel is an American actress and musician. She made her film debut in *Mumford* (1999) and appeared in a supporting role in *Almost Famous* (2000).

Deschanel is known for roles in films including *Elf* (2003), *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy* (2005), *Yes Man* (2008) and *(500) Days of Summer* (2009). She voiced Bridget in the animated films *Trolls* (2016) and *Trolls Band Together* (2023). From 2011 to 2018 she starred as Jess Day in the Fox sitcom *New Girl*, receiving a Primetime Emmy Award nomination and three Golden Globe Award nominations. She co-founded the website HelloGiggles, which was acquired by Time Inc. in 2015.

*Sources: imdb.com, thewrap.com, en.wikipedia.org, rottentomatoes.com.*

## On Fi1m (8)

### Performed in (7) — the average rests on these

- *Trolls Band Together* (2023), Fi1m 58, as Bridget (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/trolls-band-together.md)
- *Brooklyn Nine-Nine* (2013), Fi1m 78, as Jessica 'Jess' Day — [page](https://film.one/tv/brooklyn-nine-nine.md)
- *The Happening* (2008), Fi1m 38, as Alma Moore — [page](https://film.one/film/the-happening.md)
- *Yes Man* (2008), Fi1m 56, as Renee Allison — [page](https://film.one/film/yes-man.md)
- *The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford* (2007), Fi1m 84, as Dorothy Evans — [page](https://film.one/film/the-assassination-of-jesse-james-by-the-coward-robert-ford.md)
- *Elf* (2003), Fi1m 75, as Jovie — [page](https://film.one/film/elf.md)
- *Almost Famous* (2000), Fi1m 82, as Anita Miller — [page](https://film.one/film/almost-famous.md)

### Directed (1)

- *New Girl* (2011), Fi1m 80, as Jessica 'Jess' Day — [page](https://film.one/tv/new-girl.md)

## Complete filmography (58)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Trash Mountain* (2026), as Abbi
- *Merv* (2025), as Anna Finch
- *Harold and the Purple Crayon* (2024), as Terry
- *Trolls Band Together* (2023), as Bridget (voice) — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/trolls-band-together.md)
- *Dreamin' Wild* (2023), as Nancy
- *StoryBots: Answer Time* (2022), series, as Cat Burglar
- *Snoopy Presents: Lucy's School* (2022), as Songs
- *Physical* (2021), series, as Kelly Kilmartin
- *Trolls World Tour* (2020), as Bridget (voice)
- *Trolls Holiday* (2017), as Bridget (voice)
- *Trolls* (2016), as Bridget (voice)
- *Rock the Kasbah* (2015), as Ronnie
- *The Driftless Area* (2015), as Stella
- *Brooklyn Nine-Nine* (2013), series, as Jessica 'Jess' Day — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/brooklyn-nine-nine.md)
- *New Girl* (2011), series, as Jessica 'Jess' Day · Co-Executive Producer, Producer, Director — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/new-girl.md)
- *Our Idiot Brother* (2011), as Natalie Rochlin
- *Your Highness* (2011), as Belladonna
- *Winnie the Pooh* (2011), as additional voice, Songs
- *(500) Days of Summer* (2009), as Summer
- *Yes Man* (2008), as Renee Allison — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/yes-man.md)
- *Gigantic* (2008), as Happy
- *The Happening* (2008), as Alma Moore — Fi1m 38, [page](https://film.one/film/the-happening.md)
- *Flakes* (2007), as Miss Pussy Katz
- *Tin Man* (2007), series, as DG
- *The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford* (2007), as Dorothy Evans — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-assassination-of-jesse-james-by-the-coward-robert-ford.md)
- *Surf's Up* (2007), as Lani Aliikai (voice)
- *Raving* (2007), as Katie
- *Bridge to Terabithia* (2007), as Ms. Edmunds
- *The Go-Getter* (2007), as Kate
- *The Good Life* (2007), as Frances
- *Live Free or Die* (2006), as Cheryl
- *Failure to Launch* (2006), as Kit
- *Winter Passing* (2006), as Reese Holden
- *Once Upon A Mattress* (2005), as Lady Larken
- *Bones* (2005), series, as Margaret Whitesell — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/bones.md)
- *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy* (2005), as Trillian
- *American Dad!* (2005), series, as French Maid / Candy Striper Stripper (voice), Dream Girl (voice)
- *Eulogy* (2004), as Kate Collins
- *Cracking Up* (2004), series, as Heidi
- *Players in Pigtails* (2004), Actor
- *Elf* (2003), as Jovie — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/elf.md)
- *House Hunting* (2003), as Christy
- *It's Better to Be Wanted for Murder Than Not to Be Wanted at All* (2003), as Gas Station Girl
- *All the Real Girls* (2003), as Noel
- *Whatever We Do* (2003), as Nikki
- *Manic* (2002), as Tracy
- *Abandon* (2002), as Samantha Harper
- *Sweet Friggin' Daisies* (2002), as Zelda
- *The Good Girl* (2002), as Cheryl
- *The New Guy* (2002), as Nora
- *Big Trouble* (2002), as Jenny Herk
- *Almost Famous* (2000), as Anita Miller — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/almost-famous.md)
- *Mumford* (1999), as Nessa Watkins
- *Veronica's Closet* (1997), series, as Elena
- *Frasier* (1993), series, as Jen — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Mary Spuckler (voice), Quirk Girl (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *Heather of the Valley*, Actor
- *Trolls 4*, as Bridget (voice)

## Gallery

- ![Zooey Deschanel](https://film.one/media/person/15721/gallery-4acb242428d7.jpg) Zooey Deschanel — Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Zooey_Deschanel_-_Song_Sung_Blue.jpg/1280px-Zooey_Deschanel_-_Song_Sung_Blue.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- !["Harold and the Purple Crayon" stars Zachary Levi and Zooey Deschanel look over a special collections display at the Library of Congress with Sara Duke, July 30 (2024)](https://film.one/media/person/15721/gallery-3b023df826e9.jpg) "Harold and the Purple Crayon" stars Zachary Levi and Zooey Deschanel look over a special collections display at the Library of Congress with Sara Duke, July 30 (2024) — Library of Congress Life, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/%22Harold_and_the_Purple_Crayon%22_stars_Zachary_Levi_and_Zooey_Deschanel_look_over_a_special_collections_display_at_the_Library_of_Congress_with_Sara_Duke%2C_July_30%2C_2024.jpg/1280px-thumbnail.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- !["Harold and the Purple Crayon" stars Zachary Levi and Zooey Deschanel look over a special collections display at the Library of Congress with Sara Duke, July 30 (2024)](https://film.one/media/person/15721/gallery-fa2e690dbb63.jpg) "Harold and the Purple Crayon" stars Zachary Levi and Zooey Deschanel look over a special collections display at the Library of Congress with Sara Duke, July 30 (2024) — Library of Congress Life, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/%22Harold_and_the_Purple_Crayon%22_stars_Zachary_Levi_and_Zooey_Deschanel_look_over_a_special_collections_display_at_the_Library_of_Congress_with_Sara_Duke%2C_July_30%2C_2024_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- !["Harold and the Purple Crayon" stars Zachary Levi and Zooey Deschanel tour the Main Reading Room with Library of Congress Chief Communications Officer Roswell E (2024)](https://film.one/media/person/15721/gallery-6e0e738ab499.jpg) "Harold and the Purple Crayon" stars Zachary Levi and Zooey Deschanel tour the Main Reading Room with Library of Congress Chief Communications Officer Roswell E (2024) — Library of Congress Life, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/%22Harold_and_the_Purple_Crayon%22_stars_Zachary_Levi_and_Zooey_Deschanel_tour_the_Main_Reading_Room_with_Library_of_Congress_Chief_Communications_Officer_Roswell_Encina%2C_July_30%2C_2024.jpg/1280px-thumbnail.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Zooey Deschanel](https://film.one/media/person/15721/gallery-0b12ba62b170.jpg) Zooey Deschanel — Image via TMDB
- ![Zooey Deschanel](https://film.one/media/person/15721/gallery-fe1deb2fc4bf.jpg) Zooey Deschanel — Image via TMDB
- ![Zooey Deschanel](https://film.one/media/person/15721/gallery-77b8fb3f2712.jpg) Zooey Deschanel — Image via TMDB
- !["Harold and the Purple Crayon" stars Zooey Deschanel and Zachary Levi read excerpts from the classic children's book series during an event at the Library of Co (2024)](https://film.one/media/person/15721/gallery-96c630748a8d.jpg) "Harold and the Purple Crayon" stars Zooey Deschanel and Zachary Levi read excerpts from the classic children's book series during an event at the Library of Co (2024) — Library of Congress Life, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/%22Harold_and_the_Purple_Crayon%22_stars_Zooey_Deschanel_and_Zachary_Levi_read_excerpts_from_the_classic_children%27s_book_series_during_an_event_at_the_Library_of_Congress%2C_July_30%2C_2024.jpg/1280px-thumbnail.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Zooey Deschanel plays Jessica Day, 2012 PaleyFest panel. (2023)](https://film.one/media/person/15721/gallery-3d0844370367.jpg) Zooey Deschanel plays Jessica Day, 2012 PaleyFest panel. (2023) — 2012 PaleyFest panel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/740full-jessica-day.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Zooey Deschanel](https://film.one/media/person/15721/gallery-a51e8214b9d6.jpg) Zooey Deschanel — Image via TMDB
- ![Zooey Deschanel](https://film.one/media/person/15721/gallery-4794dbce47de.jpg) Zooey Deschanel — Image via TMDB
- ![Zooey Deschanel](https://film.one/media/person/15721/gallery-151c89949be3.jpg) Zooey Deschanel — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2012: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (nominated), for *New Girl*

### Other awards — 2 won, 1 nominated

- Critics' Choice Awards 2012: Best Actress in a Comedy Series (won), for *New Girl*
- Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media 2011: Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media (nominated)
- Mar del Plata Film Festival 2003: Mar del Plata Film Festival (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/zooey-deschanel