London Academy of Media Film TV

EARLY LIFE

Zooey Deschanel

Born Zooey Claire Deschanel on 17th January, 1980, in Los Angeles, California, Zooey is the youngest of two daughters to actress Mary Jo and Oscar-nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel. With her parents’ respective careers, Zooey and her sister Emily were destined for showbiz success and Zooey expressed an interest in acting at a young age. Thanks to her father’s job, the family traveled a lot when Zooey was a child, though she predominantly spent her time in California. She studied at Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles, where she was classmates with Jake Gyllenhaal and Kate Hudson and discovered a passion for singing there as well as acting.

ACTING DEBUT

Zooey made her acting debut at the age of 16 in a production of Into the Woods by the Interact Theatre Company where she portrayed Little Red Riding Hood. Her television debut was not too far behind when she appeared in an episode of Veronica’s Closet in 1998. From there Zooey made numerous film appearances,making her big screen debut in the comedy Mumford (1999), and subsequently landing small roles in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous in 2000, and The Good Girl (with Jennifer Aniston and Jake Gyllenhaal), Big Trouble, and The New Guy in 2002. Zooey returned to television in the same year with a guest appearance on hit sitcom Frasier.

INDEPENDENT BREAKTHROUGH

Zooey’s breakthrough role came in 2003 when she was cast in David Gordon Green’s romantic drama All The Real Girls. The film was a critical success on the independent circuit, earning Zooey a nomination for Best Female Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards. Zooey’s acclaimed performance garnered the attention of Hollywood’s major studios and the actress soon found herself being offered leading roles in more high profile fare. First came Will Ferrell’s Christmas comedy smash Elf in 2003, then Ray Romano’s comedy Eulogy in 2004, and her most high profile release, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in 2005. Zooey has continued to make frequent film appearances ever since with roles in Failure to Launch (2006) with Matthew McConaughey, children’s fantasy Bridge to Terabithia (2007), animated comedy Surf’s Up (2007), and Andrew Dominik’s acclaimed western The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007). Zooey appeared in her first critical and commercial flop a year later with a leading role in M. Night Shyamalan’s critically panned The Happening (2008) starring alongside Mark Wahlberg.

HOLLYWOOD STAR

The Happening’s box office disappointment was not to blight Zooey’s rising celebrity status however as the actress rebounded with leading roles in the Jim Carrey comedy Yes Man (2008), and independent breakthrough (500) Days of Summer (2009), for which she earned a satellite award nomination for Best Actress. She also guest starred in an episode of The Simpsons in 2008. She has since made a guest appearance on her sister Emily’s hit television series, Bones in 2009, and was featured in the fantasy spoof Your Highness (2011) with Danny McBride, Natalie Portman, and James Franco. She will next be seen in the forthcoming Paul Rudd comedy My Idiot Brother (2011).

Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in (500) Days of Summer

MUSIC CAREER

An accomplished singer, Zooey has recorded songs for many of her films; appearing on the soundtracks to Elf, Bridge to Terabithia, Yes Man, and (500) Days of Summer amongst others. She has also provided guest vocals for Jason Schwartzman’s debut album Nighttiming, and Snow Patrol singer Gary Lightbody’s side project Tired Pony. Most notably, Zooey has recorded and released two well-received albums with musician M. Ward under the name She & Him in 2008 and 2010.

PERSONAL LIFE

Zooey has previously dated actor Jason Schwartzman, and is currently married to musician Ben Gibbard, lead singer of Death Cab To Cutie and The Postal Service, whom she wed in September 2009. She is currently represented by Seven Summits Management.

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