Zooey Deschanel, 32, was born into showbiz. Her father, Caleb Deschanel, is an Academy Award nominated cinematographer and her mother, Mary Jo Deschanel, is an actress. She got her first big break playing a model in a TV sitcom Veronica’s Closet. The following year she got a role in her first movie, Mumford where she played Nessa Watkins. She then made the decision to drop out of university and pursue her dream of full-time acting, a move which has clearly paid off. Zooey’s distinctly unique acting style found her voted Best Actress at the Mar Del Plata Film Festival in 2003.
After her role in 500 Days Of Summer, in which she played Summer Finn, a quirky young woman who does not believe in love or fate, her fame level shot through the roof. Since then she has stared in Bones, Funny or Die Presents…, Drunk History, Our Idiot Brother and Your Highness, before now taking up her leading role in the US sitcom New Girl.
In keeping with Zooey’s unique style, she now plays Jess, a very quirky woman. Jess breaks up with her boyfriend of six years and moves in with three guys she met on the internet. The show tells the comical story of how they get along living together and her life. Zooey brings to life the character beautifully.
New Girl is on Channel 4, Fridays 8.30pm
By Jess Embrey
