American actress, model, musician, and singer-songwriter Zooey Deschanel made her film debut in the 1999 comedy feature Mumford. She went on to gain public attention by co-starring in the comedy-drama Almost Famous (2000), the independent drama Manic (2001) opposite Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and the comedy-drama The Good Girl (2002). She landed her first major role as an 18-year-old virgin in the romantic drama All the Real Girls (2003), for which she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. One of Deschanel's biggest commercial successes came with the Christmas-fantasy film Elf (2003), which grossed over $220 million worldwide.
In 2005, Deschanel played Tricia McMillan in Garth Jennings' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, an adaptation of the media franchise of the same name. She followed this with a series of comedy films, including Winter Passing (2005), Failure to Launch (2006), The Go-Getter (2007), and Peyton Reed's Yes Man (2008). Deschanel played a radiant dream girl in the independent romantic comedy-drama (500) Days of Summer (2009), also opposite Gordon-Levitt, for which she garnered a nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture at the 14th Satellite Awards. She voiced Bridget in the animated family comedy Trolls (2016), which earned her an Annie Award nomination for Voice Acting in a Feature Production.
Deschanel made her television debut in the sitcom Veronica's Closet in 1998. She later starred as DG in the miniseries Tin Man (2007), a science fiction re-imagining of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The miniseries averaged more than 6.3 million viewers during its first night, making it the top-rated cable miniseries of 2007. She voiced Mary Spuckler in three episodes of The Simpsons, since debuting in the 2008 episode "Apocalypse Cow", and guest-starred with her sister Emily in a 2009 episode of the Fox crime procedural drama Bones. In 2011, she landed a starring role in the Fox sitcom New Girl. For her portrayal as goofy school teacher Jessica Day, she received nominations for three Golden Globe Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award, and won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.
Film YearTitleRole Notes 1999Mumford Nessa Watkins 2000Almost Famous Anita Miller 2001Manic Tracy 2002The Good Girl CherylAbandon Samantha HarperBig Trouble Jenny HerkThe New Guy NoraSweet Friggin' Daisies ZeldaShort 2003Whatever We Do NikkiAll the Real Girls NoelIt's Better to Be Wanted for Murder Than Not to Be Wanted at All Gas Station GirlShort House Hunting ChristyElf Jovie 2004Eulogy Kate Collins 2005The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyTricia "Trillian" McMillanWinter Passing Reese Holden2006Failure to Launch KitLive Free or Die Cheryl2007The Good Life FrancesThe Go-Getter KateBridge to Terabithia Ms. EdmundsFlakes Miss Pussy KatzRaving Katie Short Surf's Up Lani Aliikai (voice) The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Dorothy Evans2008Gigantic Harriet "Happy" LollyThe Happening Alma MooreYes Man Allison 2009500 Days of Summer Summer Finn2011Our Idiot Brother NatalieYour Highness Princess Belladonna2015Rock the Kasbah Ronnie The Driftless Area Stella 2016TrollsBridget (voice) 2020 Trolls World Tour Cameo 2022 Dreamin' Wild Nancy 2023Trolls Band Together Bridget (voice) 2024Harold and the Purple Crayon Terri 2025Merv Anna Finch TBA scope="row" Abbi Filming
Television Year(s) Title Role Notes 1998Veronica's Closet Elena Episode: "Veronica's Fun and Pirates Are Crazy" 2002Frasier Jen Episode: "Kissing Cousin" 2004Cracking Up Heidi Episode: "Birds Do It" 2005Once Upon a Mattress Lady Larken Television film 2005–2013American Dad! Various voices 2 episodesSources: For "Stan Knows Best": For "Independent Movie": 2006–2007Weeds Kat Wheeler 4 episodes 2007Tin Man DGMiniseries 2008–2025The Simpsons Mary Spuckler, Quirky Girl (voice) 4 episodesSources: For "Apocalypse Cow": For "Moonshine River": For "Love Is a Many-Splintered Thing": 2009Bones Margaret Whitesell Episode: "The Goop on the Girl" 2010Funny or Die PresentsMary Todd Lincoln Sketch: "Drunk History Vol.5" 2011–2018New Girl Jessica "Jess" Day Main role; 140 episodesDirector ("House Hunt")Also producer and co-executive producerSources: 2012Saturday Night Live Host / Various characters Episode: "Zooey Deschanel/Karmin" 2016Brooklyn Nine-Nine Jessica "Jess" Day Episode: "The Night Shift", crossover episode with New Girl 2017Trolls Holiday Bridget (voice) Television special 2021The Celebrity Dating Game Co-Host 2022Storybots: Answer Time Cat Burglar Lady Episode: Keys2023RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Herself Guest judge (season 8) Episode: "The Letter L"RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked Episode: "All Stars Untucked: The Letter L"Physical Kelly Season 3
Music videos Year Title Artist Notes 1999"She's Got Issues" The Offspring Sources:
Credits: 2002"Idiot Boyfriend" Jimmy Fallon 2008"Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" (version one)She & Him 2009"Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" (version two) 2010"In the Sun" "Thieves" 2011"Don't Look Back" 2012"Hey Girl" Herself 2013"I Could've Been Your Girl"She & Him Also director 2014"Stay Awhile" 2015"On the Island" Brian Wilson Sources:
Credits: 2020"Not the End of the World" Katy Perry
Video games YearTitleRole 2007Surf's Up Lani Aliikai (voice)
Discography
Soundtrack performances Year Title Soundtrack album 2003 "Baby, It's Cold Outside" (with Leon Redbone) Elf 2005"In a Little While" (with Matthew Morrison)Once Upon a Mattress 2008Yes Man2011Winnie the Pooh"Hey Girl" (original soundtrack)New Girl2014 "Fallinlove2nite" cover 2015 "Bitch" Rock the Kasbah 2016"Hello""I'm Coming Out""Mo Money Mo Problems" (with cast)""Can't Stop the Feeling!" (with cast)Trolls
Guest album appearances Year Title Album Artist Ref.2007"Chiquitita"Open Your Heart EPLavender DiamondNighttimingCoconut Records 2008Acid TongueJenny Lewis 2009Hold TimeM. Ward 2010The Place We Ran FromTired Pony 2011 "It's So Easy"Listen to Me: Buddy Holly (tribute album) Various artists2012A Wasteland CompanionM. Ward"The Hippie Girl" ()Chasing Away the DotsMike Coykendall"Something's Rattling (Cowpoke)"Former LivesBenjamin Gibbard2015"You're the Reason"A mixtape from Ben LeeBen Lee
Notes
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