Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Claire Deschanel is an American actress, singer, and songwriter. She is best known for her roles as Jessica Day in the Fox sitcom New Girl and as Ruth Jarmin in the Showtime comedy-drama series Weeds. Deschanel has also appeared in films such as Almost Famous (2000), Elf (2003), The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005), Failure to Launch (2006), Yes Man (2008), 500 Days of Summer (2009), and The Good Girl (2002).

Deschanel was born on January 17, 1980, in Los Angeles, California, to Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Cale Deschanel and actress Mary Jo Deschanel. She has an older sister, Emily Deschanel, who is also an actress. Deschanel attended Northwestern University for nine months before dropping out to pursue a career in acting.

Deschanel made her film debut in 1999 with a small role in the drama Mumford. She went on to appear in a number of other films, including Almost Famous, Elf, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Failure to Launch. In 2008, she starred in the romantic comedy Yes Man, which was a critical and commercial success. Deschanel received further acclaim for her role in the 2009 romantic comedy 500 Days of Summer.

In 2011, Deschanel began starring in the Fox sitcom New Girl. The series follows the lives of three single women who share an apartment in Los Angeles. New Girl was a critical and commercial success, and Deschanel received a Golden Globe Award nomination for her performance. Deschanel left New Girl in 2018 after seven seasons.

In addition to her acting career, Deschanel is also a singer and songwriter. She has released two albums with her band, She & Him. Deschanel has also contributed songs to a number of films, including Elf, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Yes Man.

Deschanel is known for her unique personality and quirky style. She is also known for her love of animals, and she is a supporter of a number of animal rights organizations.