Zooey Claire Deschanel (; born January 17, 1980) is an American actress, singer-songwriter, model, and producer. In 1999, Deschanel made her film debut in
Mumford, followed by her role as Anita Miller in
Cameron Crowe's 2000 semi-autobiographical film
Almost Famous. Deschanel soon became known for her
deadpan comedy roles in films such as
The Good Girl (2002),
The New Guy (2002),
Elf (2003),
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005),
Failure to Launch (2006),
Yes Man (2008), and
(500) Days of Summer (2009). She also did dramatic turns in the films
Manic (2001),
All the Real Girls (2003),
Winter Passing (2005) and
Bridge to Terabithia (2007). Since 2011, she has played Jessica Day on the
Fox sitcom
New Girl, for which she has received an
Emmy Award nomination and three
Golden Globe Award nominations.
USA Today described her performance as "Given a role tailored to launch her from respected indie actor to certified TV star, Deschanel soars, combining well-honed skills with a natural charm."