Trivia

Has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and takes medication for it.

Younger sister of actress Emily Deschanel.

Went to high school with her Almost Famous (2000) co-star Kate Hudson.

Plays the piano and the baritone ukulele.

Mother, with her ex-husband Jacob Pechenik, of daughter Elsie Otter Pechenik (b. July 2015 in Austin, Texas) and son Charlie Wolf Pechenik (b. May 2017 in Los Angeles, California).

Did her own singing in the movie Elf (2003).

Good friends with Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Had six years of tap dancing lessons.

Named for the male character in J.D. Salinger's "Franny and Zooey".

Was 7 months pregnant with her daughter Elsie when she took maternity leave from filming the 5th season of New Girl (2011).

Is part of indie duo called She & Him with M. Ward. Their debut album is called Volume One.

Her last name is pronounced "day-shuh-NELL", with "day" slightly more accented than the middle syllable.

Loves Ella Fitzgerald.

Attended Northwestern University for one year, but dropped out.

Interests include jazz singing, philosophy, fashion and photography.

Is allergic to gluten, dairy and eggs.

Wrote a screenplay titled "Circus Girl" with friend Jackson Nash. "Circus Girl" involves a witch, evil flying red balloons and a giant diamond. Zooey plans to star in the film as the nerdy main character.

Returned to work 6 months after giving birth to her daughter Elsie to resume filming the 5th season of New Girl (2011).

Is part of the cabaret group called 'If All the Stars Were Pretty Babies'.

She spent several summers at camp upstate New York at French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts. She was also featured in the video for The Offspring's song "She's Got Issues" and the accompanying MTV documentary The Offspring Complete Music Video Collection (2005). She also plays ukulele for the band 'If All the Stars Were Pretty Babies'.

Her paternal grandfather was French. Her ancestry also includes English, German, Irish, Northern Irish (Scots-Irish), other French roots, Swiss, and Dutch.

Daughter of Caleb Deschanel and Mary Jo Deschanel.

Graduated from Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences in Santa Monica.

Engaged to Jonathan Silver Scott [August 14, 2023].

(September 6, 2019) Separated from her husband of 4 years Jacob Pechenik a few months ago.

Turned down a role in Bully (2001) to star in Big Trouble (2002).

Voted #12 on Ask men's top 99 'most desirable' women of 2012.

Was in a relationship with scriptwriter Jamie Linden from June 2012 to August 2014.

Is a big fan of actress Parker Posey.

Sister-in-law of David Hornsby.

(June 21, 2015) Married her boyfriend of 10 months Jacob Pechenik.

She pronounces her name "ZOH-ee" (not "Zoo-ee").

Ranked #6 on Maxim's "Hot 100" of 2014 list.

Was ranked #73 on Maxim magazine Hot 100 Women of 2010 list.

(October 15, 2019) Filed for divorce from her husband of 4 years Jacob Pechenik. The date of separation is listed as January 8, 2019.

She is a registered Democrat.

Has performed with Jackson Nash's comedy group, Manifest Destinyfest.

Ranked #17 on Askmen's list of the top 99 "most desirable" women for 2013.

Filming Your Highness (2011) with James Franco and Natalie Portman. (November 2009)

Ranked #39 in the 2011 FHM Australia list of "100 Sexiest Women in the World".

Ranked #95 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 Women of 2008 list.

Born at 6:57 AM (PST).