The Unbelievable Untold Secrets of Emily & Zooey Deschanel

Summary

Emily and Zooey Deschanel are Hollywood's quirkiest celebrity siblings and have become more famous than their showbiz parents.

Emily and Zooey Deschanel have led fascinating lives which have had a profound impact on their respective acting careers. Notably, Emily has dedicated herself to philanthropy and animal rights activism, while Zooey has made her mark as a singer, musician, and is the founder of the popular feminist website, HelloGiggles.

Additionally, both sisters have encountered intriguing personal experiences along the way. One such incident involved Zooey being wrongfully identified as a criminal, while Emily found herself amidst a legal dispute due to a leased horse.

Emily and Zooey Deschanel are widely regarded as the most unique celebrity siblings in Hollywood. Born and raised in Los Angeles to showbiz parents Caleb and Mary Jo, the sisters have surpassed their parents' fame. They were named after characters from the renowned J.D. Salinger novella, Franny and Zooey. However, they are best known for their individual successful television shows on Fox. Emily gained recognition for her portrayal of an eccentric forensic anthropologist in the long-running series Bones, while Zooey captured hearts with her breezy eccentric character on the sitcom New Girl.

Outside of their acting careers, the Deschanel sisters actively pursue their passions. Emily is dedicated to philanthropy and is a devoted animal rights activist. On the other hand, Zooey is an accomplished singer and musician, performing in the music duo She & Him and participating in the jazz cabaret act, If All the Stars Were Pretty Babies. Additionally, she founded the feminist website HelloGiggles. However, beyond their impressive accomplishments, Emily and Zooey's personal lives are just as fascinating. Their shared history and real-life experiences have influenced their acting choices, adding depth to their performances. As their careers continue to flourish, reflecting on their journey together provides an intriguing insight into their success.

Zooey Deschanel Was Sued For Injuring A Horse

According to The Independent, Patty Parker brought a lawsuit in 2014 alleging that, after leasing her horse to Zooey Deschanel for $13,000, the horse suffered significant injuries and became unusable. Deschanel refutes any responsibility for the issues with Literati and insists that she fully adhered to the terms of the lease agreement. Additionally, Deschanel claims to have returned the horse in good condition. Supporting Deschanel's stance, a veterinarian testified that it is impossible to determine the exact cause of Literati's suspensory ligament injury. Moreover, Literati performed satisfactorily in a competition following the termination of Deschanel's lease.

Acting Wasn't Emily Deschanel's First Career Choice

Both Emily and Zooey Deschanel are captivating performers. While Emily is exceptional in the procedural crime series Bones, acting was not always her desired career path. In an interview with BuddyTV, Deschanel shared, "Since we were very young, both Zooey and I loved participating in plays. However, I never considered pursuing it professionally." Instead, she aspired to be an architect. Growing up with parents in the entertainment industry, Deschanel had a realistic understanding of the profession and remarked, "Many people enter the field with unrealistic expectations of glamour and ease. We never held onto any of those notions."

Emily Deschanel Bullied Zooey Growing Up

Emily and Zooey Deschanel were typical siblings growing up. However, Emily displayed her acting talent at a young age by convincing her little sister that her real sister had been abducted by Neptunians and replaced with an identical imposter who behaved strangely when their parents were not around. During an interview on Conan (via Nicki Swift), Emily further explained that she would go beyond making strange faces and would inform Zooey that she had harmed her sister and taken control of her body, threatening to harm Zooey next. Zooey recalled how Emily would make her cry and then laugh.

Zooey Deschanel Was Mistaken For A Criminal

Alongside the ability of closed-captioning, there arises a crucial duty to accurately identify the names of suspected terrorists. Small errors in typing can potentially lead to significant consequences, as exemplified by Dallas-Fort Worth's Fox affiliate KDFW when they mistakenly labeled the Boston Marathon bomber as "19-year-old Zooey Deschanel" (via People). Producer Peter Ogburn promptly discovered the mistake, sharing a photograph of his TV screen on Twitter, and expressing, "Oh come on, Fox!" This tweet garnered over 4,000 retweets before Deschanel learned of it through Joel McHale's feed. Taking it light-heartedly, Deschanel humorously remarked, "Whoa! Epic closed captioning FAIL!" Caption Solutions quickly issued an apology, assuring that the responsible party deeply regretted the error.

Zooey Deschanel Lives With ADHD

Some of Zooey Deschanel’s lively demeanor may be influenced by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. According to a (now removed) blog post on her HelloGiggles website in 2011, Zooey admitted that although she enjoys crafts, her ADHD hinders her ability to finish anything overly intricate (via Cosmopolitan). In "Crafternoon with Zooey D," she expressed, "Are you an un-medicated adult with Attention Deficit Disorder who also LOVES to engage in crafts? I AM! I barely have the patience to write this opening paragraph (I have already gotten up four times), so I need to direct my unfocused mind towards projects that can be swiftly completed."

Emily Deschanel Almost Wasn't Cast In Bones

Emily Deschanel has David Boreanaz to thank for her role as Temperance Brennan in Bones. Producers had already chosen Boreanaz for the role of Seeley Booth and had him read with various actresses. It was during these auditions that the undeniable chemistry between Boreanaz and Deschanel became apparent. Boreanaz even exclaimed, "This chick's got moxie!" Deschanel impressed show creator Hart Hanson when, in character as Brennan, she stood her ground during a confrontation scene with Booth.

Zooey Deschanel Accused Her Manager Of Career Sabotage

In the late 2010s, Zooey Deschanel found herself embroiled in a convoluted and acrimonious legal battle with her former managers (via THR). Initially, Sarah Jackson of Seven Summits Pictures & Management took legal action against Deschanel, claiming unpaid commissions from her HelloGiggles website. In response, Deschanel filed a countersuit, alleging that she suffered financial losses after Jackson persuaded her to switch agencies from CAA to UTA. Deschanel's legal team argued that Seven Summits had flagrantly violated its fiduciary duty by prioritizing their own interests over hers. Deschanel contends that this breach consequently resulted in the loss of lucrative roles during the 2013 New Girl shooting hiatus. Contrarily, Jackson's defense asserts that Deschanel was too preoccupied with touring alongside her band She & Him to entertain acting offers.

Emily Deschanel's Pregnancy Positively Affected Bones' Production

When Emily Deschanel discovered she was expecting her first child, her pregnancy was incorporated into Bones. Executive producer Stephan Nathan stated that they had previously discussed using a baby as a resolution for the romantic tension between Brennan and Booth. Emily's pregnancy expedited the development of the relationship between the two main characters. The integration of her pregnancy worked so well that it was not a problem when Deschanel became pregnant for the second time. Initially, Deschanel had concerns about potentially negatively impacting the show with her own pregnancy. However, the writers reassured her by stating they did not want to disregard it and decided to integrate it into the storyline. Now, Deschanel believes it has actually benefited the show.

Zooey Deschanel Made Her Own Clothes When She Was A Teenager

When Deschanel was young, her mother discovered her attempting to wrap thread around a straight pin and decided to impart proper sewing techniques to her daughter. Deschanel's sewing skills proved invaluable during her time in high school when her modest allowance couldn't accommodate her increasing need for theatrical attire. In 2014, Zooey collaborated with renowned designer Tommy Hilfiger to develop a collection of dresses that embodied her distinctive style. While promoting the line, as reported by The LA Times, she shared with the media, "When I was a child, I once created a dress with concealed pleat details similar to this. It was a personal triumph."

Zooey & Emily Deschanel Have Totally Opposite Diets

In addition to being actively involved in multiple animal welfare non-profits, Emily Deschanel is renowned for her commitment to a vegan lifestyle. However, in contrast to her sister, Zooey Deschanel, their dietary choices diverge significantly. Zooey, in her adult years, was diagnosed with the severe gluten allergy called Coeliac, along with intolerances to dairy and eggs. Hoping to find a solution, Zooey attempted to emulate her sister's diet. Reflecting on this experience, Zooey revealed to Vulture that she initially believed it would be a simple adjustment due to her existing restrictions. However, she soon discovered that navigating the limited options of being both gluten-free and vegan proved to be an incredibly challenging task. Ultimately, she persevered with this challenging combination for approximately six months before making a change.

Zooey Deschanel Was Unhappy Growing Up In Los Angeles

Because the Deschanels hail from a showbiz lineage, both Zooey and Emily Deschanel had the opportunity to witness the inner mechanisms of Hollywood from an early age. Emily perceived this exposure as a benefit, expressing her appreciation for the offerings of Los Angeles. On the other hand, Zooey's perspective leaned towards nature prevailing over nurture, as she regarded her peers as overly concerned with superficial matters. In fact, she remarked, "Well, you're never gonna be the prettiest girl in the room, so just don't even try…" Additionally, Zooey acknowledged a troubling gender discrepancy, noting, "At my high school [Crossroads], there were simply more attractive girls than available guys to accompany them."

Emily Deschanel Sued 20th Century Fox

Co-stars Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz of the TV show Bones, along with executive producer Kathy Reichs, filed a lawsuit against 20th Century Fox in 2015. They claimed that the studio owed them "tens of millions of dollars" in profits. According to Deschanel and Boreanaz, their contracts entitled them to 3 percent of the profits, which they had not received. The lawsuit alleges that there were over a dozen instances of accounting errors, tricks, and deceitful acts by 20th TV to prevent the plaintiffs from receiving their rightful share of the profits. Fox requested that the case be moved to arbitration. Ultimately, Deschanel, Boreanaz, and Reichs were awarded $179 million in damages (via THR).

Zooey Deschanel Was Bullied & Body-Shamed

Zooey Deschanel didn't only dislike the superficial atmosphere of L.A., but she also frequently found herself becoming the target of ridicule during her middle school years due to her weight (via Allure). Deschanel shared, "I was often mistreated by girls who spat in my face... People were incredibly cruel to me, and I would cry every single day." Moreover, the situation was exacerbated by the fact that Zooey had to separate from her friends for extended periods of time when her father had to travel for work. Deschanel explained, "[I] loathed all the traveling... Although I am now grateful for the experience, back then I felt utterly miserable leaving my friends in Los Angeles and going to places where they did not have any food that I enjoyed or things that I was accustomed to."

Zooey Deschanel Is A College Drop-Out

Zooey Deschanel's upbringing in Hollywood included attending Crossroads, a "nontraditional" school that followed a progressive and developmental model of education. Her classmates included Jake Gyllenhaal and Kate Hudson. However, when it came time for college, Deschanel opted for a more traditional experience. She attended Northwestern University but soon realized that conventional college life didn't suit her. Deschanel felt misunderstood and unappreciated, as she explained, "Oh, but none of these people understand what's cool about me. My specialness is not appreciated in this place."

Zooey Deschanel Has An American Girl Obsession

Emily Deschanel Is Desensitized To Violence

Zooey Deschanel’s quirkiness has often been labeled as an affectation. However, it is rare to find adult women who openly admit to being obsessed with the historically-themed American Girl dolls. During an appearance on Conan (as reported by Glamour), Zooey enthusiastically talked about this popular toy line, which also happens to be loved by the host's own daughter. Zooey mentioned how she used to create elaborate storylines for her two dolls in her younger days. Samantha Parkington, the Victorian brunette dressed in pink, was portrayed as "rich," while her friend Molly, the bespectacled girl from the World War II era, played the role of the "poor" friend. Zooey also shared that she recently organized a party at an American Girl Place, where doll makeovers were among the activities.

Emily and Zooey Deschanel had different roles on TV, so people often ask Emily if she ever felt uncomfortable dealing with the prosthetic corpses. In the beginning, Emily found it disturbing, but after playing a forensic anthropologist for years, the disturbing nature of the job became normal to her. She admitted that she has become desensitized to it, although she doesn't consider it a positive thing. As part of her research for the role, Deschanel even visited a coroner's office, which she found more disturbing than anything on the show.

Zooey Deschanel Inspired A Break-Up Album

Before Zooey Deschanel tied the knot with producer Jacob Pechenik and started a family, she was previously married to musician Ben Gibbard. The album Kintsugi, the eighth release by Death Cab For Cutie, contains a collection of songs inspired by Gibbard's divorce from Zooey in 2012. Although Gibbard attempted to veil these references, he acknowledged that the subject matter was widely known. In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Gibbard stated, "To some extent, everyone knows the story of my personal life in the last few years, so I didn't feel the need to delve into all the details." Initially, he briefly contemplated avoiding the topic entirely, but soon realized that writing music was an integral part of his healing process.

Zooey Deschanel Won Her New Girl Role Over Amanda Bynes

In the battle for the iconic role of Jess in New Girl, Zooey Deschanel emerged victorious over Amanda Bynes (via The Things). Despite Bynes' attempt at a comeback following her retirement announcement on Twitter (via EW), the producers of the sitcom chose Deschanel as their leading lady. This decision may have marked a turning point for both actresses. While Bynes faced personal challenges after her role in Easy A, Deschanel flourished as a television sensation, leading New Girl to a successful seven-season run.

Zooey Deschanel Doesn't Like Being Called "Adorkable"

New Girl's tagline is "Simply Adorkable," and despite being recognized for her effortless quirkiness, Zooey Deschanel despises the term "adorkable," as well as the negative connotations it carries. The actress reveals that the word was strategically employed as a marketing ploy to promote New Girl and that she doesn't strongly relate to the characters she portrays (via HuffPost). Deschanel elaborates, stating, "I don’t always identify, perhaps, with the way that I’m portrayed in certain public contexts. I try to distance myself from that kind of perception." Nonetheless, the label of being "adorkable" offers its perks, as Deschanel was compensated $125,000 per episode of New Girl and also received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

Zooey & Emily Deschanel Are Totally Different

Emily and Zooey Deschanel, though they share parents and careers, are two distinct individuals. Apart from their diets and extra-curricular activities, the sisters also possess unique fashion sensibilities. Fans recognize Zooey for her vibrant and retro-inspired dresses, whereas Emily leans towards a more understated and contemporary style. In 2013, Emily discussed various dissimilarities between the Deschanel siblings in an interview with Metro. "Growing up in the same household, we naturally have some similarities. However, we perceive the world from different angles. Our thought processes are completely divergent, and our approaches to things vary significantly."