1997–2002: Early acting credits Deschanel had a guest appearance on the television series ''
Veronica's Closet'' in 1998. She made her film debut in
Lawrence Kasdan's comedy
Mumford (1999), revolving around the neurotic residents in a small town and co-starring
Hope Davis,
Jason Lee,
Alfre Woodard and
Mary McDonnell. That same year, she appeared in a non-singing role in the music video for
The Offspring's single "
She's Got Issues", which premiered on September 27, 1999. Deschanel was a judge for the ninth Independent Music Awards. In 2005, she modeled for
Chanel and
Clements Ribeiro, and in 2010, she signed to represent
Rimmel. Deschanel co-starred in
Cameron Crowe's semi-autobiographical
Almost Famous (2000), where she played Anita Miller, the rebellious older sister of a teenage journalist. Despite a modest box office response, the film received critical praise, winning the
Golden Globe Award for Best Film – Musical or Comedy. Deschanel appeared in the independent drama
Manic (2001), as the love interest of a troubled teen (
Joseph Gordon-Levitt). The film was screened at the
Sundance Film Festival and received a limited theatrical release.
The New York Times found Deschanel to be "particularly spontaneous, unaffected and emotionally direct" in her role. Following early notice, Deschanel took on supporting parts in four feature films released throughout 2002:
Big Trouble,
The New Guy,
The Good Girl, and
Abandon. In the comedy
Big Trouble, with
Tim Allen and
Rene Russo, she played the daughter of a devoted and reluctant woman, and in the teen comedy
The New Guy, starred as a guitar player in a band. Deschanel portrayed a cynical, plain-spoken young woman working in a
big-box store in the black dramedy
The Good Girl, opposite
Jennifer Aniston and
Jake Gyllenhaal. The psychological thriller
Abandon saw her play the roommate of a woman involved in her boyfriend's disappearance. Deschanel also made a one-episode appearance in
Frasier, as Roz's out-of-control cousin, Jen.
The New York Times reported that Deschanel was "one of Hollywood's most sought-after young stars" She received an
Independent Spirit Award nomination for
Best Actress. Also in 2003, Deschanel starred opposite
Will Ferrell in the Christmas comedy
Elf as a deadpan department store worker and the love interest of a man raised by Santa's elves. Reviewers found the film to be a "spirited, good-natured family comedy" as part of an overall positive critical response.
Elf earned US$220.4 million worldwide against a budget of US$33 million. '' (2009) In 2004, Deschanel starred in
Eulogy, and in 2005 she played
Trillian in the film adaptation of
Douglas Adams's science fiction novel ''
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. She acted in Winter Passing (2005), co-starring Will Ferrell. Deschanel next appeared in Failure to Launch'' (2006), as the neurotic roommate of
Sarah Jessica Parker's character. She also had a recurring role in four episodes of the
Showtime television series
Weeds from 2006 to 2007 where she played Kat,
Andy Botwin's ex-girlfriend. In September 2006, it was announced that Deschanel had signed on to play 1960s singer
Janis Joplin in the film
The Gospel According to Janis, to be co-written and directed by
Penelope Spheeris. The film was scheduled to begin shooting in 2006, but was then postponed indefinitely; it was then resurrected again, with a planned release date of 2012, before being cancelled altogether in 2011. Deschanel expressed frustration with the cancellation, saying she had spent three years working on imitating Joplin's scratchy singing voice. In 2007, Deschanel played Ms. Edmunds in
Bridge to Terabithia, and the voice of a penguin in the animated film ''
Surf's Up. She had a small role as Dorothy Evans in the revisionist Western The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and starred in the B comedy Flakes, which was released in only one theater. Deschanel starred as DG in the Syfy miniseries Tin Man, a re-imagined science fiction version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz''. It aired in December 2007. Deschanel also narrated the children's book
Players in Pigtails. She voiced characters including Mary,
Cletus's daughter, in four episodes of
The Simpsons since debuting in the April 27, 2008 (Season 19) episode, "
Apocalypse Cow", returning in seasons 24 (twice) and 36. In
M. Night Shyamalan's thriller
The Happening (2008), she starred opposite
Mark Wahlberg as a couple trying to escape from an inexplicable natural disaster. Despite largely negative reviews, critic
Roger Ebert felt that Wahlberg and Deschanel's performances "bring a quiet dignity to their characters", and globally, the film made US$163 million. She starred in the independent comedy
Gigantic (2008), which screened at the
Toronto International Film Festival and was distributed for a limited release in certain parts of the United States only. In the comedy
Yes Man (also 2008), she played an unorthodox singer and the girlfriend of
Jim Carrey's character. The film grossed US$223.1 million around the world. Deschanel reunited with Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the independent romantic drama about the development and demise of a relationship
(500) Days of Summer (2009). The film garnered critical acclaim and became a "
sleeper hit", earning over $60 million in worldwide returns, far exceeding its $7.5 million budget. Mark Adams of the
Daily Mirror found the film to be a "modern romance for grown-ups" and a "sweet-natured, funny, deeply-romantic tale" blessed with "top-notch performances by Deschanel and Gordon-Levitt, who are both charming and have real chemistry". In December 2009, Deschanel guest-starred in a Christmas episode of the
Fox crime procedural comedy-drama
Bones, which was the first-ever on-screen pairing of the Deschanel sisters.
Since 2010: New Girl and other projects Deschanel was originally the top choice for
Janet van Dyne / The Wasp in an early draft of
Joss Whedon's
The Avengers in which she would have played a prominent role. However, once
Scarlett Johansson was cast as
Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow, Deschanel was no longer in consideration to portray The Wasp with Janet's daughter Hope van Dyne taking up the mantle in the
Infinity Saga, played by
Evangeline Lilly. Deschanel starred in the comedy
Our Idiot Brother (2011) as the independent and bisexual sister of a dimwitted but idealistic man (
Paul Rudd). The production was screened at the
Sundance Film Festival, to a generally positive critical reception. She played Princess Belladonna in the stoner fantasy-comedy
Your Highness (2011), with
Danny McBride and
James Franco. The film received negative reviews and
bombed at the box office. Describing her role, Roger Ebert noted in its review for the film: "[Deschanel is] brought onstage, quickly kidnapped by an evil sorcerer, spends a good deal of time as a captive in his lair, is rescued and lives happily ever after. She might as well be a mannequin, for all she's given to say and do. This intelligent, nuanced actress, standing there baffled. Used as a placeholder". Deschanel signed on to star as a bubbly and offbeat teacher
Jessica "Jess" Day on the
Fox sitcom
New Girl, created by
Elizabeth Meriwether. She became a producer on the show and helped build the character, which she has described as a part of her, especially in regards to "the sort of enthusiasm and optimism" of her youth. The series premiered in September 2011, and
USA Today described her performance as "a role tailored to launch her from respected indie actor to certified [television] star, Deschanel soars, combining well-honed skills with a natural charm". She has received an
Emmy Award nomination and three Golden Globe nominations for her role. The series finale ran on May 15, 2018. Deschanel hosted
Saturday Night Live on February 11, 2012. That same year, she was featured in a commercial for the
iPhone 4S (
Siri).In
Rock the Kasbah (2015), she played a Los Angeles singer taken to
Afghanistan by her former manager (
Bill Murray). Despite a US$15 million budget, the comedy only made US$3 million at the North American box office. She obtained the role of a mysterious woman in the neo-noir drama
The Driftless Area (2015), screened at the
Tribeca Film Festival and released on video on demand and home media. She voiced a kind-hearted Bergen, Bridget, in the animated family comedy
Trolls (2016), which grossed US$344 million worldwide. She reprised the role in its sequels
Trolls World Tour (2020) and
Trolls Band Together (2023). In December 2020, Deschanel appeared in the music video for
Katy Perry's song "
Not the End of the World". In 2021, she co-hosted the ABC television series
The Celebrity Dating Game with
Michael Bolton. In January 2022, she began co-hosting
Welcome to Our Show, a
New Girl rewatch podcast with co-stars
Hannah Simone and
Lamorne Morris, distributed by
IHeartRadio. Deschanel appears as Kelly in season 3 of
Physical released on August 2, 2023 and Nancy in ''
Dreamin' Wild, released on August 4, 2023. She also appears as Terry in Harold and the Purple Crayon'', which was released on August 2, 2024. In March 2024, Deschanel was cast in the Amazon MGM romantic comedy film
Merv (2025), directed by Jessica Swale. The film centres on an estranged couple who, after discovering that their shared dog is depressed following their breakup, decide to take the dog on a holiday to Florida in an attempt to lift its spirits. == Music career ==