Photo:Lester Cohen/WireImage
Lester Cohen/WireImage
SistersZooey Deschaneland Emily Deschanel have both found success in Hollywood.
The daughtersof six-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel and actress Mary Jo Deschanel, the sisters are known as actresses in their own rights, with standout roles inElf,500 Days of SummerandNew Girlfor Zooey andBonesandThe Devil in Ohiofor Emily.
Though the pair admitted they had typical sibling bickering growing up, they have become close since, supporting their family members on the red carpet together, bringing their children to the same work lot and even filming a joint episode ofBonesin 2009. “It was really fun. Emily was extremely welcoming and accommodating and very sweet,” Zooey toldChannel Guideof her holiday cameo on her sister’s long-running hit that ended in 2017. “I was glad I did it.”
The two women, who Emily once described toMetroas “different — but also the same,” with “similarities from having grown up in the same household,” appreciate each other in unique ways.
“You were a really good big sister,” Zooey told Emily in a2013 interview. “Very protective. Sometimes you were mean. But most of the time you were really nice.”
The She & Him singer also revealed that she looked up to her older sister, saying, “You were very cool. I always thought you were very cool.”
Emily, meanwhile, cited Zooey as being “fearless,” tellingWomen’s Healthin March 2007, “In seventh grade this kid didn’t invite Zooey to his bar mitzvah. And she went right up to him and shouted, ‘Why didn’t you invite me to your bar mitzvah?’ I just love that … I would have called my mom crying.”
Here’s everything there is to know about the sisters and their relationship, from growing up together in Los Angeles to their shared lives as adults.
They’re both actresses
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Both Zooey and Emily are well-established actresses. The first film Emily starred in was 1994’sIt Could Happen to You, with their father Caleb serving as cinematographer. She followed it up with several independent projects, including a “brief-yet-memorable” role as a receptionist inSpider-Man 2in 2004, before landing her breakout series,Bones, on which she played lead Temperance “Bones” Brennan from 2005 to 2017. She later played a different kind of doctor, psychiatrist Suzanne Mathis, in 2022’sThe Devil in Ohio.
Zooey, on the other hand, made a name for herself playing quirky-yet-lovable characters such as Anita (Almost Famous, 2000), Jovie (Elf, 2003), Summer (500 Days of Summer, 2009) and Jess Day (New Girl, 2011 to 2018), for which she won aCritics’ Choice Award.
Though some have said the actress was typecast as a “manic pixie dream girl," it’s not a label she relates to. “I don’t feel it’s accurate,” she toldThe Guardianin 2022. She added: “It doesn’t hurt my feelings, but it’s a way of making a woman one-dimensional and I’m not one-dimensional.”
Emily wanted to be an architect
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Instead, Zooey revealed that her older sibling longed to be an architect. “I love architecture. I just love the combination between art and science,” Emily agreed. “But then I started doing plays in high school and really loved it and considered it as a profession."
Their parents are in show business
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Emily and Zooey were born to Caleb and Mary Jo Deschanel, both of whom worked in Hollywood. Caleb is a celebrated cinematographer and director of photography with six Academy Award nominations for his work and credits such asThe Lion King(2019),The Passion of the ChristandNational Treasure(2004).
Mary Jo, meanwhile, is an actress known for her roles inThe Right Stuff(1983) andThe Patriot(2000).
They created plays together as children
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Before they hit the big time, Emily and Zooey performed plays that they created together for their parents. “We wrote musicals, essentially, they were Westerns, usually,” Emily said in a 2013 interview, recalling how they would charge Caleb and Mary Jo a penny each to watch their performances.
“I would do the music,” Zooey added. “We would be in the play, and then I would run over to the piano and do the theme song.”
Emily used to “torture” Zooey as a kid
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Zooey revealed toJimmy Kimmelin 2012 that her big sister used to scare her as a child. “When I was 3, she was 7, and she was already evil,” she joked. “She basically just used the plot ofInvasion of the Body Snatchersto terrify me.” Zooey added: “She would make me cry and then my dad would come in and try to mediate, and then she would laugh.”
Emily elaborated on her prank in 2013,telling Conan O’Brien in 2013that while she and Zooey “get along now, very well” as adults, she used to “torture” her younger sister. “We would physically fight all the time, but then I’d play kind of mental games with her,” she said. Her usual punishment was to say she was an alien from Neptune who had killed Zooey’s real sister and taken over her body — and that Zooey was next.
“It got to a point where I just had to make my eyes a little wide and she’d freak out and think that I was Neptunian,” Emily said.
The sisters worked together on each other’s shows
Emily and Zooey worked together for the first time in a 2009 episode ofBones. “It was nice, we’ve never actually worked together professionally,” Emily said in an interview.
Zooey played the cousin of her sister’s character. “We don’t really like each other,” Emily explained of their roles.
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Zooey is a talented musician
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In addition to showcasing her vocal talents as Jovie in 2003’sElfand Jess Day onNew Girl, Zooey serves as one half of the singing/songwriting duo She & Him, releasing her debut albumVolume Onewith M. Ward in 2008.
The twosome has since released six more albums together, including two Christmas CDs and 2022’sMelt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson.
While Emily is less known for her singing ability, it’s a talent she shares with her famous sister: Fans were delighted to hear Emily’s vocals in a season 3 episode ofBones.
They had their babies a month apart
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“[We] couldn’t have planned it better,” Emily joked toJimmy Kimmelin December 2020.
TheDevil in Ohioactress conceded that their babies’ schedules made it hard to see each other despite their close proximity, however. “We even work on the same lots and we bring our babies to work, and yet it’s so hard to get them together,” she shared. “One will be down for a nap, and one will be up, and vice versa. They take so many naps.”
They watch each other’s work
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Zooey added: “Emily has something on every week. So it’s a lot to keep up with, but I try the best I can.”
They filmed an episode ofCarpool KaraokewithProperty BrothersstarsDrew and Jonathan Scott
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Sparks flew for Zooey and Jonathan, who made theirInstagram debutas a couple two months later followingZooey’s splitfrom ex-husband Jacob Pechenik. In August 2023, the pairannounced their engagement.
They hit the red carpet together
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That same year, the siblings appeared together on the 2019 Oscars red carpet in support of dad Caleb, who wasnominated for Best CinematographyforNever Look Away.
Zooey and Emily also attended Caleb’s July 2019 premiere for the live action remake ofThe Lion King.
They have a shared love of the holidays
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Emily helped Jonathan Scott throw Zooey’s 42nd birthday party
Jonathan Scott Instagram
ForZooey’s 42nd birthday, her now-fianceé turned to Zooey’s big sister for help planning the details of her celebration. “Fun fact … I love to throw an intimate party … especially for this gal,” he wrote of Zooey onInstagramin January 2022. He went on to thank Emily and the sisters' parents in the caption for their help in planning.
A source told PEOPLE that a violinist played for a small group of the actress’s family members and friends at the event, which also featured sparklers and a floral pink cake.
source: people.com
