Actress Zooey Deschanel Debunks Nepotism Allegations; Asserts her Independent Success

Key Takeaways:

– Actress Zooey Deschanel dismisses claims of being handed success due to her famous family.
– The New Girl star credits her parents and sister for developing her skills but refutes that receiving acting jobs was linked to her father’s cinematographer career.
– Fan reactions to Deschanel’s claims were mixed, with some support and also critiques of denial.

Born into a Renowned Artistic Family

Acclaimed actress Zooey Deschanel was born into filmmaking royalty. Her father, notable cinematographer Caleb Deschanel, is six-time Oscar nominee, including for his work on The Passion of The Christ. Her mother, Mary Jo Deschanel, widely recognized for her role in David Lynch’s iconic series Twin Peaks. Her sister, Emily Deschanel, held a prominent role as Temperance “Bones” Brennan in Fox’s celebrated show, Bones. Raised in this family of artists, Zooey considers their influence a key factor in her artistic development.

The Journey of Pursuing Acting

Launching her film career with the comedy-drama Mumford, Deschanel quickly compiled a resume of commendable roles. Among these are Almost Famous, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and 500 Days of Summer. Her defining role arrived as Jess Day in Fox’s New Girl, for which she earned multiple award nominations.

In a recent interview on The School of Greatness podcast with Lewis Howes, Deschanel revisited her journey into acting. Recalling her longing since childhood to become an actress, she was dissuaded by her parents who were not keen on encouraging child acting. They set a condition that she could only attend auditions once she was old enough to drive herself to them.

Countering Nepotism Allegations

During the podcast, Deschanel spoke about the allegations of nepotism she faces. Engaging with these criticisms, the actress clarified the situation. She noted that, while her father is a celebrated cinematographer, it doesn’t provide a direct pathway into acting roles, as some critics suggest. Emphasizing her father’s influence as a creative mind, she confirmed that no acting roles were secured through his job.

Displaying a sense of humor about the nepotism accusations, she quipped, “My father is a cinematographer … no one is getting jobs because [of that]”. Furthermore, she acknowledged her family’s supportive role, particularly her mother who helped prepare her for auditions.

Mixed Fan Reactions to Deschanel’s Remarks

Responses to Deschanel’s comments were starkly divided. Supporters commended both Zooey and Emily Deschanel for their independent talents and roles, stating they forged their own paths in the industry. Others, however, criticized Deschanel for denying the influence her parents’ film industry links may have enabled in her career.

While some called her “entitled,” others lined up in her defense, as seen in their countless comments across social media platforms. Some opined it was fair for her to embrace her ‘nepo baby’ status, considering her parents’ significant contributions to the industry.

Regarding her recent work, Deschanel featured in season 3 of comedy-drama Physical as Kelly, and as Nancy in the biographical drama film Dreamin’ Wild. Moreover, Zooey Deschanel’s New Girl is now streaming on Hulu.