Zooey Deschanel is set to star in Fox's new series New Girl about a girl who transforms herself by moving in with 3 male roommates, but Deschanel underwent a transformation herself over the years.
Before she became known as that pretty, quirky girl, Deschanel was a daughter of director Caleb Deschanel and actress Mary Jo Deschanel. She planned to pursue musical theater as a career, in light of her apt for playing keyboard and percussion, before deciding to be an actress.
Her first breakthrough role came in 2000's Almost Famous, in which she played Anita, the troubled sister of William Miller. After some supporting roles in Failure to Launch and The Happening, she starred in Yes Man and (500) Days of Summer.
Zooey Deschanel, also a singer and songwriter, teamed up with M. Ward to release two albums, Volume One released in 2008 and Volume Two in 2010.
Her sister is Emily Deschanel, star of Bones, and Zooey is married to Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard.
New Girl starring Zooey Deschanel will premiere on Fox Sept. 20 at 9 p.m. EST.
View the slideshow to see Zooey Deschanel's transfomation over the years.
Actress Zooey Deschanel poses for photographers at her arrival to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association annual installation luncheon in Hollywood, July 30, 2003.REUTERSActress Zooey Deschanel poses at the premiere of her new film "Our Idiot Brother" in Hollywood, California August 16, 2011.REUTERSActress Zooey Deschanel, star of the new comedy series "The New Girl", takes part in a panel session at the FOX Summer TCA Press Tour in Beverly Hills , California August 5, 2011.REUTERSActress Deschanel arrives at the Teen Choice Awards in Los AngelesReutersActress Zooey Deschanel speaks at the inaugural Critics' Choice Television Awards in Beverly Hills, California June 20, 2011.ReutersActress Zooey Deschanel arrives at the 24th annual Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California February 21, 2009. REUTERSZooey Deschanel of She and Him performs at the Virgin Mobile Festival in Baltimore, Maryland August 10, 2008.REUTERSU.S. actress Zoey Deschanel Fred Prouser / ReutersActress Zooey Deschanel poses for photographers as ahe arrives in London's Leicester Square for the World Premiere of the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy April 20, 2005.REUTERSSinger and actress Zooey Deschanel arrives at the 2011 Vanity Fair Oscar party in West Hollywood, California February 27, 2011.REUTERSActress Zooey Deschanel arrives as a guest for a screening of the film "The Right Stuff" at the 20th anniversary of the film in Hollywood June 9, 2003.REUTERSCast member Zooey Deschanel arrives for the world premiere of the film "Abandon" October 14, 2002 in Hollywood, California. REUTERSActors Jennifer Aniston (L) and Zooey Deschanel, cast members in the motion picture dark comedy "The Good Girl" pose at the premiere of the film during the IFP/West-Los Angeles Film Festival closing night gala in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles June 29, 2002.REUTERSThe director and cast of the film "The Good Girl" arrives for a screening of the film January 12, 2002 at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Shown (L-R) are director Miguel Arteta, Jennifer Aniston, Jake Gyllenhaal and Zooey Deschanel. REUTERSActress Zooey Deschanel arrives for the industry screening of "Hannibal" at the Mann Village Theater in Los Angeles, February 1, 2001. REUTERSActresses Zooey Deschanel (L) and Marley Shelton, two of E! Online's "Sizzlin' Sixteen" selections for 2001, their picks as up and coming young Hollywood talents, arrive at party honoring their selection January 16, 2001 in Hollywood.REUTERSActress Zooey Deschanel, one of E! Online's "Sizzlin' Sixteen" selections for 2001, their pick as up and coming young Hollywood talent, arrives at a party honoring her selection Janaury 16, 2001 in Hollywood.REUTERS
