Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Deschanel seen alone and with Jacob Pechenik at the premiere of 20th Century Fox's 'Trolls' held at Regency Village Theatre, Westwood, California, United States - Sunday 23rd October 2016

Trolls Review

Excellent

Almost pathologically buoyant, this brightly colourful animated comedy is so cheeky that it's impossible to dislike. The plot may be thin, and the wackiness a bit too full-on, but every moment is packed with smart verbal and visual jokes. This rapid-fire energy keeps us laughing all the way through, while the lively song score has us humming along and wishing we could get up there and dance.

It's set in a garish fantasy world in which sweetly happy trolls are locked in a mortal battle with gloomy bergen who think the only way they can achieve happiness is to eat a troll. It's been 20 years since the trolls escaped to form a secret forest community, so they throw a party to celebrate. Led by Princess Poppy (Anna Kendrick), the festivities feature so much music, glitter and hugging that the bergen's Chef (Christine Baranski) spots their location. The paranoid troll Branch (Justin Timberlake) had warned that this might happen, and sure enough Chef sweeps in and grabs a handful of trolls to take back to bergen King Gristle (Christopher Mintz-Plasse). Feeling responsible, Poppy sets out on a quest to rescue them, and Branch grudgingly accompanies her. They also get help from the lovelorn bergen scullery maid Bridget (Zooey Deschanel).

There isn't a moment in this story that carries even a hint of actual suspense, but the action scenes are still exhilaratingly madcap, and the darker moments along the way generate proper emotion. Thankfully, the lesson is so painfully obvious (you don't need to eat a troll to be happy!) that the filmmakers don't bother hammering it in. Instead, they fill every scene with deranged wit, ridiculous gags and lively character detail.

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From Zooey Deschanel To Jenna Jameson: Meet The Jewish Converts Of Hollywood And Beyond

By Holly Williams in Lifestyle / Showbiz on 10 November 2015

Zooey Deschanel

Because faith isn't always something you're born into.

Zooey Deschanel has reportedly converted to Judaism for her new husband Jacob Pechenik, despite having never been affiliated with any religion before. The conversion took place prior to the marriage earlier this year and it seems the newly bonded pair and their new baby couldn't be happier.

Zooey Deschanel and Jacob Pechenik Zooey Deschanel converts for Jacob Pechenik

Having been raised in a liberal environment, with both parents affiliated with Christian denominations, the 'New Girl' actress never really found her own spiritual path. That is, until producer Pechenik came along and she began to study the teachings of the Jewish faith, according to a source in Us Weekly. This could mean that they'll also be raising baby daughter Elsie Otter in a Jewish household.

Continue reading: From Zooey Deschanel To Jenna Jameson: Meet The Jewish Converts Of Hollywood And Beyond

Zooey Deschanel Reveals Her Baby Daughter's Unusual Name

By Ed Biggs in Lifestyle / Showbiz on 20 October 2015

Zooey Deschanel Megan Fox

Deschanel and her husband Jacob Pechenik told waiting reporters about the inspiration behind their three-month-old girl's name.

Three months after she gave birth to her first child, Zooey Deschanel has revealed the unusual middle name she and her husband have given their baby daughter, and the inspiration behind it.

The ‘New Girl’ and husband Jacob Pechenik have chosen the name Elsie Otter for their three month old girl, they told People magazine at the red carpet premiere for Rock The Kasbah in New York on Monday night (October 19th). “It’s Elsie…” Deschanel began, with her husband jumping in with “Otter”. “Like the animal,” she explained, with Pechenik adding “sea otter”.

Zooey Deschanel

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'New Girl' Gets A New Girl As Megan Fox Fills In For Zooey Deschanel

By Ed Biggs in Movies / TV / Theatre on 18 September 2015

Megan Fox Zooey Deschanel

Fox will be filling in for Deschanel while she's on maternity leave for a handful of episodes.

Producers of Fox comedy ‘New Girl’ have revealed their plan for how to cope with lead actress Zooey Deschanel’s upcoming maternity leave, and they’ve landed a pretty sizeable name to temporarily replace her. Transformers star Megan Fox will be moving into the attic as part of a multi-episode arc during the new fifth season.

Essentially, since Deschanel's pregnancy was never part of the series' storyline, the producers will explain away Deschanel’s absence through a plot in which her character Jess is sequestered on jury duty for a time. At that point, Fox will move into the apartment for a while. She’s to play a character called ‘Raegan’, a “gorgeous, straight-shooting pharmaceutical sales rep who comes to town on business and shakes things up in the loft,” according to Fox’s press release.

Megan Fox will fill in for Zooey Deschanel on 'New Girl'

Continue reading: 'New Girl' Gets A New Girl As Megan Fox Fills In For Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Deschanel Welcomes First Child, Announces Marriage To Jacob Pechenik

By Elinor Cosgrave in Lifestyle / Showbiz on 04 August 2015

Zooey Deschanel Ben Gibbard The Postal Service

Zooey Deschanel and Jacob Pechenik have welcomed a daughter. Deschanel’s representative made the announcement and confirmed the two had also secretly married before the arrival of their first child together.

There’s two lots of good news for fans of Zooey Deschanel. The New Girl actress has welcomed her first child and, her representative revealed whilst confirming the arrival of the healthy baby girl, is also married!

Zooey Deschanel and Jacob Pechenik at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards in August 2014.

Continue reading: Zooey Deschanel Welcomes First Child, Announces Marriage To Jacob Pechenik

Chakrams At The Ready! Who Should Play Xena In The Rumoured TV Re-Boot?

By Holly Williams in Movies / TV / Theatre on 21 July 2015

Lucy Lawless Gina Carano Charlize Theron Zooey Deschanel Ronda Rousey Ruby Rose Gemma Arterton Zoe Saldana Laverne Cox

Lucy Lawless says it's just a rumour, but we can dream.

So, rumours are circulating that a modern reboot of the 90s cult show 'Xena: Warrior Princess' is set to hit screens in the near future. It would be great to see Lucy Lawless back in that badass leather corset but, chances are, if it does ever return, it's likely to have a new wearer. But who should it be?

Lucy Lawless

In a world where feminism has become re-invigorated and strong female role models are being taken seriously in movies and on the small screen, it seems only right that 'Xena: Warrior Princess' be brought back as part of this phenomenon. According to The Hollywood Reporter, original executive producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi are involved in her resurrection (literally) with the series suggested to arrive in 2016 and take on a kind of Katniss Everdeen in 'The Hunger Games' angle. Original star Lucy Lawless is keen to crush our dreams, though, telling Twitter, 'Sorry, friends! news of a #Xena reboot is just a rumor. I'd love it to happen one day but it's still in the wishful thinking stage', but it still got us thinking about who we'd like to see in the role if it ever did come back.

Continue reading: Chakrams At The Ready! Who Should Play Xena In The Rumoured TV Re-Boot?

Rock The Kasbah Trailer

Sometimes, life can really take a turn when you least expect it. For one man, things about to go completely off the rails. Richie Lanz (Bill Murray) has been a tour manager for some of the greatest rock bands of all time, and his latest project is about to stir up something special. After becoming the tour manager for a young woman (Zooey Deschanel), he informs her that they are putting on a show in Afghanistan. Terrified, she runs away after they arrive, taking Lanz' wallet and passport with her. Now, stuck in Afghanistan, Lanz is forced to do what he can to find a way home, while doing what he can to enjoy the rocking lifestyle he has come to know and love along the way.

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First Look At Bill Murray & Zooey Deschanel In 'Rock The Kasbah' [Trailer]

By Ed Biggs in Movies / TV / Theatre on 16 June 2015

Bill Murray Zooey Deschanel Kate Hudson Bruce Willis Barry Levinson

Released in October, the film will see rock band manager Bill Murray get stranded in Kabul.

Rejoice, Bill Murray fans! We’ve just got the first glimpse at his new comedy Rock The Kasbah, in which he stars alongside Kate Hudson, Bruce Willis and Zooey Deschanel.

Directed by Barry Levinson (Sleepers, Bugsy, Good Morning Vietnam), it stars Murray, Hudson, Willis and Deschanel with a supporting cast of Danny McBride, Scott Caan, Leem Lubany, Fahim Fazli, Taylor Kinney, Beejan Land and Arian Moayed. It is scheduled to be released in US theaters on October 23rd.

Watch the trailer for Rock The Kasbah here:

Continue reading: First Look At Bill Murray & Zooey Deschanel In 'Rock The Kasbah' [Trailer]

Fox Picks Up 'New Girl' For A Fifth Season

By Ed Biggs in Movies / TV / Theatre on 31 March 2015

Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson and the gang will return for a fifth season of Fox's successful 'New Girl' in 2015-2016.

Fox’s successful comedy ‘New Girl’ has been given the green light for a fifth season, the network announced on Tuesday.

The renewal was reported by the LA Times, and the news means that the Zooey Deschanel-fronted comedy will register its one hundredth episode during the fifth series’ transmission run.

New Girl
Fox's 'New Girl' has been extended for a fifth season run, due for 2015-16

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What Are Zooey Deschanel's Best Cover Versions?

By Dan Greaves in Music / Festivals on 13 August 2014

Zooey Deschanel

As She & Him announce new ‘Classics’ covers album, Contact Music look at the New Girl star’s best-loved renditions of songs by the Smiths, the Beach Boys and more.

‘New Girl’ star Zooey Deschanel is a woman of many talents. While many know her as the quirky school teacher Jess in the hit US TV show or from roles in films such as 500 Days of Summer and Almost Famous, the actress has also built up a respectable singing career as part of indie pop duo She & Him.

Actress and singer Zooey Deschanel

Last night (August 12) the pair - consisting of Deschanel and multi-instrumentalist M.Ward - announced plans to release their fifth album, Classics, later this year.

Continue reading: What Are Zooey Deschanel's Best Cover Versions?

Zooey Deschanel - 2014 NBC Upfront Presentation at The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center - Arrivals - New York City, New York, United States - Monday 12th May 2014

Zooey Deschanel - Zooey Deschanel Film Set Los Angeles California United States Thursday 17th January 2013

Zooey Deschanel Saturday 24th January 2009 with a splint on her middle finger, leaving M Cafe after eating lunch with a friend Los Angeles, California