Zooey Deschanel’s ‘Elf’ Role Nearly Went to Another Star

Zooey Deschanel, now known for her quirky roles and musical talents, has revealed she nearly missed out on the part that made her a household name. While promoting her latest festive film, Merv, Deschanel looked back on the moment she was cast as Jovie in the Christmas classic Elf, a role that would shape her career for years to come.

How Deschanel Landed the Part

During a chat on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Deschanel recalled her first meeting with director Jon Favreau. She walked in expecting a standard audition, only to be told,

‘Oh, you don’t need to read. We just offered it to Katie Holmes.’

Deschanel took it in stride, sitting down for a quick yarn with Favreau. At the time, Holmes was tied up with Dawson’s Creek and eventually had to pull out due to scheduling clashes. This left the door wide open for Deschanel, who was then considered for the role. She explained,

‘Then they were like, “Who should we have?” I think the character was kind of meant to be worked around whoever played her, and they knew I sang because I had a cabaret act, so that kind of worked out with the character.’

Landing the Role Without the Pressure

Deschanel admitted that thinking the part was already spoken for actually helped her nerves. She said,

‘What was great about that was, I wasn’t nervous. When you’re an actor, you’re first starting, and you’re auditioning, you get nervous, and you’re psyching yourself up. I wasn’t nervous at all, because I was like, “Well, I’m not getting the part.” It was kind of great cause I was not nervous.’

That relaxed attitude may have been just what she needed to stand out and ultimately secure the gig.

From Newcomer to Breakout Star

Before Elf, Deschanel was still a fresh face in the industry, with only a handful of small but memorable roles in films like Almost Famous and Manic. Her turn as Jovie marked a major turning point, leading to bigger projects such as The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Failure to Launch, and Bridge to Terabithia. She later became widely recognised for her role as Summer in (500) Days of Summer and as the lead in the long-running comedy series New Girl.

Music and Lasting Impact

Elf didn’t just showcase Deschanel’s acting chops; it also put her singing on display. Her renditions of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” became highlights of the film. Interestingly, the musical element wasn’t in the original script but was added after Deschanel was cast, thanks to her background in cabaret. This addition became a defining feature of the film and contributed to its enduring popularity. In 2006, she teamed up with M. Ward to form She & Him, releasing a couple of Christmas albums and lending her voice to various film soundtracks, including Winnie the Pooh and Trolls.

Since its release in November 2003, Elf has become a staple for festive film fans. It’s hard to picture anyone else but Deschanel in the role of Jovie, and while she might have found another breakout part eventually, her unique talents helped make the film what it is today.