Zooey Deschanel: Relationships, RomComs, & the Holiday Season

Daddy gang, it’s your founding father Alex Cooper, fully decked out and in a holiday mood, so let’s ride it together. What are your plans, and how deep do you go on decorations?

I’m a traditions person who goes big with family, carols, and maximal decor. We theme the main trees downstairs and let the kids have their own upstairs to do however they want.

I’m trying to build a winter‑wonderland vibe for future kids, and we landed on putting the tree up right before Thanksgiving in our mixed‑faith home.

We’ve done everything from post‑Halloween to pre‑Thanksgiving, and in a blended house I love a tree dressed in Hanukkah colors. I host a lot, and once fresh mulch with fertilizer made the yard smell wild, so I burned cinnamon sticks and prayed no one noticed.

Holiday movies—what’s non‑negotiable? I’m an Elf girl.

Die Hard is mine, and Elf has been funny with my kids because they resisted watching me until recently when my daughter asked to see it with friends. I wasn’t even supposed to be Jovie at first—Katie Holmes had the offer, but a scheduling conflict opened the door, and because I sing, it clicked; Will was the kindest, most game partner, and the department‑store chaos with fake Santa was my favorite.

The blonde hair wasn’t a wig—an old screen test left me light, production wanted continuity, and bleaching black hair wrecked it, plus glued extensions had me snapping pieces off.

Your parents worked in Hollywood—what did that feel like growing up?

My mom was a working actor and my dad’s a true artist who chases light at dawn; their taste was sky‑high, so I learned to love craft and also felt that pressure.

Seventh grade nearly broke me—awkward, braces, and bullying—was that your worst year too?

I was awkward in a different way and got bullied hard, then swim team changed my year; I lost weight, shot up six inches, and came back to school feeling brand new.

Did that shape how you parent?

I coach my kids on how to respond to unkindness and try to model real confidence because their self‑esteem starts with us.

Hollywood can fixate on looks—how do you handle it?

I let superficial comments slide and keep my identity rooted in who I am and what I make, not a snapshot of my face at twenty‑five; style is expression, not self‑worth.

Any audition horror stories or learning differences that shaped your approach?

I froze in front of a major director after days of prep, and with combined‑type ADHD I learned I just need more time and different strategies; my mom coached me, which helped.

You left Northwestern for a movie—hard call?

I thrived by high school and loved college, but a role came up, a storage‑locker snafu felt like a sign, and I shipped my things home; my parents backed me, while acquaintances judged until the film came out.

I love that the path isn’t always linear.

Some kids need a breather to find themselves, and with my two I see personality show up from the start.

What felt like your breakout?

Elf, for sure—Almost Famous was beloved, but Elf was the first global pop.

You had to defend Summer in 500 Days, and people tossed around “manic pixie dream girl.”

Men especially projected anger at Summer even though she was clear about what she wanted, and that lazy label turned multidimensional women into a trope; I’ve always aimed for full human beings.

New Girl—what grabbed you, and how did the show handle criticism of Jess?

I laughed out loud reading the pilot, hilariously titled Chicks and Dicks; the writers folded in my love of crafting and answered girl‑on‑girl policing with Jess and Julia to say there isn’t one way to be a woman.

I like an ambiguous ending for Jess and Nick so fans decide, and if Jess had to play marry, bury, one‑night: marry Winston, one night with Nick, bury Schmidt.

You filmed pregnancies on the show—how did you juggle that and mom guilt?

We hid my bump behind props while I ran on orange juice during night shoots, and I manage guilt by showing up fully when I’m off, making the big moments, and bonding through creative projects like making little genre films with my kids.

You met Jonathan on Carpool Karaoke—when did sparks fly, and how was that first date?

Right away; our first date was karaoke, a crowded restaurant, then a house tour where I thought he’d kiss me and he didn’t, which he made up for on date two; he’s methodically kind and incredibly supportive.

Tell us about the proposal and planning now.

He surprised me at Edinburgh Castle with subtle clues—no hats in the calendar room, ironed silk—and then my parents popped up in Paris; we’ve both been married, so we’re planning something fun and low‑pressure and we’re very open about our pasts.

You’ve called your divorce healthy—what makes co‑parenting work, and what boundaries help?

We respect each other, even vacation together, and keep a group chat with Jonathan; we agreed to meet new partners before they meet the kids so attachments are thoughtful and stable.

New holiday romcom time—what’s the setup, and where can we watch?

It’s a sweet Amazon romcom with Charlie Cox about exes who share a dog and take him on a beach trip when he gets depressed over the holidays; we improvised a lot, and the dog was laser‑focused thanks to healthy treats, which was adorable, and yes, I love dogs and now my very affectionate cat, Dev.

Stream it on Amazon, and thanks for joining Call Her Daddy—this festive outfit was worth it.