“No one’s getting jobs ‘cus their dad’s a DP” Zooey Deschanel says having an Oscar-nominated father didn’t help her career

During a recent interview on The School of Greatness podcast with Lewis Howes, Zooey Deschanel shared that her father, Caleb Deschanel, being a cinematographer did not play a role in helping her secure jobs in the entertainment industry.

“It’s funny because people be like, ‘Oh nepotism’, I’m like no. My dad’s a DP (director of photography, a term used for cinematographer). No one’s getting jobs because their dad’s a DP. It’s definitely not.”

The New Girl star has earned the nickname ‘nepo baby’ due to her father, Caleb Deschanel, being a six-time Oscar nominee for Best Cinematography. Her mother, Mary Jo Deschanel, is also an actress famous for her roles in The Right Stuff, Twin Peaks, and other projects.

Zooey Deschanel credits her parents for her success in Hollywood

During her recent interview with Lewis Howes, Zooey Deschanel revealed details about her family and shared that although their connections did not directly secure her jobs, they did play a role in developing her creative abilities.

“My dad is a great creative mind and such a talented person. My mum is a great actor and is so nurturing. My mum would coach me when I didn’t have an acting coach, she would help me, read lines with me. She’d be so supportive.”

Additionally, she included:

“I would have so many great discussions about film and filmmaking with my dad. They both would help me. My dad would also read lines with me and give direction. Then having a sister whose an actor.”

Zooey Deschanel mentioned that her family’s involvement in the entertainment industry has provided her with a built-in support system for her acting career.

Zooey Deschanel’s parents are six-time Oscar nominee Caleb Deschanel, a renowned actor, and Mary Jo Deschanel. Caleb Deschanel earned his degree from Johns Hopkins University and also attended the University of Southern California Film School. He began his career in cinematography through an internship with renowned cinematographer Gordon Willis.

Mary Jo Deschanel, who is also an actor, is Zooey’s mother. She has starred in The Right Stuff, Twin Peaks, Winter Passing, and numerous other productions. She began her career by making brief television appearances before being cast as Annie Glenn in The Right Stuff.

Emily Deschanel, the elder sister of Zooey Deschanel, is a successful actress who made her debut in the film It Could Happen to You in 1994. Their father, who was working as a cinematographer at the time, played a role in her first appearance. In 2004, she portrayed a receptionist in Spider-Man 2 and later gained recognition for her lead role in Bones from 2005–2017.

During an interview with BuddyTv in 2009, Emily revealed that her sister had always dreamed of becoming an actress. She also mentioned that they both shared a love for performing in plays during their childhood.

“I think Zooey knew she wanted to be an actress from when she was very young. Whereas I didn’t think I wanted to do that.”

Emily also disclosed that her aspirations for her career involved becoming an architect.

“I love architecture. I just love the combination between art and science. But then I started doing plays in high school and really loved it and considered it as a profession.”

The older of the two Deschanel sisters also discussed her experience growing up in a household filled with actors.

“We grew up in a household where our mother is an actress, so our parents coudn’t really tell us not to be actors, because that would be hypocritical. We also saw a lot of actors, family friends and our mother. We saw lots of people struggle. It’s a hard business. It’s a hard profession to pursue, so we didn’t have any delusions.”

The upcoming film Harold and the Purple Crayon will feature Zooey Deschanel in a supporting role.