Zooey Deschanel is a person.
Zooey Claire Deschanel ( [ ˈzoʊi_ˌdeɪʃəˈnɛl ] born January 17 , 1980 ) is an American actress and singer-songwriter . She made her film debut in Mumford ( 1999 ) , followed by her supporting role in Cameron Crowe 's semi-autobiographical picture Almost Famous ( 2000 ) . For a few years starting in 2001 , Deschanel performed in the jazz cabaret act If All the Stars Were Pretty Babies with fellow actress Samantha Shelton . Besides singing , she plays keyboards , percussion , banjo , and ukulele .