Zooey Deschanel Nearly Missed Out on 'Elf' Because of Katie Holmes

Zooey Deschanel, now starring in the new Prime Video holiday film Merv, opened up about a surprising twist in her career that nearly changed everything. Over two decades ago, she became a household name thanks to her role as Jovie in the beloved Christmas movie Elf, where she played a skeptical store clerk who finds herself charmed by Buddy the Elf, portrayed by Will Ferrell. But as Deschanel recently revealed, she almost didn’t get the part that launched her into stardom.

How Deschanel Landed the Role

During a conversation on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Deschanel recalled her first meeting with director Jon Favreau. She remembered,

“When I met with Jon Favreau, the director, I walked in and he was like, ‘Oh, you don’t need to read. We just offered it to Katie Holmes.’”

Deschanel continued,

“And I was like, ‘Oh, OK, cool.’ And he’s like, ‘Well, sit down and talk for a minute.’ I was like, ‘OK!’”

At the time, Holmes was busy with Dawson’s Creek and ultimately had to step away from the project due to scheduling conflicts. That unexpected change opened the door for Deschanel to step in. 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 Part Without Pressure

Deschanel admitted that believing the role was already taken actually helped her relax during the process.

“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 calmness may have been the key to her winning the role, which would become a defining moment in her career.

Deschanel’s Breakout and Musical Impact

Before Elf, Deschanel was mostly known for small but memorable roles in films like Almost Famous and Manic. Coming from a family with deep roots in the film industry—her father is renowned cinematographer Caleb Deschanel—she was still relatively new to the spotlight. Elf changed that, leading to major roles in movies such as The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Failure to Launch, Bridge to Terabithia, and the indie hit (500) Days of Summer. She later starred in the long-running sitcom New Girl, which aired for seven seasons.

Elf also showcased Deschanel’s singing talent, with her renditions of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” becoming highlights of the film. Interestingly, the musical aspect of her character wasn’t in the original script but was added after she was cast, making it a memorable part of the movie’s legacy. Deschanel went on to form the band She & Him with musician M. Ward, releasing two Christmas albums and contributing songs to several films, including Winnie the Pooh and Trolls.

A Holiday Classic for Generations

Since its release on November 7, 2003, Elf has become a staple of the holiday season, beloved by audiences for over twenty years. It’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role of Jovie, and while Deschanel’s career might have taken off regardless, her performance in Elf remains a defining moment. The film’s enduring popularity owes much to her unique blend of humor, warmth, and musicality, making it a true holiday classic.