As the holiday season approaches, many of us will likely find ourselves watching the film “Elf” in preparation for Christmas. However, Zooey Deschanel is an exception.
Despite starring in the 2003 classic alongside Will Ferrell, Deschanel doesn’t make a habit of watching it during the festive period.
In fact, she avoids watching it altogether.
While the actress appreciates holiday-themed films and enjoys feeling ‘cozy,’ her own films don’t make the cut.
During an interview with Us Weekly, while promoting her Winter/Holiday collection collaboration with Vera Bradley, she shared her perspective.
The 44-year-old actress provided a significant reason why “Elf” is not on her watchlist.
The film “Elf” has become a beloved favorite, and it’s easy to see why.
The narrative follows a human named Buddy, who is raised by elves in the North Pole. As he grows, he feels out of place due to his large size.
Eventually, Buddy learns that his real father resides in New York, prompting a quest to find him before Christmas.
Upon reaching the city, he discovers that his father, Walter Hobbs, played by James Caan, has a new family.
Their reunion is tense, but Ferrell’s comedic skills add humor to the situation.
Buddy’s mission to spread holiday cheer leads him to Jovie, a salesgirl played by Deschanel, and their romance blossoms as they join forces with Santa to save Christmas.
For Deschanel, her reluctance to watch “Elf” isn’t about the story itself.
She explained, “I don’t watch myself in anything.”
“I feel like that might be narcissistic of me.”
Though she watched it ‘once at the premiere’ and acknowledged it was ‘really good,’ she generally avoids viewing her own performances.
It’s unfortunate, as Deschanel’s fiancé, Jonathan Scott of Property Brothers fame, posted on Instagram last December that the movie is his ‘fav,’ especially her singing scenes.
Despite not watching the film, Deschanel holds fond memories of working with Ferrell.
She said, “I love him. He’s a great, great person. One of the best.”
“Seriously, one of the nicest people ever. He’s done incredible things since then.”
She added that she feels ‘lucky that I got to do that movie.’
Deschanel revealed that her favorite film is “Meet Me in St. Louis,” but she has a stronger preference for holiday music over movies.
The New Girl actress shared, “I love singing Christmas carols. That’s my favorite thing.”
She continued, “I love singing harmony, and I have a lot of friends who are really good singers, so I enjoy singing as a group. I also love all the holiday food, and my favorite part is being with family, just getting to connect.”
She mentioned that her fiancé used to watch “Elf” annually before they were together, but if she caught a glimpse of herself on screen, she’d ‘probably run away.’