NEW GIRL: The new comedy starring Zooey Deschanel as an adorkable girl who moves in with three single guys, changing their lives in unexpected ways, premieres Tuesday, Sept. 20 (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2011 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Isabella Vosmikova/FOX
Zooey Deschanel is making her way to television in a sitcom tailor made for the actress. Though the part of Jess in New Girl seemed like a good fit, a weekly TV grind wasn’t at the top of her career path list.
“I hadn’t thought so much about doing television before probably partially because there hadn’t been a character that I’d read that I’d connected with as much,” Deschanel confesses. “I really, really connected with this character. It just felt like a very easy decision.”
But just because she hadn’t really considered a series until now doesn’t mean she’s a television snob. As a matter of fact, the actress is nothing short of an addict.
“When I go home at night I watch TV. I love TV, she gushes. “Some of the best stuff is on TV now. So, I just felt like it was a really awesome opportunity.”
Her character Jess is quirky and naive, which is why Deschanel is so smitten with her. It also helps that Jess seems a bit familiar to her.
“She has a rich fantasy life,” Deschanel says of Jess. Then eyeballing similarities between herself and her character adds, “I think a 13-year-old me is very, very similar to Jess. When I graduated 8th Grade I got an award that is Maybe Life Really Is A Musical ‘cause I kind of had this feeling like I was in a musical all the time – and I sort of feel like that’s very much Jess.”
New Girl airs Tuesdays, 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on FOX.