Zooey Deschanel reveals she wasn’t the first choice for Jovie in Elf

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Though she’s now famous for playing Jovie in the movie Elf, Zooey Deschanel wasn’t originally the director’s first pick. With the holiday favorite now available to stream in the UK, many are wondering who else was considered for the part.

The actor discussed on the Call Her Daddy podcast how she didn’t think she’d get the role at first, since a famous actor had already been chosen. However, things quickly changed for the better.

Deschanel remembered meeting with director Jon Favreau and being surprised when he immediately said they had already offered the role to Katie Holmes. She responded casually, and he suggested they chat for a bit.

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The best part of that experience was actually feeling calm. As an actor, auditions are usually nerve-wracking, but I wasn’t worried at all because I didn’t think I had a chance of getting the role.

Deschanel also mentioned that Holmes left the project because of scheduling issues. She then explained that her experience with cabaret helped her develop the character of Jovie.

The actor, known for her roles in New Girl and (500) Days of Summer, explained that Elf now serves as a benchmark for the kinds of projects she takes on. She fondly remembers laughing throughout the script when she first read it.

This hilarious holiday comedy, first released in 2003, tells the story of Buddy Hobbs (Will Ferrell). Buddy was raised as an elf at the North Pole, and now he’s discovering the human world – and searching for his real father, Walter (James Caan), in New York City.

The holiday comedy Elf, starring Mary Steenburgen and Ed Asner, has become a seasonal classic and is now streaming in the UK on Sky Cinema and NOW.

You can add Sky Cinema to your Sky TV package for £9 a month, which also includes access to Paramount+. Alternatively, NOW’s TV and Movie package costs £8.99 a month – that’s a 55% discount.

Elf is streaming on Sky Cinema and NOW.

Enjoy the holidays with the Good Housekeeping Christmas TV Guide! It’s packed with 14 days of TV listings to help you plan your festive viewing, and it’s available now for just £4.75 at Morrisons, TG Jones, and other magazine shops.

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2025-12-20 23:49