{"id":2492901,"date":"2026-07-08T04:21:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T04:21:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2492901"},"modified":"2026-07-08T04:21:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T04:21:14","slug":"zooey-deschanel-went-blonde-to-play-pop-star-like-britney-spears-in-unmade-film-before-landing-elf-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/zooey-deschanel-went-blonde-to-play-pop-star-like-britney-spears-in-unmade-film-before-landing-elf-role\/","title":{"rendered":"Zooey Deschanel went blonde to play pop star \u2018like Britney Spears\u2019 in unmade film before landing \u201cElf \u201drole"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">Key Points<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Zooey Deschanel explained why she went blonde for <em>Elf<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The actress was cast as \u201ca pop star that was like Britney Spears\u201d before the holiday classic, and her hair was bleached for the role, she revealed on <em>The Zach Sang Show<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The film was never made, and because of the \u201clong process\u201d to become a brunette again, the blonde stayed for <em>Elf<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">We can thank <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/person\/britney-spears\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Britney Spears;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Britney Spears&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Britney Spears<\/a> for <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/person\/zooey-deschanel\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Zooey Deschanel;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Zooey Deschanel&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Zooey Deschanel<\/a>\u2019s one-and-only journey out of brunette-land.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Known for her thick, raven-dark locks, the <em>500 Days of Summer <\/em>and <em>New Girl <\/em>star shocked fans the one time she went blonde: to play Will Ferrell\u2019s love interest, Jovie, in the 2003 holiday classic <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/elf\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Elf;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Elf&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><em>Elf<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI did a screen test for a movie that never ended up going about like a pop star that was like Britney Spears,\u201d the actress revealed on Monday\u2019s episode of <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=_iR0hZBsy0M\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:The Zach Sang Show;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;The Zach Sang Show&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><em>The Zach Sang Show<\/em><\/a>. \u201cIt didn\u2019t ever happen, but yeah, it was a pop star that was like Britney Spears, who then \u2014 it\u2019s like <em>Roman Holiday<\/em>, where she has a day where she\u2019s not a pop star.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">For her screen test, the film\u2019s producers were \u201ctrying to prove \u2014 because I didn\u2019t look to them what a pop star looks like \u2014 so they were like, \u2018We\u2019re going to make you into a pop star.\u2019\u201d Then came a bleaching process so laborious, it ended up sticking around for <em>Elf<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThey dyed my hair blonde, and they put these extensions in, and they gave me a tan and a whole thing,\u201d Deschanel recalled. \u201cI did look as much like a pop star as I can. But then the movie never happened, but then here I was with this blonde hair.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">According to Deschanel, it would have been \u201chard to just go right back, because it takes a real \u2014 my hair is almost black. To go from really dark brown hair to light blonde is a long process&#8230; It was right after that screen test that I went in for <em>Elf<\/em>. Once I got cast, I was like, \u2018Well, can I dye my hair back brown?\u2019 And they were like, \u2018No, you need to look how you looked in the audition.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cSo that\u2019s how I ended up blonde in <em>Elf,\u201d Deschanel cheerily concluded. <\/em>\u201cNot because I was like, \u2018I need to be blonde.\u2019 It was really random.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Deschanel has looked back on the <em>Elf <\/em>casting process before \u2014 even on producers digging their heels in over there being hair-color continuity from screen test to final cut.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel in \u2018Elf\u2019<br \/>Credit: New Line\/ Everett<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The other major role went to Deschanel, a relative newcomer who had turned heads in the 2003 indie drama \u201cAll the Real Girls\u201d and had first hit the scene playing Patrick Fugit\u2019s older sister in 2000\u2019s \u201cAlmost Famous.\u201d Her performance as Jovie, the\u00a0department store employee who struggles to get into the Yuletide frame of mind, was her big break. Deschanel and Ferrell have a sweet chemistry on screen, but they almost didn\u2019t get a chance to work with each other. The actress wasn\u2019t the first choice for the role.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Zooey Deschanel in New York City on April 26Credit: John Nacion\/FilmMagic\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/BDGn0HssKmDDeXCEVBBpaQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/entertainment_weekly_785\/a4fe305fd19e4382ecd574ba7ec20760\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Zooey Deschanel in New York City on April 26<br \/>Credit: John Nacion\/FilmMagic<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Despite almost being cast in a film inspired by the biggest pop star on the planet at the time, Deschanel was still a relative newcomer, having received her best notices for her 2000 turn in <em>Almost Famous<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong><em>Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our<\/em><\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/ew-dispatch-newsletter-11812417\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:EW Dispatch newsletter;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;EW Dispatch newsletter&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><strong><em> EW Dispatch newsletter<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cI went in as a backup,\u201d she recalled to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2018\/film\/features\/elf-15th-anniversary-will-ferrell-zooey-deschanel-bob-newhart-1203021653\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Variety;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Variety&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><em>Variety<\/em><\/a> in 2018, for the 15th anniversary of the film. \u201cThe person they cast couldn\u2019t do it. A lot of the parts I got early in my career, I was filling in for someone else who had dropped out last minute.\u201d Then in 2025, Deschanel revealed that initial <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/zooey-deschanel-reveals-katie-holmes-almost-starred-elf-11874916\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:casting choice in question was Katie Holmes;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;casting choice in question was Katie Holmes&quot;}\" class=\"link \">casting choice in question was Katie Holmes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWhen I met with Jon Favreau, the director, I walked in, and he was like, \u2018Oh, you don\u2019t need to read. We just offered it to Katie Holmes,\u2019\u201d she shared. Holmes ultimately dropped out. As Deschanel told it, \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ew.com\/zooey-deschanel-went-blonde-to-play-pop-star-like-britney-spears-before-landing-elf-role-12013965\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Entertainment Weekly;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Entertainment Weekly&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Entertainment Weekly<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Points Zooey Deschanel explained why she went blonde for Elf. The actress was cast as \u201ca pop star that was like Britney Spears\u201d before the holiday classic, and her hair was bleached for the role, she revealed on The Zach Sang Show. The film was never made, and because of the \u201clong process\u201d to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2492902,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25177],"tags":[21966,366826,490935,365107],"class_list":["post-2492901","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrities","tag-britney-spears","tag-screen-test","tag-zach-sang","tag-zooey-deschanel"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Zooey-Deschanel-went-blonde-to-play-pop-star-\u2018like-Britney.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2492901","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2492901"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2492901\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2492903,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2492901\/revisions\/2492903"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2492902"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2492901"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2492901"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2492901"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}