Hollywood loves a dynasty, but the Deschanel family feels different. It’s not the flashy, headline-grabbing drama of the Kardashians or the sprawling, multi-generational web of the Coppolas. Instead, Zooey Deschanel and Emily Deschanel have built two of the most distinct, sturdy careers in modern television while somehow remaining remarkably normal. Or, at least, as normal as you can be when your dad is a six-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer and your mom was in Twin Peaks.
Honestly, if you grew up in the 2010s, these two were everywhere. You couldn't turn on a TV without seeing Emily solving a gruesome murder with a skeletal remains kit or Zooey singing about "Who's that girl?" in a polka-dot dress.
But here is the thing: because they look somewhat alike and share that famous last name, people tend to lump them together. They treat them like a set. In reality, their paths, their personalities, and even their "sibling rivalry" (which involved some light psychological torture) are way more nuanced than the average fan realizes.
The "Neptunian" Incident and Childhood Mind Games
Most sisters fight over clothes. Emily and Zooey Deschanel fought over whether one of them was an alien.
Emily, being the older sister by about four years, apparently had a very specific way of "playing" with Zooey. She admitted on Conan years ago that she used to tell Zooey she was actually from Neptune. The story went like this: the real Emily had been killed and replaced by a "Neptunian" facsimile. This alien looked like Emily, talked like Emily, but was secretly planning to take Zooey out next.
Can you imagine?
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Zooey has joked that this was basically psychological warfare. But it also hints at the creative, slightly eccentric environment they grew up in. They weren't just kids playing house; they were writing full-scale Western musicals and charging their parents a penny to watch.
Different Dreams from the Start
It’s easy to assume they both just followed the family business into acting. Not quite. While Zooey was the kid who wanted to "crawl into The Wizard of Oz," Emily was actually leaning toward a career in architecture. She loved the math of it. The science. The engineering.
She eventually "fell" into acting during high school plays, but that pragmatic, analytical side of her never really left. It’s probably why she was so perfect as the hyper-rational Dr. Temperance Brennan on Bones.
The Fox Takeover: Bones vs. New Girl
For a long stretch of time, the Deschanel sisters literally owned the Fox network.
Emily Deschanel starred in Bones for a staggering 12 seasons. That is almost unheard of in the modern TV era. She played a forensic anthropologist who was brilliant, socially awkward, and deeply literal.
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Meanwhile, Zooey Deschanel was the face of New Girl for seven seasons. As Jess Day, she became the poster child for "adorkable" culture.
The contrast was fascinating:
- Emily: Procedural drama, science-heavy, 246 episodes of solving crimes.
- Zooey: Single-camera sitcom, quirk-heavy, 146 episodes of relationship shenanigans.
Despite being on the same network, they rarely crossed paths on screen. There was that one legendary 2009 episode of Bones where Zooey played Brennan’s cousin, Margaret Whitesell. The characters hated each other. In real life, the sisters say it was one of the easiest weeks of filming they ever had because they just got each other’s rhythms.
Beyond the Screen: Advocacy and Engagement
As of 2026, the sisters have moved into very different phases of their lives. Zooey has become a massive figure in the lifestyle and music space. Her band, She & Him, continues to be a staple for anyone who likes "sun-dappled pop" and vintage vibes. Plus, her high-profile engagement to Property Brothers star Jonathan Scott has kept her in the lifestyle headlines.
Emily? She's the one you’ll find at animal rights galas. She’s been a staunch vegan for decades and puts a lot of her energy into philanthropy. She’s also been incredibly supportive of Zooey’s upcoming wedding. Recently, Emily joked about being "ready to throw that bachelorette party" the second she gets the green light.
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What People Get Wrong About Their "Feud"
There is a weird myth that they are competitive or don't get along. Maybe it’s because their on-screen personas are so polar opposite.
Actually, they are famously supportive. They used to bring their kids to the same studio lots so they could hang out during lunch breaks. Emily has always praised Zooey’s fearlessness—recalling a story where a middle-school Zooey confronted a kid for not inviting her to a bar mitzvah. Emily, by contrast, says she would have just gone home and cried.
Understanding the Deschanel Influence
If you’re looking to understand why these two have such staying power, it’s about authenticity. They didn’t try to be "cool" in the traditional Hollywood sense.
Zooey leaned into her bangs and her vintage dresses when everyone else was trying to look like a Bond girl. Emily played a character who was arguably on the autism spectrum (though never explicitly diagnosed on the show) at a time when female leads were expected to be soft and "likable."
They broke the mold by just being themselves—even if one of them is secretly a Neptunian.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the Crossover: If you haven't seen the Bones episode "The Goop on the Girl" (Season 5, Episode 10), go find it. It's the only time they share significant screen time and the chemistry is hilarious.
- Check the Credits: Look up Caleb Deschanel’s work. When you see the cinematography in The Lion King (2019) or The Passion of the Christ, you’ll see where the sisters got their visual "eye."
- Support the Causes: Follow Emily’s work with Farm Sanctuary or Zooey’s efforts with "The Farm Project." They both use their platforms for more than just red carpet photos.
- Music Dive: Listen to Melt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson by She & Him. It’s arguably some of Zooey’s best vocal work to date.