Zooey Deschanel Says She’s Not a Nepo Baby: “No one’s Getting Jobs Because Their Dad’s a DP”

Zooey Deschanel has addressed the perception that her family connections made it easier for her to break into the film and TV industry.

As the daughter of renowned cinematographer Caleb Deschanel, known for his work on blockbuster films like ‘The Lion King’ and ‘Titanic’ and ‘Twin Peaks’ actress Mary Jo Deschanel, Zooey has often been labelled a “nepo baby”. Her sister Emily Deschanel is also an actress, known for her roles in ‘Bones’ and ‘Spider-Man 2.’

Also Read: Dakota Johnson Says The Nepo Baby Debate is ‘Incredibly Annoying’

In a recent interview on ‘The School of Greatness’ podcast, Zooey refuted claims that nepotism played a significant role in her career. “People be like, ‘Oh, nepotism’, I’m like no. My dad’s a DP [director of photography],” she explained. “No one’s getting jobs because their dad’s a DP. It’s definitely not.”

However, Zooey acknowledged the invaluable creative support she received from her family. “My mum is an actor and my dad is a cinematographer and a director. I can’t possibly emphasise enough how much creative help I had from my family unit,” she said.

She went on to highlight the role her parents played in her artistic development, explaining how her mum coached her in acting and her dad engaged in discussions about film and filmmaking. “Having a sister who’s an actor just makes you automatically have a community, and how much our communities help us – whether it’s our families or our found communities,” Zooey added.