Nearly 23 years after the release of the beloved holiday film "Elf," actress Zooey Deschanel, 46, brought her iconic character Jovie back to life at a lavish event in Beverly Hills.
The gathering, held at a transformed hillside mansion, celebrated the launch of Bath and Body Works' new holiday skincare collection, "Season of Wonder." Deschanel, who is the face of the new range, marked the occasion with an early display of festive cheer.
"Elf," released on November 7, 2003, and also starring Will Ferrell and Mary Steenburgen, was a major box-office success, grossing $220 million worldwide. The film significantly boosted Deschanel's career, catapulting her to A-list status.
At the Beverly Hills event, Deschanel participated in crafting activities, including making snow globes, embracing the festive spirit. The setting itself was a winter wonderland, adorned with Christmas trees, scented candles, and pink accents, befitting the star's status.
The "Season of Wonder" collection features seasonal-scented hand washes, room fragrances, candles, and body creams, arriving just in time for the holiday season when "Elf" is a perennial television favorite.
Deschanel, who was 21 when she was cast as Jovie, the department store worker who falls for Buddy the Elf, recently shared on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast that the role was initially offered to Katie Holmes. However, a scheduling conflict prevented Holmes from taking the part, leading Deschanel to audition. "When I met with Jon Favreau, the director, I walked in and he was like, 'Oh you don't need to read. We just offered it to Katie Holmes,'" Deschanel recalled. "And I was like, 'Oh okay, cool!'"
"What was great about that was I wasn't nervous,' she said. 'I wasn't nervous at all 'cause I was like, 'Well, I'm not getting the part.'"
Deschanel's ability to sing, honed through her cabaret act, also played a role in her casting. "Then she had some scheduling conflict and they were like, 'Who should we have?' I think the character was kind of meant to be worked around whoever played her, and they knew I sang... and so that kind of worked out with the character."
Deschanel also spoke highly of her "Elf" co-star Will Ferrell, describing him as "the nicest human being" and praising his playful and open nature on set. "He's so nice. He's nice to everybody. He's so fun. He's game for anything. And I think the thing about Will is he's super playful and fun and open and just a nice person," she said.