Zooey Deschanel's Most Awkward Moments

The bubbly actress takes her quirky brand to the extreme.

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Complex Original

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Zooey Deschanel has been pegged as the "adorkably” cute actress with dark hair and bright blue eyes for years, but being quirky and awkward isn't exactly a bad thing, especially when you're the star of a popular sitcom. It's been an interesting journey for Complex's December 2008/January 2009 cover girl, complete with awkward pauses, quirky humor and many other peculiar pearls of drôle. The bubbly actress has an accumulated an abundance of awkward moments, but that's her shtick, for better or worse. With New Girl's first season finale on the way tonight, check out Zooey Deshanel's Most Awkward Moments.

7. The Offspring – She’s Got Issues

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The Offspring's music video for "She’s Got Issues."

Dyed-red hair with dark roots. In the late '90s. It doesn’t get much more awkward than that. One of Zooey’s first acting gigs came in the form of a music video, courtesy of The Offspring. While many people would brag about such a noble musical distinction, Zooey probably prefers to keep this tucked far away in her closet.

Sometimes celebs are a little rough around the edges before gaining notoriety. Unfortunately for Zooey it was documented in a music video for one of the best-selling punk rock bands of all time.

6. Promo Interview For Elf

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This promo interview for Elf.

This promo interview with Boaz from NYU has us wondering what’s in Zooey’s cup. Is she under the influence or just being her quirky self? It wouldn't be the first time someone has sipped lean on camera, but it definitely isn't something we thought we would ever suspect of the seemingly straight-edge actress.

Lest we forget about Boaz, however. His overall lack of communicative skills certainly doesn’t help the situation. The interview was doomed from the start.

5. USA Today: Five Questions for Zooey Decshanel

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4. SNL Skit: “Bein’ Quirky with Zooey Deschanel”

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Her “Bein’ Quirky with Zooey Deschanel” SNL skit.

The title of the skit pretty much says it all. Deschanel plays a washed out Mary Kate Olsen, who stars opposite Zooey Deschanel (Abby Elliot), Michael Cera (Taran Killam) and Bjork (Kristen Wiig). What happens when you put these four awkward celebrity memes in the same SNL skit? Exactly what you think would happen. Hilarity ensues, and, of course, Zooey Deschanel’s quirky demeanor is at the center of it all.

Take home message: when SNL dedicates an entire segment to your dorkiness you know it’s real.

3. Zooey Can’t Say Penis

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Zooey can’t say "penis."

Although this is from an episode of New Girl, it’s hard to imagine someone else in this scene. Her natural state of awkwardness allows her character to carry out the dialogue effortlessly. We’re not fooled by “peernyas,” “pianist,” and “enispay”. Nor are we surprised that New Girl writers tailored that scene just for Zooey. Seriously, though, how could they resist?

2. The Ellen Degeneres Show

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Her appearance on Ellen.

The interview that best captures Zooey Deschanel’s personality occurred when she appeared as a special guest on The Ellen Degeneres Show. Ellen is witty and quirky herself, so the punchlines pretty much wrote themselves when the two sat down for conversation. They discuss a range of topics, including New Girl, which was a greenlit for an entire pilot season on FOX. The rest, as you know, is history. Zooey stays winning at life with those steady sitcom checks. 

1. Making Out With Rashida Jones

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Making out with Rashida Jones.

“It was slightly awkward,” Rashida Jones blushed to Chelsea Handler about kissing her longtime friend and Our Idiot Brother co-star. We would like to believe there might be a hint of uninhibited attraction or suppressed desire brewing when hot actresses agree to participate in lesbian scenes. However, it takes a certain level of awkwardness to make a kiss between girls seem unnatural. Yup, Zooey Deschanel and Rashida Jones kissed on screen and not a single fuck was given. What a shame.

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