Before Finding Love With Jonathan Scott, Zooey Deschanel Dated These People

Deschanel reportedly dated the “Legally Blonde” actor in 2000. The pair kept their relationship private and not much is known about their short-lived romance, as reported by Us Weekly.

Deschanel’s first serious romance was with the “Asteroid City” actor and musician. The two first dated when she was 19, but went their separate ways. Years later, they reunited at a get-together hosted by Dustin Hoffman. She revealed in a 2005 Cosmopolitan profile (via Fedge), “Jason and I dated when we were 19 . . . he was my first boyfriend. Then I didn’t see him much until Dustin Hoffman invited us over at the same time. He was like, ‘I’ll leave you two alone.’ It was clear he was setting us up.” By 2003, their romance was back on. The couple dated for two years before ultimately splitting up in 2005.

The pair met for the first time around 2008. Gibbard, who had reportedly known of Deschanel’s work, was smitten the second he met her in person. He told New York Magazine (via Us Weekly), “I’d seen her in movies and obviously I thought she was very beautiful. I was just awestruck that she was even talking to me.” After a year of dating, the two privately eloped in 2009, according to InStyle.

By 2011, however, Gibbard and Deschanel separated, and the “500 Days of Summer” actor filed for divorce in December 2011, as reported by CBS News. A source close to the couple told Us Weekly that the split was “was mutual and amicable.” The divorce was finalized in December 2012.

Not long after her split from Gibbard, Deschanel began dating the screenwriter, known for his work in films that include “We Are Marshall” and “Dear John.” The two first linked in June 2012, as reported by Us Weekly. Linden and Deschanel kept their relationship out of the spotlight for the most part, and called it quits in August 2014.

Around the same time Deschanel and Linden split, she was spotted getting close with the producer, whom she met on the set of “Rock the Kasbah” in August 2014, per Us Weekly. Deschanel and Pechenik got engaged in January 2015, and married just months later in June 2015. One month after tying the knot, the couple welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Elsie Otter, in July 2015. Regarding the name of her daughter, the “New Girl” actor told “Today” in 2015, “We just really liked the name Elsie, and then we both love otters because they’re so sweet and also smart.” Two years after Elsie’s birth, Deschanel and Pechenik welcomed their second child, a boy named Charlie Wolf, in May 2017.

The couple’s relationship didn’t last, unfortunately. In September 2019, they announced their split and said in a joint statement obtained by People, “After much discussion and a long period of contemplation we have decided we are better off as friends, business partners and co-parents rather than life partners. We remain committed to our business, our values and most of all our children. Thank you for respecting our privacy at this time.” Their divorce was finalized in June 2020.

Deschanel met the “Property Brothers” star while filming a sibling-edition of “Carpool Karaoke” along with her older sister, Emily Deschanel, and Scott’s brother, Drew Scott in August 2019. The two hilariously belted songs together, which definitely seemed to create a spark between Deschanel and Jonathan. “How cool was that that the first time we ever met was caught on tape . . . So I guess a big thanks to James Corden. It’s because of (‘Carpool Karaoke: The Series’) that we met,” Jonathan later revealed to Access Hollywood.

A month after connecting for the first time, Us Weekly reported that the two were dating in September 2019. The couple made their Instagram debut on Halloween in 2019, and ended up quarantining together at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020. Though the pair have mainly kept their relationship private, neither Deschanel nor Scott have trouble singing the other partner’s praises on social media.

On their one-year anniversary of meeting for the first time, Deschanel made a sweet post on Instagram gushing over her beau, writing, “One year ago today I met this kind, caring, hilarious, generous, creative, nerdy, handsome and all around incredible human. I am so grateful for every smile, kiss, hug, snuggle, laugh, scrabble game, escape room, breakfast, lunch and dinner we share together. Even during the weirdest year for humanity I want a million billion more with you.”

Outside of their relationship, the two have also collaborated on-screen together, and in December 2020, Deschanel starred in the Scott brother’s show, “Celebrity IOU.” The couple live together in an LA home that they purchased in June 2020 and renovated together.

On Aug. 14, the couple announced their engagement on Instagram. “Forever starts now!!! ?♾️?,” they captioned a selfie of themselves. The photo also featured a close-up of Deschanel’s unique floral engagement ring.