Gender Female | Nickname(s) Jess Played by Zooey Deschanel | |
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Full name Jessica Christopher Day Occupation Elementary school teacherElementary school vice-principal Family Joan Day (mother)Bob Day (father)Trashley Berkman (step-mother) Significant others Nick Miller, Paul Genzlinger, Sam, Russell Similar Nick Miller, Cece, Winston Bishop, Schmidt, Leslie Knope | ||
Jessica Christopher "Jess" Day is a fictional character in the FOX sitcom New Girl. She is portrayed by Zooey Deschanel.
Contents
Description
When the show begins, Jess is a school teacher in her late 20s. In the pilot, she has an explosive breakup with her boyfriend who was cheating on her. She moves out of the apartment that they shared, and ends up living in a bachelor pad with Nick, Schmidt, and Winston. Jess brings an over the top girly vibe to the former bachelor pad.
Jess is fired from her past position in the school for no particular reason. After trying some casual jobs she started working in adult education. She later starts a job at Coolidge Middle school and eventually is promoted to vice principal. She had some relationships along the way ("Georege Jang the Giardia Giant", Paul, Russell, Sam) but they did not last long. Her best friend since childhood is Cece (Hannah Simone), who is always ready to protect Jess.
Jess's friendship with Nick Miller (Jake Johnson), one of her roommates, is evolving gradually. They both have admitted that they've felt attracted to each other but have expressed no particular interest. However, they often protect each other. One such example is when Nick suspected one of Jess's students to be a psycho-killer and decided to investigate the situation. Another example from Jess's side is when Nick announced his moving-in with his ex-girlfriend, soon after they got back together, and Jess hid the keys of the truck carrying his things, so that he could have a last chance to reconsider his choice. Also, we have seen Nick complaining that Jess is using him as a 'fluffer', when she asks him to do things that a boyfriend would do. In the season finale of Season 2, Jess and Nick decide to start a relationship. They break up in Season 3, Episode 20 ("Mars Landing").
As a young child, Jess's parents divorced but she always wanted them to reunite and get back together. To that goal, as a young child and adult, she makes up romantic Parent Trap-esque situations for them in order to rekindle their relationship, which never prove effective.
Characterisation
Speaking of the show Zooey Deschanel claimed that her character in New Girl resembles a younger version of herself. She said "I think Jess as a person, and the way that her personality is, has some of myself and especially some of my younger self," she suggested. "[She resembles] my 13-year-old self." Deschanel added that Jess will explore her lost youth after she is dumped by her long-term boyfriend. "I have to find a new support system, so I'm basically living my 20s as I approach my 30s," she explained.
Reception
Deschanel has received one Emmy and three Golden Globe nominations for her role on the show.