The Transformation Of Emily Deschanel From Childhood To Bones

Actress Emily Deschanel is perhaps best known for her role as the highly intelligent forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan on the Fox crime dramedy Bones. However, she was also a series regular on the TNT drama Animal Kingdom, playing Angela, a recovering addict and newly released convict. While the two roles couldn't be further apart in terms of type and range, Deschanel has the acting chops to give each character a strong identity. She has starred in countless movies and television projects over the years, starting when she was 18, and she made her debut as the Paint-Throwing Fur Activist in the movie It Could Happen to You, starring Nicolas Cage and Bridget Fonda, according to IMDb. 

Her successful career should come as no surprise to those who know her. As the daughter of Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel and actress Mary Jo Deschanel, she and her equally famous sister Zooey seemed destined to shine in Hollywood from an early age. 

Emily Deschanel comes from a talented and successful creative family. Her father, cinematographer Caleb Deschanel, has been nominated for six Academy Awards, including for The Right Stuff, which also starred his wife and Emily's mother, Mary Jo Deschanel, per IMDb. Mary Jo is well-known to fans of Twins Peak for her portrayal of Eileen Hayward, the wheelchair-bound mother to Donna Hayward — Laura Palmer's best friend. 

Not to be left out, Emily's younger sister Zooey Deschanel has also gained fame as an actress, starring in beloved films such as Elf and the television series New Girl. While Emily comes by her talent honestly, she also admitted to The Hollywood Reporter that her childhood dream was to become an architect. "I think I wouldn't have become an actor if I hadn't gone to the conservatory at Boston University for theater," she added. "You get to do four plays a year there, and I think I wouldn't have had the experience to give me the confidence to pursue being an actor after college if I hadn't done something like that."

Her big break seemed to come when she played Pam Asbury in the TV miniseries Rose Red, which was based on a script by Stephen King. She went on to have roles in Cold Mountain, Spider-Man 2, and Boogeyman.

One of Emily Deschanel's earliest roles was a memorable one for fans of Spider-Man. In 2004's Spider-Man 2, starring Tobey Maguire, the crimefighting web-slinger is struggling to balance his position as a pizza delivery person with his superhero duties. In an early scene, Peter Parker tries to use his abilities to make a rush delivery, only to find himself delayed when he spots two children in danger of being hit by a truck. He arrives at his delivery a few minutes late, and the receptionist accepting the pizza is played by Deschanel. With a stoic expression, she points out the time and refuses to pay for the order, which ultimately gets Peter fired from his job. 

Soon after her small part in the blockbuster hit, Deschanel landed one of her biggest roles yet, playing the second lead and best friend of a man haunted by a childhood monster in the horror film Boogeyman — which was the first produced screenplay of Eric Kripke, creator of Supernatural and The Boys, according to IMDb.

Emily Deschanel also won her lead role on Bones in 2005, and she portrayed Temperance for 12 seasons before the show's cancellation in 2017. The popular series saw her character solving crimes using bodies as evidence alongside former Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel star David Boreanaz. During her time on the show, she married actor and writer David Hornsby and gave birth to two sons. 

Deschanel told The Hollywood Reporter that she loved playing a female role model on Bones. "Younger people watched it, so you have to think about young girls watching the show and seeing female role models and scientists who are really smart and accomplished in their careers, and are successful," she said.

In addition to flexing her drama muscles on the show, she was able to show off her comedic talents as well. While she was incredibly book smart, Temperance was naive and never understood pop culture references, leading to many humorous scenes. 

When she debuted on Animal Kingdom in 2019, Emily Deschanel told TV Insider she was looking for a different type of role. While she might not have much in common in real life with the former drug addict she portrayed in the show, she did realize they had one thing in common. "My character wears these hideous ripped jeans and T-shirts ... [Then] I was like, 'Oh, that's what I wear in real life!'" she told the publication.

As for what the future holds for the dark-haired actress, she will next be seen in the film Continue, according to Deadline. The indie drama will also star Shiloh Fernandez (Evil Dead) and will star and be written and directed by Nadine Crocker, based on events that led her to become a suicide survivor at a young age. Failing her suicide attempt, Crocker's character finds unlikely friends and a second chance at life.