Zooey Deschanel

Age and Occupation: 21, actor. Providence: Los Angeles. Pedigree: Daughter of director and Oscar-nominated cinematographer Caleb Deschanel. Almost Famous: In Cameron Crowe's movie of the same name, playing the rebellious, sagelike sister and stewerdess. "I'm not a very shy person, but I was just completely speechless working with Cameron." Like Marilyn Monroe, she brings Nietzsche to the set: "When I was making [Barry Sonnenfeld's] Big Trouble in Miami, I had all this time, so I was like, Why not make this time like school? So I bought a book of word problems, and I would have a novel and some sort of philosophical book - something by Sartre or Nietzsche." Out this fall, Big Trouble stars Johnny Knoxville, Tim Allen, and Rene Russo. Why she's open to advice on what roles to take: "I'm the worst at picking what movies are going to do well. I have no idea. I'm really suprised if a movie I like does well." Still, she has good feelings about: The New Guy, with DJ Qualls, about "a really nerdy kid at high school who decides to get a makeover, change high schools, and become popular. I play his nerdy friend. I liked that part because I was this nerdy girl and I could relate."