Zooey Deschanel explains why she never watches her holiday classic Elf even during Christmas

The holiday spirit will soon be upon each and every one of us, and we’re more than likely going to watch Elf on the run up to Christmas: unless you’re Zooey Deschanel.

If I starred in the 2003 hit alongside Will Ferrell, I’d never stop showing it around Christmas time, but that’s not what the actress likes to do.

In fact, she doesn’t like to watch it at all.

Even though the star has said how much she loves watching the themed movies around the holiday season and likes to be ‘cozy’, that strictly doesn’t include her own hits.

She spoke to Us Weekly while promoting her own Winter/Holiday collection, which she teamed up with Vera Bradley for.

The 44-year-old explained the important reason why it’s excluded from her list.

Deschanel doesn't watch Elf (New Line Cinema)

Elf is a fan-favorite, and it’s no surprise why.

The story tells the tale of a human being who is found by elves in the North Pole. Upon growing up, Buddy (Ferrell) feels like an outcast due to his abnormally large frame.

That’s when he is sat down and told that his father actually lives in New York, and so he embarks on a journey to find his dad before Christmas.

But when he gets there, his dad, Walter Hobbs (James Caan), is marred and has a son of their own.

There reunion is strained, but it’s pretty funny thanks to Ferrell’s comedic timing.

Anyway, Buddy attempts to spread Christmas cheer and meets sales girl, Jovie (Deschanel), and they fall in love and team up with Santa to save the holiday.

It’s a classic, but for the actress in question, it has nothing to do with the story.

She explained: “I don’t watch myself in anything.

“I feel like that might be narcissistic of me.”

While she did watch the ‘one at the premiere’ and said it was ‘really good,’ she just doesn’t like to ‘watch myself.’

It’s a shame though as Deschanel’s fiancé and property brother, Jonathan Scott, shared last December on Instagram that the film is his ‘fav,’ particularly her singing scenes.

Her fiancé love the movie (New Line Cinema)

Although she doesn’t watch it herself, she has fond memories of Ferrell.

She said: “I love him. He’s a great, great person. One of the best.

“Seriously, one of the nicest people ever. He’s done incredible things since then.”

She went on to say she feels ‘lucky that I got to do that movie.’

She shared that her favorite film is Meet Me in St. Louis, but actually prefers holiday music over the movies.

The New Girl actress said: “I love singing Christmas carols. That’s my favorite thing.”

She added: “I love singing harmony, and I have a lot of friends who are really good singers and so I do really enjoy singing as a group and I love all the holiday food. And my favorite part is being with family, just getting to connect.”

She shared that her fiancé used to watch Elf each year before they got together, but if she saw herself on screen she’d ‘probably run away’.