Zooey Deschanel 'I want to be normal'

Zooey Deschanel has “always wanted to be normal”.

The (500) Days of Summer actress has learned to “take advantage” of her reputation for being “offbeat” following years of trying to fit in.

“I always wanted to be normal. I tried really hard but it’s like I try so hard and then people say I’m offbeat,” she said.

“I’ve learned to accept that and take advantage of it as an actor. It’s like, ‘Well, that’s who I am’, and it comes through and it’s OK.”

However, the 31-year-old star maintains she doesn’t “crave the approval” of those who don’t like her, as she isn’t prepared to change herself.

“I don’t crave the approval of someone who just doesn’t like me. If they don’t like me then that’s fine. But yeah, occasionally you’ll run across something where someone will say something mean about you and it’s hard because there are some things you can’t change about yourself,” she said.

“And, you know, you shouldn’t change them because other people like them. It seems like a lot of people love having an opinion, which is great, but I don’t always need to hear it.”