Actress and singer Zooey Deschanel converted to Judaism before marrying her Hollywood producer husband Jacob Pechenik this past June, Us Weekly reported. The "New Girl" star adopted her husband's religion in an ultimate gesture of love.
"Zooey converted to Judaism for Jacob," an insider told Us Weekly, and another source added, "They're loving the baby and marriage!"
Deschanel had not identified with a specific religion, as she was raised by her Roman Catholic mother and Quaker father, according to Us Weekly.
"I don't attach myself to any one religion," Deschanel said in the past. "My family is liberal. I was raised in the 'You can be whatever you want' kind of way. And in the end, I was like, 'Eh.'"
Pechenik and Deschanel began dating in 2014 and they wed in a secret ceremony in Austin, Texas in June, the Daily Mail reported. The couple welcomed their first child together one month later, a baby girl named Elsie Otter. Deschanel explained her daughter's middle name in a recent interview on the "Today" show.
"I love otters, my husband really loves otters, she better love otters," Deschanel joked during her "Today" interview. "We don't know yet, she's only three months old."
"We just really liked the name Elsie and we both love otters," she continued. "They're very sweet and they're also smart, they use tools. They hold hands when they sleep, there's so many amazing things about otters, they're wonderful animals."
