Zooey Deschanel Fought for Lamorne Morris’s New Girl Role

POLICY WIRE — Actress Zooey Deschanel actively advocated for the casting of Lamorne Morris in the role of Winston on the Fox sitcom New Girl, according to a report by The Independent. Deschanel, who portrayed lead character Jessica Day in the series, recalled her efforts to ensure Morris secured the part after his initial audition for a different role.

Morris, 42, originally auditioned for the character of Coach, a role that was ultimately given to Damon Wayans Jr., The Independent reported. Wayans Jr. was known for his work on the series Happy Endings. However, Wayans Jr.’s tenure on New Girl was brief, lasting only for the pilot episode. His departure became necessary when Happy Endings received a renewal, leading to Coach being written out of the show. This development created the opening for the character of Winston, which Morris subsequently filled.

Deschanel, 46, recounted her experience reading scenes with multiple actors auditioning for the newly available role. She stated that Morris distinguished himself during this process. “I was just like, ‘What about Lamorne? That guy’s so good. He’s so talented,’” Deschanel said, as reported by The Independent, citing her appearance on the Zach Sang Show. She added that her co-stars, Jake Johnson and Max Greenfield, who played Nick and Schmidt respectively, also expressed enthusiasm for Morris’s casting.

To support Morris’s inclusion in the cast, Deschanel took direct action, writing to studio — and network executives. “I wrote to the heads of the studio and the network… Jake wrote… like, everyone was writing to somebody different,” Deschanel revealed on the Zach Sang Show, according to The Independent. She further explained the collective sentiment among the cast, stating, “So we were all like, ‘Just putting my two cents in, you know… we think Lamorne is the best, best, best for this character, and [would be] such a great addition.’”

Morris joined the cast of New Girl in the second episode of its first season. He remained a principal cast member throughout the show’s entire run, which spanned seven seasons from 2011 to 2018, The Independent reported. The series centered on Deschanel’s character, a newly single school teacher, who moves into a loft apartment with three single men.

In a separate development, Morris has publicly discussed his personal struggles with depression during the production of the show. He opened up about experiencing a period of depression while filming the series’ “Prince” episode, according to The Independent. “I just remember doing a scene, then going in my trailer and just crying for no reason,” Morris stated on a 2024 episode of the Podcrushed podcast, as reported by The Independent. He noted that despite professional success and family well-being, he couldn’t identify a specific cause for his emotional state. “Work was going great. Everybody was healthy in my family. It was like, ‘What am I complaining about?’” he said. “I didn’t know. I couldn’t pinpoint it to anything.”

Morris indicated that his mood began to improve following dietary changes suggested by his then-girlfriend. He mentioned that she assisted him in altering his diet, preparing healthy meals, and making him “fresh juice in the morning.” Morris observed a shift in his mood as a result of these changes. “Before I know it, those [depressive] days are over,” he stated on the podcast, according to The Independent.