Zooey Deschanel is returning to holiday entertainment with her latest Christmas film, Merv, while also reflecting on her long-standing connection to festive projects.

In a recent interview with E! News, Deschanel joked about competing with Mariah Carey for the “Queen of Christmas” title, noting that she now has two Christmas movies and two Christmas records.

The actress became a seasonal favourite after starring as Jovie in the 2003 holiday classic Elf.

Beyond film, Deschanel’s musical duo, She & Him, released two Christmas albums in 2011 and 2016, both of which continue to draw annual holiday listeners.

Deschanel emphasized that her comment about Carey was made in good humour, adding that she admired the singer and believed Carey had earned the nickname. Carey’s 1994 hit All I Want for Christmas Is You remains one of the most-played holiday tracks worldwide.

Carey has previously spoken about her love for the season, highlighting her enjoyment of gift-giving and the thoughtfulness behind it. Each year, she releases a “It Is Time” video to mark the start of her holiday celebrations, often planned a year in advance due to her deep attachment to the festive period.