Zooey Deschanel gives a sad answer after being asked whether she ever watches Elf

If there’s one thing that most of us have in common, it’s that we don’t like watching ourselves back.

For most of us, it might be down to finding our own voices irritating or not liking how we look.

But for Zooey Deschanel, popping on the 2003 film Elf is off-putting for a whole other reason.

Zooey Deschanel has only watched Elf once (Warner Bros)

For millions of people, the Will Ferrell movie is appointment viewing around Christmas time.

But for Deschanel, who co-starred in the holiday classic, it’s not something she’s in a hurry to watch.

The New Girl actress was being interviewed by Us Weekly, when the topic of holiday traditions came up.

When the host asked if she had turned Elf viewings into a yearly occurrence, Deschanel quickly denied this.

She said: "No! I don’t watch myself in anything, I feel like that might be narcissistic of me."

What Christmas film gets regular circulation in the Deschanel household then?

"Meet Me in St Louis is a favourite of mine," she admitted.

This is in reference to the 1944 film starring Judy Garland.

Referencing her partner, Jonathan Scott, the 45-year-old said: "Jonathan watched Elf each year before we met.

Zooey Deschanel isn't a fan of watching her own films (Us Weekly)

"It’s not that I won’t let him watch it, but if someone has me on a TV, I’m probably running away."

This raises the question - how many times has she seen the film which has delighted millions around the world?

"I watched it once at the premiere," she admitted.

"It was really good. I just don’t like…watch myself."

Deschanel clarified that she did watch each episode of New Girl when they aired, so that she could adjust her performance if she felt it was lacking in one episode.

However, she has a policy of avoiding her own films.

Considering this includes beloved flicks like 50 Days Of Summer, Almost Famous and Bridge To Terabithia, I think she might be missing out.

So what holiday traditions does Deschanel participate in, if not streaming her own work?

Zooey Deschanel has only seen Elf once - at the premiere (Warner Bros)

Well, this is where her career as a singer in the group She & Him comes in handy.

She said to Us Weekly: "I love singing Christmas carols, I love singing harmony.

"And I have a lot of friends who are really good singers.

"I do really enjoying singing as a group, and my favourite part is being with family and getting to connect.

"I love watching movies on Christmas and getting cosy, and I love that."

Just don't pop on any of the Trolls movies, whatever you do.