M. Ward & Zooey Deschanel Make Beautiful Music Together

Actress Zooey Deschanel has been dabbling in music since 2001, performing in a jazz cabaret with fellow actress Samantha Shelton, taking on singing roles in movies like 2003's 'Elf' and 2004's 'Winter Passing' -- not to mention that she was chosen to play the legendary Janis Joplin in the biopic 'The Gospel According to Janis.'

What's more, the silver-screen beauty contributed vocals to fellow multi-talent and former boyfriend Jason Schwartzman for his new band, Coconut Records, on their 2007 debut, 'Nittiiming,' and Deschanel announced in December that she had her own album on the way. With the producing help of folk singer M. Ward, she's finished her debut, planned for release later this year.

Deschanel met Ward on the set of the upcoming Martin Hynes-directed, Sundance-approved film, 'The Go Getter,' in which the pair cover Richard and Linda Thompson's 'When I Get to the Border.' "I was amazed by the quality," Ward said of Deschanel's songs, which she played for him at his request. He told the AV Club, "I just had an incredible time working with her. She's an amazing talent, and a genius vocalist ... I'm looking forward to people hearing this record."

In celebration of actors who rock, check out our gallery of more than 50 movie stars who've made the jump, after the, well, jump.