Zooey Deschanel Says Fiancé Jonathan Scott Is Biggest “Elf” Fan at Home: 'My Kids Saw It Once' (Exclusive)

As for her favorite moment from set, Deschanel recalls, "Laughing so hard I had to hide from the camera when Buddy is attacking the fake Santa Claus!"

A lot has changed for Zooey Deschanel since Elf premiered 20 years ago — but her beau is still a fan!

In an interview surrounding the Will Ferrell-starring Christmas comedy's 20th anniversary, the actress revealed the biggest Elf fan in her household is "probably [fiancé] Jonathan [Scott]."

"My kids saw it once but they still mainly only watch animated movies so haven’t quite connected with it yet. But maybe this year!" adds Deschanel, 43, who is mom to two children with ex-husband Jacob Pechenik: daughter Elsie, 8, and son Charlie, 6.

In Elf, Deschanel plays Jovie, the coworker-turned-love-interest to Ferrell's Buddy the Elf. Though she first appears jaded by the holiday season, Buddy helps her see some of the magic as they connect over the course of the film and eventually start a family of their own.

"Everyone was incredibly kind to me and I had the most wonderful time getting to work with everyone," Deschanel remembers of making the New York City-set film. "Will is probably one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life!"

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Related: Mary Steenburgen Recalls Late Elf Costar James Caan Being 'Unexpectedly Sweet and Charming' (Exclusive)

When asked about the chemistry between Deschanel and Ferrell, 56, casting director Susie Farris tells PEOPLE that the New Girl alum is "so warm and open and has this innocence and vulnerability that I feel like the two of them were really able to connect on that level."

"And obviously her voice was a tremendous help just in terms of her character," adds Farris. "I feel like that brought a whole other level — that she's actually a singer — and just that scene where she's singing, it was so touching to me."

She is, of course, talking about the scene where Buddy unwittingly surprises Jovie while she's singing "Baby, It's Cold Outside" in the shower — a moment she and Ferrell recreated (at least musically!) during a virtual live table read back in December 2020.

"We did a reading of the movie for charity a few years back and it was so fun to get to see everyone. Always a delight," Deschanel says.

As for her favorite moment from the set, the actress recalls, "Laughing so hard I had to hide from the camera when Buddy is attacking the fake Santa Claus!"

Related: Zooey Deschanel Explains Why 'Elf' Is Still a 'Little Bit Scary' for Her Two Kids

This holiday season, Deschanel says she's most excited for "being with family," and that she and Scott, 45, enjoy a good "Christmas date night."

"We are big Christmas fans! But singing Christmas carols is my absolute favorite thing to do," the actress and singer, who is one half of the musical duo She & Him, tells PEOPLE of her household.

And of whether she'd ever return for an Elf sequel, Deschanel says she doesn't know why one hasn't been made yet but insists, "I would do it."

"So many wonderful people worked so hard on putting that movie together," she says of why she believes the Jon Favreau-directed Elf has stood the test of time.

"But most of all I think Will Ferrell was just so perfect in that part, and gave it 100% — I give a lot of the credit to him. His performance is perfection!" Deschanel adds.

For more on Elf's 20th anniversary, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

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