United Kingdom, Sept. 23 -- Zooey Deschanel's early days on New Girl were "stressful".

The 46-year-old actress played Jessica Day in New Girl, the hit TV sitcom, between 2011 and 2018, and Zooey admits that the early days were particularly tough.

The brunette beauty told People: "I liked the beginning. I love the whole experience of New Girl, but the beginning of it ... We were shaping it, and it was stressful and crazy, and we were working crazy long hours and everything."

Zooey - who starred alongside the likes of Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, Lamorne Morris, Hannah Simone and Damon Wayans Jr. - recalled developing an affinity with her on-screen character.

She said: "We were getting to grab these little sparks and be like, 'Oh, he d...