
Zendaya
Zendaya is an American actress and singer known for starring as Rue Bennett in the HBO drama series Euphoria, Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Spider-Man films, and Chani in Denis Villeneuve's Dune franchise. She first gained wide recognition on television starring in the Disney Channel sitcoms Shake It Up and K.C. Undercover. For her performance in Euphoria, she became the youngest two-time winner of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Personal life
In November 2021, Zendaya confirmed her relationship with her Spider-Man co-star Tom Holland. The couple became engaged in December 2024 and married in 2026, later holding a private wedding celebration in Surrey, England. They maintain residences in Los Angeles, Brooklyn, and London.
Outside of acting, Zendaya is a vegetarian and an animal lover. She identifies as an intersectional feminist and has supported numerous humanitarian and charitable organizations, including Convoy of Hope, UNAIDS, and Feeding America.
Early life and Disney Channel beginnings
Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman was born in Oakland, California, to teachers Claire Stoermer and Kazembe Ajamu Coleman. Her mother also worked as a house manager at the California Shakespeare Theater in Orinda, where Zendaya spent much of her childhood watching productions and assisting with patrons. She attended Fruitvale Elementary School and later the Oakland School for the Arts, where she appeared in stage productions including Once on This Island, Caroline, or Change, and Richard III. During her youth, she also performed with the hip-hop dance group Future Shock Oakland and studied hula dancing with the Academy of Hawaiian Arts.
After working as a child model for retailers including Macy's and Old Navy, Zendaya made her television breakthrough in 2010 when she was cast as Rocky Blue on the Disney Channel dance sitcom Shake It Up, starring opposite Bella Thorne. In 2013, she competed on the sixteenth season of ABC's Dancing with the Stars alongside professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy, finishing as the runner-up. From 2015 to 2018, she starred as teenage secret agent K.C. Cooper in the Disney Channel sitcom K.C. Undercover, on which she also served as a co-producer and took an active role in shaping the show's focus on diversity.
Transition to film and Euphoria
Zendaya made her feature film debut in 2017 as Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film Spider-Man: Homecoming. She reprised the role in the sequels Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). Also in 2017, she starred as trapeze artist Anne Wheeler in the musical drama The Greatest Showman alongside Zac Efron and Hugh Jackman, contributing to successful soundtrack singles such as "Rewrite the Stars".
In 2019, Zendaya took on the lead role of Rue Bennett, a struggling drug-addicted teenager, in Sam Levinson's HBO drama series Euphoria. Her performance garnered widespread critical acclaim. At age 24, she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2020, becoming the youngest recipient of the honor. She won the category a second time in 2022 and received the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama in 2023. In 2021, she produced and starred alongside John David Washington in Levinson's black-and-white romance film Malcolm & Marie.
Dune, Challengers, and fashion
Zendaya expanded into major science fiction cinema as Chani in Denis Villeneuve's Dune (2021) and its sequel Dune: Part Two (2024), starring opposite Timothee Chalamet. In 2024, she produced and starred in Luca Guadagnino's romantic sports drama Challengers, portraying former tennis prodigy turned coach Tashi Duncan alongside Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist. Her performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy.
Throughout her career, Zendaya has emerged as a prominent figure in fashion, closely collaborating with her longtime stylist Law Roach. She is widely credited with popularizing method dressing on red carpets by wearing thematic ensembles tailored to the subjects of her films. In 2021, she became the youngest person to receive the Fashion Icon award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). She has served as a global brand ambassador for fashion and luxury houses including Tommy Hilfiger, Lancome, Bulgari, Valentino, and Louis Vuitton.
Quick facts
- Her first name is derived from the Shona name Tendai, which means "to give thanks".
- She spent two years studying hula dance with the Academy of Hawaiian Arts and three years dancing with the hip-hop group Future Shock Oakland.
- Her parents had her repeat kindergarten to help build her confidence and overcome childhood shyness.
- Her first stage acting role was as a silkworm in an elementary school production of James and the Giant Peach.
- She originally auditioned for the role of CeCe Jones on Shake It Up before being cast as Rocky Blue.
- At age 16, she became the youngest contestant in the history of Dancing with the Stars when she competed on season 16 in 2013.
- As a co-producer on Disney Channel's K.C. Undercover, she negotiated for her character to be a martial artist and tech genius rather than a traditional singer or dancer.
- At age 24, she became the youngest winner in Emmy history for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Euphoria in 2020.
- She became the youngest two-time acting winner in Emmy history when she won her second Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series award in 2022.
- In 2021, she became the youngest person to receive the CFDA Fashion Icon award.
- She co-wrote the songs "I'm Tired" and "Elliot's Song" for the second season of Euphoria.
- She made a surprise guest appearance with Labrinth at the 2023 Coachella festival, marking her first live stage performance in eight years.
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