Introduction
Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, born September 1, 1996, is an American actress and singer. She has received numerous accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award, and was named one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2022. Her films as a leading actress have grossed over $3.9 billion worldwide.
Born in Oakland, California, Zendaya began her career as a child model and backup dancer before gaining prominence for her role as Rocky Blue on the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up (2010–2013). She then starred in and produced the channel’s sitcom K.C. Undercover (2015–2018). Zendaya made her feature film debut as Michelle in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and reprised the role in its sequels Far From Home (2019) and No Way Home (2021), both of which grossed over $1 billion worldwide.
For her performance as Rue Bennett, a struggling drug-addicted teenager, in the HBO teen drama series Euphoria (2019–present), Zendaya won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, becoming the youngest performer to win the category, as well as a Golden Globe Award. Zendaya’s other film roles include the musical The Greatest Showman (2017), the romantic dramas Malcolm & Marie (2021) and Challengers (2024), and Chani in the science fiction films Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024).
In 2011, she released the singles “Swag It Out” and “Watch Me,” the latter a collaboration with Bella Thorne. Signed to Hollywood Records, she released her debut studio album, Zendaya (2013), to moderate success. Its lead single, “Replay,” peaked within the top 40 of the US Billboard 200. Her collaboration with Zac Efron, “Rewrite the Stars,” from The Greatest Showman soundtrack (2017), reached the top 20 of several record charts and received multi-platinum sales certifications globally. She has also written and performed several songs for Euphoria.
Early life and acting background
Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman was born in Oakland, California, on September 1, 1996. Her name comes from the Shona name Tendai, which means “to give thanks.” Both of her parents were teachers: her father, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman, is African-American with Nigerian ancestry, and her mother, Claire Stoermer, has German and Scottish ancestry. Zendaya also has five older half-siblings from her father’s previous relationships.
She attended Fruitvale Elementary School, where her mother taught. At home, she was energetic and outgoing, but at school, she was described as reserved and shy. To help build her confidence, her parents had her repeat kindergarten. Because of her father’s love for basketball, she joined a local basketball team, later switching to soccer and track, though she didn’t continue with either sport. Around the age of six, Zendaya and two friends performed a play at school for Black History Month. At eight, she joined a hip-hop dance group called Future Shock Oakland, where she performed for three years, and she also spent two years learning hula with the Academy of Hawaiian Arts.
After deciding to pursue acting, Zendaya assisted her mother, who worked as a house manager during the summer at the California Shakespeare Theater. She helped patrons with their seats and sold fundraising tickets, but her main interest was in watching and learning from the theatrical performances. Her first acting role was as a silkworm in her school’s production of James and the Giant Peach.
At eleven, she began attending the Oakland School for the Arts and, while still a student, was cast in several roles in local theaters. At the Berkeley Playhouse, she played Little Ti Moune in Once on This Island, and at TheaterWorks’ Palo Alto production of Caroline, or Change, she portrayed Joe, a role originally written for a male performer.
Career
2009–2016: Early recognition with Shake It Up and musical ventures
Zendaya began her career as a fashion model, working with brands like Macy’s, Mervyns, and Old Navy. She also appeared as a backup dancer in a Sears commercial alongside Disney star Selena Gomez. In 2009, she was featured in a Kidz Bop music video for their cover of Katy Perry’s song “Hot n Cold.”
In November 2009, Zendaya was one of 200 girls who auditioned for the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up, which follows two teenage friends who get their big break on the local dance show Shake It Up Chicago. She originally auditioned for the role of CeCe Jones, which eventually went to her co-star Bella Thorne. Instead, Zendaya was cast as Rocky Blue. Judy Taylor, senior vice president of Disney Channel, described Zendaya as “completely engaging” with a “great presence,” while noting that Thorne had “high energy” and that viewers would “want to get to know her better the instant you meet her.”
The first season of Shake It Up premiered on November 7, 2010, and attracted 6.2 million viewers, becoming Disney Channel’s second highest-rated premiere in its history. In 2011, Zendaya released her promotional independent single “Swag It Out” and starred in the book trailer for From Bad To Cursed by Katie Alender. That same year, she performed the single “Watch Me” with Bella Thorne, which peaked at number 86 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 2011, Target stores launched a clothing line inspired by the outfits worn by Zendaya and other cast members of Shake It Up. The second season of the show premiered in September 2011. Zendaya made her film debut as an aspiring magazine editor in the Disney Channel Original Movie Frenemies (2012). In February 2012, she released “Something to Dance For” as a promotional single for the soundtrack of the second season of Shake It Up.
In 2014, Zendaya starred in the Disney Channel film Zapped, playing a high school student whose phone gains the power to control the boys around her. While the film received mixed reviews, some critics noted that Zendaya’s performance showed her professionalism despite the material.
Following this, she was cast as the lead in a Disney Channel pilot initially titled Super Awesome Katy. The show was picked up to series in May 2014 under the new title K.C. Undercover, with Zendaya’s character renamed from Katy Cooper to K.C. Cooper. Zendaya played an active role in shaping her character, influencing both the renaming and several aspects of her personality. K.C. Undercover premiered in January 2015, marking another significant step in her transition from child star to leading actress.
2022–present: Established actress
Having previously collaborated with Labrinth on “All for Us” for Euphoria‘s first season, Zendaya co-wrote two songs for the second season in 2022: “I’m Tired” and “Elliot’s Song,” also providing vocals on the former. For her performance in the second season, she earned four Emmy nominations at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards.
Zendaya became the youngest two-time nominee in Emmy history for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, and her nomination as an executive producer for Outstanding Drama Series made her the youngest woman ever recognized in the category. By winning the lead actress award, she also became the youngest person to win two Emmys. In 2023, she won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama and received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for her performance in Euphoria. In 2022, Zendaya appeared in Elvis Mitchell’s documentary Is That Black Enough for You?!?.
During the second weekend of Coachella 2023, Zendaya joined Labrinth for a surprise performance of “All for Us” and “I’m Tired,” marking her first live performance in eight years. She was also featured on the opening track, “The Feels,” of Labrinth’s third studio album, Ends & Begins (2023).
Zendaya next appeared in the documentary Invisible Beauty (2023), which highlights the life and work of American model and activist Bethann Hardison. She mentioned that playing tennis helped her get in shape for her 2024 films, Dune: Part Two and Challengers. Zendaya reprised her role as Chani in Dune: Part Two, and revealed she experienced heatstroke during filming due to not drinking enough water, joking that she had a “fear of peeing [her]self.” Her performance was praised as “fierce” and “open-hearted” by critics, with some describing her acting as “economical” and a career-best.
Other activities
Fashion and business
Zendaya has served as the face of several major brands, including Beats Electronics, Material Girl, CoverGirl, and Chi Hair Care, and has modeled for designers such as Michael Kors and Dolce & Gabbana. In August 2013, she published her debut book, Between U and Me: How to Rock Your Tween Years with Style and Confidence, aimed at helping girls navigate the tougher parts of their tween years. Two years later, she launched her first shoe collection, Daya—named after her childhood nickname—and followed it in November 2016 with her clothing line, Daya by Zendaya.
The brand’s second collection was gender-fluid and offered a full range of sizes. In October 2018, Zendaya became an ambassador for Tommy Hilfiger and co-designed the Tommy x Zendaya capsule collections, drawing inspiration from the 1970s and celebrating “strong, iconic women.” Her Paris and New York Fashion Week shows were acclaimed for their inclusivity, featuring women of
color, plus-size models, and models up to seventy years old as a tribute to pioneering figures in fashion. Zendaya became a spokesmodel for Lancôme in 2019, followed by Bulgari and Valentino in 2020. In June 2022, she was named the global brand ambassador for Glaceau Smartwater, and in 2023, she became an ambassador for Louis Vuitton.
Personal life
Zendaya owns a home in Los Angeles and a condo in Brooklyn. She is a vegetarian, explaining, “My main reason for being a vegetarian is that I’m an animal lover—definitely not because I love vegetables.” She publicly acknowledged her relationship with British actor and Spider-Man co-star Tom Holland in November 2021. Zendaya found the consistent media attention on their relationship to be “quite strange and weird and confusing and invasive.” The couple moved into a £3 million home in London together in 2023 and became engaged in December 2024.
Awards and recognition
In 2016, Zendaya was featured on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list. She was included on TIME magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022. Dune director Denis Villeneuve praised her, saying, “She is an autonomous creative force herself. A cultural icon in the making. A person driven by pure inspiration, empathy, and respect for her craft, who uses authenticity as a new superpower […] Zendaya is the future. And there is nothing more comforting to me. This is only the beginning.”
In the same year, Variety ranked her on its list of the 500 most influential figures in global media. At age 24, in 2020, Zendaya became the youngest recipient of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, winning for her role as Rue Bennett in the HBO drama series Euphoria. After winning the award again at the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards, she became the youngest two-time acting winner. In 2023, she received the CinemaCon Star of the Year Award.
Zendaya has also been recognized for her style. She was ranked one of the best-dressed women in 2018 by fashion website Net-a-Porter. For the September 2020 issue of InStyle, she and her stylist Law Roach highlighted all Black designers, artists, and creatives. In October 2020, she won the Visionary Award at the CNMI Green Carpet Fashion Awards for promoting diversity and inclusion in fashion and film. The following year, in November 2021, she became the youngest person to ever win the CFDA Fashion Icon award at the CFDA Fashion Awards.
Career Highlights and Achievements
Zendaya’s journey in the entertainment industry is a remarkable blend of talent, versatility, and determination. From her early days as Rocky Blue on Shake It Up to her breakthrough role as Rue Bennett in Euphoria, she has consistently shown her ability to captivate audiences across multiple platforms. Her performances are not only critically acclaimed but also culturally influential, earning her prestigious awards such as two Primetime Emmys and a Golden Globe. With her music ventures, including singles like Replay and collaborations like Rewrite the Stars, Zendaya has also proven herself as a rising force in the music world.
Her impact extends beyond acting and music. Zendaya has become a fashion icon, working with top brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Lancôme, Bulgari, and Louis Vuitton, and launching her own inclusive clothing and shoe lines. She is celebrated for promoting diversity, body positivity, and creativity in fashion, making her a role model for young audiences worldwide. Her ability to merge style, talent, and advocacy has solidified her position as one of the most influential figures in modern pop culture.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Super Buddies | Lollipop (voice) | Robert Vince |
| 2017 | Spider-Man: Homecoming | Michelle | Jon Watts |
| 2017 | The Greatest Showman | Anne Wheeler | Michael Gracey |
| 2018 | Duck Duck Goose | Chi (voice) | Chris Jenkins |
| 2018 | Smallfoot | Meechee (voice) | Karey Kirkpatrick |
| 2019 | Spider-Man: Far From Home | MJ | Jon Watts |
| 2021 | Malcolm & Marie | Marie | Sam Levinson |
| 2021 | Space Jam: A New Legacy | Lola Bunny (voice) | Malcolm D. Lee |
| 2021 | Dune: Part One | Chani | Denis Villeneuve |
| 2021 | Spider-Man: No Way Home | MJ | Jon Watts |
| 2024 | Dune: Part Two | Chani | Denis Villeneuve |
| 2024 | Challengers | Tashi Duncan | Luca Guadagnino |
| 2026 | The Drama † | TBA | Kristoffer Borgli |
| 2026 | The Odyssey † | Athena | Christopher Nolan |
| 2026 | Spider-Man: Brand New Day † | MJ | Destin Daniel Cretton |
| 2026 | Dune: Part Three † | Chani | Denis Villeneuve |
| 2027 | Shrek 5 † | Felicia (voice) | Walt Dohrn & Conrad Vernon |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–2013 | Shake It Up | Rocky Blue | Co-lead role |
| 2011 | Good Luck Charlie | Rocky Blue | Episode: “Charlie Shakes It Up” |
| 2011 | PrankStars | Herself | Episode: “Walk the Prank” |
| 2011 | Pixie Hollow Games | Fern (voice) | Television special |
| 2012 | A.N.T. Farm | Sequoia Jones | Episode: “Creative consultANT” |
| 2012 | Frenemies | Halley Brandon | Television film |
| 2013 | Dancing with the Stars | Herself | Contestant (season 16), runner-up |
| 2013 | The Story of Zendaya | Herself | Television series |
| 2014 | Zapped | Zoey Stevens | Television film |
| 2014 | The Making of SWAY | Herself | Television dancing-preparation show; 8 episodes |
| 2014 | SWAY: A Dance Trilogy | Herself | Television dance show |
| 2015–2018 | K.C. Undercover | K.C. Cooper | Lead role; also co-producer |
| 2015 | Black-ish | Rasheida | Episode: “Daddy’s Day” |
| 2016 | America’s Next Top Model | Herself | Episode: “Lights, Camera, Catwalk” |
| 2017 | Walk the Prank | Herself | Episode: “K.C. Undercover Edition” |
| 2017 | Lip Sync Battle | Herself | Episode: “Tom Holland vs. Zendaya” |
| 2019 | The OA | Fola | 3 episodes |
| 2019–present | Euphoria | Rue Bennett | Main role; also executive producer (specials and season 2–present) |
Web
| Year | Title | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Fortnite Winterfest Trailer – Featuring Spider-Man | MJ (voice) |
Music Videos
As Lead Artist
| Title | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|
| Watch Me | 2011 | Lipo Chang |
| Dig Down Deeper | Unknown | — |
| Swag It Out | 2011 | Glenn A. Foster |
| Something to Dance For / TTYLXOX Mash-Up | 2012 | Sanaa Hamri |
| Fashion Is My Kryptonite | — | Marc Klasfeld |
| Contagious Love | 2013 | — |
| Replay | 2013 | Colin Tilley |
| My Baby | 2014 | Stephen Garnett |
| My Baby (Remix) | — | — |
| Safe and Sound | — | — |
| All of Me | — | — |
| Neverland | 2016 | Brad Furman |
As Featured Artist
| Title | Year | Main Artist(s) | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| My Jam | 2015 | Bobby Brackins, Jeremih | Damien Sandoval |
As Guest Appearance
| Title | Year | Artist | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot n Cold | 2009 | Kidz Bop Kids | Unknown |
| Like We Grown | 2013 | Trevor Jackson | Mike Ho |
| Bad Blood | 2015 | Taylor Swift | Joseph Kahn |
| All Night | 2016 | Beyoncé | Beyoncé |
| Versace on the Floor | 2017 | Bruno Mars | Cameron Duddy and Bruno Mars |
For more
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