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Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman ( ;As pronounced by Zendaya in the following:
Born and raised in Oakland, California, Zendaya began her career as a child model and backup dancer. She made her television debut as Rocky Blue in the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up (2010–2013) and starred as K.C. in the channel's sitcom K.C. Undercover (2015–2018). Her feature film debut came as MJ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film (2017); she later reprised her role in its sequels (2019) and (2021). Zendaya's performance as Rue Bennett, a struggling drug-addicted teenager in the HBO teen drama series Euphoria (2019–present) made her the youngest recipient of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, which she won twice. Her 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 (2024).
In 2011, Zendaya released the singles "Swag It Out" and "Watch Me", the latter a collaboration with Bella Thorne. She signed with Hollywood Records in 2012, and released her first studio album Zendaya in 2013, to moderate success. The album's lead single, "Replay", reached the top 40 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her Zac Efron collaboration, "Rewrite the Stars", from (2017), reached the top 20 of several and has received multi-platinum sales certifications globally. She has also written and performed several songs for Euphoria.
Zendaya attended Oakland School for the Arts and, while still a student, was cast in several roles in area theaters. At the Berkeley Playhouse, she played Little Ti Moune in Once on This Island, and in the TheaterWorks' production in Palo Alto, she played a character originally written as male, Joe, in Caroline, or Change.
Reviewing the latter, Keith Kreitman of San Mateo Daily Journal called the 11-year-old Zendaya's performance "a pure delight". She studied at the CalShakes Conservatory program and the American Conservatory Theater.Her stage credits include performances in several of William Shakespeare's plays. She played Anne Neville in Richard III and Celia in As You Like It and took part in a production of Twelfth Night. When Zendaya was in seventh grade, the family moved to Los Angeles. In 2015, while pursuing an acting career, she graduated from Oak Park High School.
In 2011, Zendaya released "Swag It Out", a promotional independent single. She also starred in the book trailer for "From Bad To Cursed" by Katie Alender. In June of the same year, she released "Watch Me", performing with Bella Thorne. The song peaked at 86 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second season of Shake It Up premiered on September 18, 2011. Zendaya hosted Make Your Mark: Ultimate Dance Off 2011 on Disney Channel. In 2011, Target stores began selling D-Signed, a line of clothing inspired by the clothes worn by Zendaya and other cast members of Shake It Up.
Zendaya's first film role was in Frenemies (2012), a Disney Channel Original Movie. On February 29, 2012, "Something to Dance For" was released as a promotional single for . For the soundtrack, Zendaya also recorded three other songs: "Made in Japan", "Same Heart", and "Fashion Is My Kryptonite", released as promotional single. In June 2012, Shake It Up was renewed for a third and final season. On September 2, 2012, she signed to Hollywood Records. In October, she performed at the Teen Music Festival and at the Operation Smile benefit. Zendaya was one of the celebrities who would compete on season 16 of Dancing with the Stars. At 16, she was the youngest contestant ever to participate on the show, before Willow Shields succeeded her at 14 on season 20. She was partnered up with professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy. In May, the couple finished as runners-up behind Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough.
Zendaya's self-titled debut album was released on September 17, 2013. It was preceded by the single "Replay", released on July 16, 2013, written by Tiffany Fred and Paul "Phamous" Shelton. In August 2013, she was cast as 16-year-old Zoey Stevens, the lead character in the Disney Channel Original Movie Zapped, whose "smart phone begins to somehow control all the boys around her". In November 2013, Zendaya was selected as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month and was featured on NBC's Today, where she performed live her single "Replay".
Zendaya was next cast as the lead in a Disney Channel pilot called Super Awesome Katy. It was ordered to series by Disney Channel in May 2014, with the series now under the title K.C. Undercover, and with Zendaya's character now named K.C. Cooper rather than Katy Cooper. Zendaya exerted influence over the renaming of her character and the retitling of the series, also deciding several key elements of the character's personality. K.C. Undercover premiered on Disney Channel on January 18, 2015, and was renewed for a second season in May 2015. In 2014, Zendaya was a guest judge on an episode of . In the episode, the contestant designers were given the challenge of creating an outfit for Zendaya to wear in an upcoming concert performance.
In February 2015, after a joke made by Giuliana Rancic concerning Zendaya, in reference to her hair smelling of "patchouli oil" and "weed" at the 87th Academy Awards, Zendaya promptly took to Instagram to address the remark and point out that many successful people have "Dreadlocks," a hairstyle that has nothing to do with drugs. Mattel honored Zendaya with her own Barbie, replicating her Oscars look. The doll belongs to Mattel's Barbie "Sheroes" project, which honors inspirational living women. The following month, musician Timbaland confirmed that he was working with Zendaya on her second album, following her switching record labels from Disney to Republic. "Something New", featuring Chris Brown was released on February 5 via Hollywood Records and Republic Records. The song also marks it as her first official release since signing to Republic Records. In December 2016, she appeared as a guest judge in the season finale of the 15th season of the reality television series Project Runway.
Zendaya made her feature film debut as Michelle in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film , which was released in July 2017. Zendaya wore no makeup to her screen test, a decision that was carried through in production, and "added her own embellishments to the role, such as carrying around a mug of herbal tea". Zendaya described the character as "very dry, awkward, intellectual". She added that it was "refreshing" that Michelle was weird and different, feeling that "a lot of young people—especially young women—can relate to that." The film grossed $117 million in its first weekend, ranking number one at the box office. John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter praised her as a "scene stealer", while David Ehrlich of IndieWire called her the film's "MVP", despite her brief screen time. In August, Zendaya appeared in the music video for the song "Versace on the Floor" by Bruno Mars.
In December 2017, Zendaya co-starred in the original musical film The Greatest Showman. She portrayed a trapeze artist who falls in love with Zac Efron's character at a time when interracial romance was taboo. Owen Gleiberman of Variety praised her chemistry with Efron. The Hollywood Reporter praised Zendaya for "registering strongest, bringing touching sensitivity to her handful of scenes". She appeared on three tracks of the film's soundtrack, including "Rewrite the Stars". The film met mixed reception but became the third-highest grossing Live action musical ever released. In September 2018, Warner Bros. released the animated film Smallfoot, in which Zendaya voiced the yeti Meechee. She also sang two songs for the soundtrack. The film received positive reviews.
[[File:Zendaya Full Length - 2019 by Glenn Francis.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Zendaya at the premiere of ''[[Spider-Man: Far from Home]]'' in 2019]]
In 2019, Zendaya began starring in the HBO drama series Euphoria, an adaptation of the Israeli series of the same name, as Rue, a 17-year-old drug addict and the narrator of the series. The series premiered on June 16, 2019, to positive critical reception, with her performance receiving acclaim: Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian wrote that "Zendaya is reinvented as the self-destructive, self-loathing Rue, in what is a truly astonishing, mesmerising performance, upending every expectation of what she could do"; Doreen St. Felix of The New Yorker echoed the sentiment writing: "It becomes difficult, and then absolutely silly, to recall the pink outlines of her early career on the Disney Channel, so grandly does she inhabit this dark new role. She understands the neediness of her character: that Rue, at heart, wants nothing more than to be loved; that her chemical cravings work in service of a spiritual one". Also in 2019, Zendaya reprised her role as MJ in . Critic Christy Lemire called Zendaya's portrayal "darkly alluring" and praised her "humorous, deadpan charm". The film was a commercial success, becoming the fourth highest-grossing release of the year. At the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards in 2020, Zendaya won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, becoming the youngest winner of the award at the age of 24.
In 2021, Zendaya starred in Malcolm & Marie, which was filmed during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The production complied with extensive safety protocols and had a lean crew to minimize health risks. The film co-stars John David Washington, and was directed by Sam Levinson, who also created Euphoria. Zendaya allocated shares to the film to everyone involved in its making, as a way of offering a financial bonus when the movie was sold. Part of the proceeds was shared with Feeding America. The film had a mixed reception but Zendaya's performance was positively reviewed. Brian Truitt of USA Today described her as "luminous" and "absolute fire", Richard Brody called her performance "the movie's only redeeming quality", and Varietys Peter Debruge praised her for "wearing Marie's fragility on the surface, only to reveal the character's strength through reaction shots and silence".
Zendaya next voiced the character of Lola Bunny in . She accepted Coogler's offer to star in the film because of her interest in working with Coogler and being a fan of the Space Jam. Growing up with the first film since childhood, Zendaya drew on her experiences with her family's love of basketball for the role. Zendaya played Chani in Denis Villeneuve's science fiction film Dune, the first part of a two-part adaptation of the 1965 novel of the same name. Critic Glenn Kenny dubbed her portrayal "better than apt", while Brian Lowry of CNN noted that her role was limited to "gauzy images" in the protagonist's visions. Zendaya reprised her role as MJ for the third time in . RogerEbert.coms Brian Tallerico praised Zendaya and Tom Holland's chemistry as well as her execution of MJ's "emotional final beats".
Having already collaborated with Labrinth on the song "All for Us" for Euphorias first season, in 2022 Zendaya co-wrote two songs ("I'm Tired" and "Elliot's Song") for the second season, also performing as a vocalist on the former. Receiving continued acclaim for her performance as Rue, the second season of Euphoria earned her four Emmy nominations. Nominated for Lead Actress in a Drama for the second time, she became the youngest two-time nominee in Emmy history, while her nomination as an executive producer for Outstanding Drama Series made her the youngest woman ever nominated for producing. She also received two nominations for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for her lyrical contributions to the show's soundtrack. In 2023, Zendaya won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama at the 80th Golden Globe Awards and received a Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination for her work in Euphoria.
Zendaya made an appearance in Elvis Mitchell's documentary Is That Black Enough For You?!? During the second weekend of Coachella 2023, she joined Labrinth in a surprise performance of "All for Us" and "I'm Tired", which marked her first return to the stage in 8 years. She was featured on the opening song "The Feels" of Labrinth's third album Ends & Begins. Zendaya next appeared in the documentary film Invisible Beauty, based on work of American fashion model and activist Bethann Hardison.
In 2024, Zendaya reprised her role as Chani in the sequel . The film was released in March to highly positive reviews, with her performance also receiving praise. Zendaya next starred in and produced the romantic sports drama Challengers, directed by Luca Guadagnino, opposite Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist. She described the role as an opportunity to shed her younger image and "play a woman closer to her own age". The film was released in the United States in April to critical acclaim, with Zendaya's performance getting particular praise. In her review for the New Statesman, Simran Hans wrote that the film is "a brilliant showcase for Zendaya, whose on-screen magnetism has rarely been channelled so effectively". She received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
Zendaya will next star opposite Robert Pattinson in the romantic drama The Drama and in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey (2026). She’s set to appear as MJ for the fourth time in (2026). She will also reprise her role in the third season of Euphoria.
Zendaya was ranked one of the best-dressed women in 2018 by fashion website Net-a-Porter. For the September 2020 InStyle issue she and her stylist, Law Roach, chose to use 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, she become the youngest person to ever win the CFDA Fashion Icon award at the CFDA Fashion Awards.
Zendaya supports campaigns to raise awareness about underserved communities, underprivileged schools and to financially support schools. In September 2017, she partnered with Verizon Foundation as a spokesperson for their national #WeNeedMore initiative to bring technology, access and learning opportunities to children. In March 2018, Zendaya teamed up with Google.org to support students at a community school in Oakland funding an innovative computer science curriculum.
Zendaya is a Feminism. She has previously discussed her experience as a black female in Hollywood. She took part in the George Floyd protests in June 2020 and temporarily lent her Instagram account to Patrisse Cullors to share anti-racism resources and media. Zendaya has been an advocate for voting over the years. In October 2016, she was one of the celebrities to participate in "Vote Your Future" initiative and appeared in a campaign video. In September 2020, she encouraged her fans with Michelle Obama, and her "When We All Vote" nonpartisan organization, to check their voter registration ahead of elections. The next month, she shared a video while casting her vote to remind about voting again. In October 2013, she took part in P&G's movement called Mean Stinks, and co-hosted the nationwide live-streamed assembly joined by almost 500 schools. In September 2017, she was fronting, along with her Spider-Man: Homecoming costars, a PSA for awareness campaign Stomp Out Bullying.
| Anne Wheeler | |||
| Smallfoot | Meechee (voice) | ||
| Lola Bunny (voice) | |||
| Dune | Chani | ||
| MJ | |||
| Challengers | Tashi Duncan | Also producer | |
| MJ | Pre-production | ||
| Chani | Filming | ||
| Felicia (voice) | In production | ||
| PrankStars | Herself | Episode: "Walk the Prank" | |
| Pixie Hollow Games | Fern (voice) | Television special | |
| Frenemies | Halley Brandon | Television film | |
| The Story of Zendaya | Herself | Television series | |
| The Making of SWAY | Herself | Television dancing-preparation show; 8 episodes | |
| SWAY: A Dance Trilogy | Herself | Television dance show | |
| Lip Sync Battle | Herself | Episode: "Tom Holland vs. Zendaya" | |
| + ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" | Note ! scope="col" | |
In 2020, at age 24, 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. Zendaya received the CinemaCon in 2023.
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