Summary
Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, known professionally as Zendaya, is an American actress, singer, and model. She was born on September 1, 1996, in Oakland, California, and began her career as a child model and backup dancer.
Zendaya gained prominence with her starring role as Rocky Blue on the Disney Channel sitcom “Shake It Up” from 2010 to 2013. She has since starred in various movies and television shows, including “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “The Greatest Showman,” and HBO’s “Euphoria,” for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
In addition to her acting career, Zendaya is also a successful singer and has released several singles and an album. She has also worked as a model, appearing in campaigns for brands such as CoverGirl and Tommy Hilfiger.
Zendaya is known for her advocacy work, including supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, advocating for body positivity, and speaking out against cyberbullying. She is considered a role model for young people and has been recognized for her humanitarian efforts, receiving awards such as the Human Rights Campaign’s Ally for Equality Award.
Early life
Zendaya was born on September 1, 1996, in Oakland, California, to a family of mixed ethnicities. Her father, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman, is African American, while her mother, Claire Stoermer, is of German and Scottish ancestry. Zendaya has five siblings, including three sisters and two brothers.
Growing up, Zendaya was interested in performing and began taking dance classes at a young age. She also participated in plays and musicals at her school and community theater. In 2009, she began modeling for various brands and appeared in print ads and commercials.
Zendaya was home-schooled for much of her childhood, but also attended public school for some time. She later enrolled in the Oakland School for the Arts, where she studied theater and other performing arts. It was during this time that she auditioned for and landed the role of Rocky Blue on the Disney Channel sitcom “Shake It Up,” which launched her acting career.
Career
Zendaya first rose to prominence for her role as Rocky Blue on the Disney Channel series “Shake It Up” (2010-2013). Since then, she has appeared in a number of films and television shows. Here are some highlights from Zendaya’s acting history:
- “K.C. Undercover” (2015-2018): Zendaya starred as the title character, a high school student who leads a double life as a spy. The series aired on Disney Channel.
- “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017): Zendaya had a supporting role as Michelle Jones, a classmate of Peter Parker’s. She reprised the role in the sequels “Spider-Man: Far From Home” (2019) and “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021).
- “The Greatest Showman” (2017): Zendaya played the trapeze artist Anne Wheeler in this musical film about P.T. Barnum. She performed the song “Rewrite the Stars” with co-star Zac Efron.
- “Euphoria” (2019-present): Zendaya stars as Rue Bennett, a teenage drug addict, in this HBO series. She won an Emmy Award for her performance in the first season.
- “Malcolm & Marie” (2021): Zendaya starred opposite John David Washington in this black-and-white romantic drama film, which was filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- “Dune” (2021): Zendaya played the role of Chani in this sci-fi epic based on the novel by Frank Herbert. She is set to reprise the role in the upcoming sequel.
Zendaya has also appeared in a number of music videos and has released her own music. Additionally, she has worked as a model and a fashion designer.
2009–2015: Early career with Disney
Zendaya’s early career began with Disney, where she appeared in a number of television shows and movies. Here’s a closer look at her work during this period:
- “Shake It Up” (2010-2013): Zendaya’s breakthrough role was as Rocky Blue on this Disney Channel series about two best friends who become background dancers on a local television show. The show was a hit with young viewers and helped to launch Zendaya’s career.
- “Frenemies” (2012): Zendaya co-starred in this Disney Channel original movie about three pairs of friends who navigate the ups and downs of their relationships. She played the role of Halley Brandon.
- “Zapped” (2014): Zendaya starred in this Disney Channel original movie about a girl who gains the ability to control boys with her phone. She played the lead role of Zoey Stevens.
- “K.C. Undercover” (2015-2018): After “Shake It Up” ended, Zendaya returned to Disney to star in this spy comedy series. She played the title character, K.C. Cooper, a high school student who works as a spy for a government agency.
During this period, Zendaya also released a number of singles, including “Swag It Out” and “Replay.” She also competed on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2013 and finished in second place. Overall, her work with Disney helped to establish her as a rising star in Hollywood.
2016–present: Film breakthrough, Euphoria, and transition to adult roles
After her successful run with Disney, Zendaya began to transition to more adult roles in film and television. Here’s a closer look at her work during this period:
- “The OA” (2016-2019): Zendaya had a small recurring role on this Netflix series about a woman who returns home after being missing for seven years. She played the character Fola.
- “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017): As mentioned earlier, Zendaya played the role of Michelle Jones in this Marvel Cinematic Universe film. Her character would go on to become a love interest for Peter Parker in later films.
- “The Greatest Showman” (2017): In this musical film, Zendaya played the role of Anne Wheeler, a trapeze artist who falls in love with Zac Efron’s character.
- “Smallfoot” (2018): Zendaya lent her voice to this animated film about a yeti who discovers that humans really do exist. She played the character Meechee.
- “Euphoria” (2019-present): This HBO series, which was created by Sam Levinson, centers on a group of high school students as they navigate relationships, drugs, and trauma. Zendaya plays the lead role of Rue Bennett, a drug addict struggling to stay clean. She won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in the first season.
- “Malcolm & Marie” (2021): In this black-and-white film, Zendaya played the lead role of Marie, a woman whose relationship with her partner (played by John David Washington) is tested after they return home from a movie premiere.
- “Dune” (2021): As mentioned earlier, Zendaya played the role of Chani in this sci-fi epic based on the novel by Frank Herbert. She is set to reprise the role in the upcoming sequel.
In addition to her work on screen, Zendaya has also become a fashion icon and has launched her own clothing line. Her work in recent years has established her as one of the most talented and versatile young actors in Hollywood.
Personal life
Zendaya is known for being relatively private about her personal life, but here’s what is publicly known:
- Family: Zendaya was born in Oakland, California in 1996. Her mother, Claire Stoermer, is a teacher, and her father, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman, is a bodyguard and manager. Zendaya has five older siblings.
- Relationships: Zendaya has kept her romantic relationships private, but she has been linked to several people in the past. In 2015, she was rumored to be dating her “K.C. Undercover” co-star Trevor Jackson, but both of them denied the rumors. In 2019, she was rumored to be dating her “Euphoria” co-star Jacob Elordi, but they never confirmed the relationship.
- Activism: Zendaya has been vocal about social justice issues and has used her platform to raise awareness and funds for various causes. She has spoken out about police brutality, racial inequality, and environmental issues, among other topics. In 2020, she partnered with Michael B. Jordan to launch the #ChangeHollywood initiative, which aims to increase diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry.
- Education: Despite her busy career, Zendaya has emphasized the importance of education and has continued to pursue her studies. She studied at the Oakland School for the Arts before beginning her acting career, and in 2016, she enrolled in the online program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Overall, while Zendaya keeps her personal life relatively private, she has used her platform to advocate for important causes and has become a role model for many young people.
List of all Zendaya Movies and TV Shows
Here’s a comprehensive list of Zendaya’s movies and TV shows:
Movies:
- Frenemies (2012)
- Super Buddies (2013)
- Zapped (2014)
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
- The Greatest Showman (2017)
- Smallfoot (2018)
- Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
- Dune (2021)
- Malcolm & Marie (2021)
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Super Buddies | Lollipop (voice) | Direct-to-DVD | [148] |
| 2017 | Spider-Man: Homecoming | Michelle | [149] | |
| The Greatest Showman | Anne Wheeler | [150] | ||
| 2018 | Duck Duck Goose | Chi (voice) | [148] | |
| Smallfoot | Meechee (voice) | [151] | ||
| 2019 | Spider-Man: Far from Home | MJ | [152] | |
| 2021 | Malcolm & Marie | Marie | Also executive producer | [153][154] |
| Space Jam: A New Legacy | Lola Bunny (voice) | [155] | ||
| Dune | Chani | [156] | ||
| Spider-Man: No Way Home | MJ | [157] | ||
| 2022 | Is That Black Enough for You?!? | Herself | Documentary | [158] |
| 2023 | Challengers | Tashi Donaldson | Post-production; also producer | [159] |
| Dune: Part Two | Chani | Post-production | [160] |
Television:
- Shake It Up (2010-2013)
- A.N.T. Farm (2011)
- Good Luck Charlie (2011)
- PrankStars (2011)
- Pixie Hollow Games (2011)
- Frenemies (2012)
- Dancing with the Stars (2013)
- The Fashion Police (2014)
- K.C. Undercover (2015-2018)
- Walk the Prank (2016)
- The OA (2016-2019)
- DuckTales (2017)
- Spider-Man (2017)
- Lip Sync Battle (2017)
- Euphoria (2019-present)
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–2013 | Shake It Up | Rocky Blue | Main role | [161] |
| 2011 | Good Luck Charlie | Rocky Blue | Episode: “Charlie Shakes It Up“ | |
| PrankStars | Herself | Episode: “Walk the Prank“ | [162] | |
| Pixie Hollow Games | Fern (voice) | Television special | ||
| 2012 | A.N.T. Farm | Sequoia Jones | Episode: “Creative consultANT“ | |
| Frenemies | Halley Brandon | Television film | [148] | |
| 2013 | Dancing with the Stars | Herself | Contestant (season 16), and runner-up | [163] |
| The Story of Zendaya | Herself | Television series | ||
| 2014 | Zapped | Zoey Stevens | Television film | [148] |
| The Making of SWAY | Herself | Television dancing-preparation show; 8 episodes | ||
| SWAY: A Dance Trilogy | Herself | Television dance show | ||
| 2015–2018 | K.C. Undercover | K.C. Cooper | Lead role; also co-producer | [164] |
| 2015 | Black-ish | Rasheida | Episode: “Daddy’s Day” | [165] |
| 2016 | America’s Next Top Model | Herself | Episode: “Lights, Camera, Catwalk” | |
| 2017 | Walk the Prank | Herself | Episode: “K.C. Undercover Edition” | [166] |
| Lip Sync Battle | Herself | Episode: “Tom Holland vs. Zendaya“ | [167] | |
| 2019 | The OA | Fola | 3 episodes | [168] |
| 2019–present | Euphoria | Rue Bennett | Main role; also executive producer (specials and season 2–present) | [169][154] |
