Zendaya

Biography

Zendaya navigated the Disney-to-drama pipeline more deftly than almost anyone: producing and starring in K.C. Undercover as a teenager, then anchoring Euphoria, the Spider-Man trilogy and Denis Villeneuve's Dune films while becoming a defining fashion figure of her generation.

American actress and singer who rose from Disney Channel to become one of the defining performers of her generation, leading HBO's Euphoria and major film franchises.

Known for

Euphoria, the Spider-Man films and Dune.

Notable works & defining projects

• Euphoria
• Dune: Part Two
• Spider-Man: No Way Home

Notable achievements

• Won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Euphoria, the youngest two-time acting winner in Emmy history at the time
• Starred in Spider-Man: Homecoming and its sequels, and Dune: Part Two
• Named to Time's 100 most influential people list (2022)

Timeline

1. 2010Debuted on Disney Channel's Shake It Up
2. 2019Premiered as Rue in HBO's Euphoria to critical acclaim
3. 2020Became the youngest winner of the Emmy for lead actress in a drama at the time, aged 24

Did you know?

• Her name derives from the Shona word Tendai, meaning 'to give thanks'
• She began her career as a backup dancer and model before Disney's Shake It Up