Zendaya facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zendaya
Zendaya in 2019
Born	Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman (1996-09-01) September 1, 1996 (age 29) Oakland, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress singer
Years active	2009–present
Partner(s)	Tom Holland (2021–present)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	R&B pop
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Hollywood Republic
Signature

Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman (pronounced zen-DAY-ə; born September 1, 1996) is a talented American actress and singer. She has won many important awards, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. In 2022, Time magazine recognized her as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Her movies where she plays a main character have earned over $3.9 billion globally.

Born in Oakland, California, Zendaya started her career as a child model and dancer. She became well-known for her role as Rocky Blue in the Disney Channel show Shake It Up (2010–2013). Later, she starred in and produced another Disney Channel show, K.C. Undercover (2015–2018). For her role as Rue Bennett, a teenager facing complex challenges in the HBO drama series Euphoria (2019–present), Zendaya won two Primetime Emmy Awards. She was the youngest person to win in this category. This role also earned her a Golden Globe Award.

Zendaya made her first big movie appearance as Michelle in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). She played this role again in the sequels Far From Home (2019) and No Way Home (2021). Both of these movies earned over $1 billion worldwide. She also starred in the musical The Greatest Showman (2017), the romantic dramas Malcolm & Marie (2021) and Challengers (2024). She played Chani in the science fiction films Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024).

In 2011, Zendaya released her first songs, "Swag It Out" and "Watch Me" (with Bella Thorne). She signed with Hollywood Records and released her first album, Zendaya, in 2013. Her song "Replay" reached the top 40 on the US Billboard 200 chart. Her song with Zac Efron, "Rewrite the Stars", from The Greatest Showman soundtrack (2017), became very popular globally. She has also written and performed songs for Euphoria.

Zendaya's Early Life and Acting Journey

Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman was born on September 1, 1996, in Oakland, California. Her name comes from the Shona word Tendai, which means "to give thanks". Both of Zendaya's parents were teachers. Her father, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman, is African-American, and her mother, Claire Stoermer, has German and Scottish family roots. She has five older half-siblings.

Zendaya went to Fruitvale Elementary School, where her mother taught. She was a very energetic child at home but shy at school. To help her confidence, her parents had her repeat kindergarten. She tried basketball, soccer, and track, but found her passion elsewhere. At six, she performed in a school play for Black History Month. When she was eight, she joined a hip-hop dance group called Future Shock Oakland. She danced with them for three years and also spent two years learning hula dancing.

Zendaya decided she wanted to act. She helped her mother at the California Shakespeare Theater during the summer. She helped people find their seats and sold tickets. Her first acting role was as a silkworm in a school play called James and the Giant Peach. At eleven, she started attending Oakland School for the Arts. While still a student, she acted in several local theater productions. She played Little Ti Moune in Once on This Island and Joe in Caroline, or Change.

By sixth grade, Zendaya performed in plays like Richard III and As You Like It. When she was in seventh grade, Zendaya and her father moved to Los Angeles. Her mother stayed in Oakland. Zendaya later said her father "knew what I wanted more than anything in the world." She graduated from Oak Park High School in 2015.

Zendaya's Career Highlights

Starting Out with Disney's Shake It Up

Zendaya began her career as a fashion model for stores like Macy's and Old Navy. She also danced in a commercial with Disney star Selena Gomez. In 2009, she appeared in a Kidz Bop music video. In November 2009, Zendaya auditioned for the Disney Channel show Shake It Up. She was cast as Rocky Blue, one of two friends who get a big break on a dance show.

Zendaya hosting the Make Your Mark: Ultimate Dance Off event in 2011

The first season of Shake It Up premiered in November 2010. It was watched by 6.2 million viewers, making it one of Disney Channel's most-watched premieres. In 2011, Zendaya released her song "Swag It Out". She also released "Watch Me" with Bella Thorne, which reached number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 2011, Target stores launched a clothing line inspired by the show.

Zendaya made her film debut in Frenemies (2012), a Disney Channel Original Movie. In October 2012, Shake It Up began its third and final season. That year, she signed with Hollywood Records. Zendaya also competed on the sixteenth season of Dancing with the Stars. At sixteen, she was the youngest contestant at the time. She finished as the runner-up in May 2013. Her first album, Zendaya, was released in September 2013. It reached number 51 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

Zendaya at the San Diego Comic-Con International in 2016

In 2014, Zendaya starred in the Disney Channel film Zapped. She played a high school student whose phone could control boys. She then became the lead in the Disney Channel series K.C. Undercover, which premiered in January 2015. Zendaya helped shape her character and the show's title. In February 2016, she released the song "Something New" with Chris Brown.

Becoming a Major Star

Zendaya at the 2018 MTV Movie & TV Awards

In 2017, Zendaya made her big-screen debut as Michelle in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: Homecoming. She described Michelle as "dry, awkward, [and] intellectual," finding it "refreshing" to play a unique character. Critics praised her performance. The film earned over $880 million worldwide. Zendaya then starred in the musical film The Greatest Showman (2017). She played a trapeze artist who falls in love with Zac Efron's character during a time when relationships between people from different backgrounds were not always accepted. She sang three songs on the film's soundtrack, including "Rewrite the Stars".

Zendaya at the premiere of Spider-Man: Far From Home in 2019

In 2018, Zendaya voiced Meechee the yeti in the animated film Smallfoot. In 2019, she began starring in the HBO drama series Euphoria. She plays Rue, a seventeen-year-old dealing with difficult personal struggles. Critics praised her "astonishing, mesmerising performance."

Zendaya returned as Michelle in Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019). The film grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide. In 2020, at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards, Zendaya won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. At 24, she became the youngest person to win this award. In 2021, Zendaya starred in and produced Malcolm & Marie, filmed during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zendaya voiced Lola Bunny in Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021). She then played Chani in Denis Villeneuve's science fiction film Dune (2021). She also reprised her role as Michelle in Spider-Man: No Way Home, where her chemistry with Tom Holland was highly praised.

Zendaya as an Established Actress

In 2022, Zendaya co-wrote and sang on two songs for Euphoria's second season: "I'm Tired" and "Elliot's Song". For her performance in the second season, she received four Emmy nominations. She became the youngest two-time nominee for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. By winning the lead actress award again, she also became the youngest person to win two Emmys. In 2023, she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama for Euphoria.

Zendaya and co-star Timothée Chalamet promoting Dune: Part Two in 2024

Zendaya joined Labrinth for a surprise performance at Coachella 2023, her first live performance in eight years. She also appeared in the documentary Invisible Beauty (2023). Zendaya reprised her role as Chani in Dune: Part Two (2024). She experienced heatstroke during filming but delivered a powerful performance. Critics praised her "fierce, open-hearted performance."

Zendaya starred in and produced the romantic sports drama Challengers (2024), directed by Luca Guadagnino. She played a former tennis prodigy who became a coach after an injury. This role allowed her to portray a character closer to her own age. Her performance was called "a brilliant showcase for Zendaya." She received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Challengers at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards in 2025.

Zendaya has roles in upcoming films like the romantic drama The Drama with Robert Pattinson and Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey (both 2026). She is set to appear as Michelle in Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) and will reprise her role as Rue Bennett in the third season of Euphoria. In March 2025, Zendaya was confirmed to star as Ronnie Spector in Be My Baby, a biopic based on Spector's life story. She is also set to serve as a producer on the project.

Other Activities and Contributions

Fashion and Business Ventures

Zendaya promoting Smallfoot in 2018

Zendaya has been the face of many big brands, including Beats Electronics, Material Girl, and CoverGirl. She has also modeled for designers like Michael Kors and Dolce & Gabbana. In August 2013, she published her first book, Between U and Me: How to Rock Your Tween Years with Style and Confidence. This book aimed to help girls navigate their teenage years. Two years later, she launched her shoe collection, Daya, named after her childhood nickname. In November 2016, she launched her clothing line, Daya by Zendaya, which offered gender-fluid styles and a wide range of sizes.

In October 2018, Zendaya became an ambassador for Tommy Hilfiger. She co-designed the Tommy x Zendaya collections, inspired by the 1970s and strong women of that era. Her fashion shows were praised for celebrating diversity, featuring women of color, plus-size models, and older models. Zendaya became a spokesmodel for Lancôme in 2019, and for Bulgari and Valentino in 2020. In June 2022, she became the global brand ambassador for Glaceau Smartwater, and in 2023, for Louis Vuitton.

Helping Others and Advocating for Change

Zendaya supports many charities and good causes. In 2012, she became an ambassador for Convoy of Hope, encouraging fans to help with disaster relief. In 2014, she recorded John Legend's song "All of Me" to raise money for the organization. For her 20th birthday, she raised $50,000 to support Convoy's Women's Empowerment Initiative. In 2014, she was a spokesperson for UNICEF's Trick-or-Treat campaign. In 2015, she visited South Africa with UNAIDS to support health initiatives and help children in need. When her film Malcolm & Marie was sold in 2020, some of the money went to Feeding America.

Zendaya also works to raise awareness for underserved communities and schools. In 2017, she partnered with Verizon Foundation to bring technology and learning opportunities to children. In 2018, she teamed up with Google.org to support computer science education in Oakland schools.

Zendaya is a feminist and has spoken about her experiences as a woman of color in Hollywood. She participated in protests for equality and justice in June 2020. She also used her Instagram account to share resources promoting fairness and understanding. Zendaya has encouraged people to vote over the years. In 2016, she joined the "Vote Your Future" initiative. In 2020, she reminded her fans to check their voter registration with Michelle Obama's "When We All Vote" organization. She also supported campaigns against bullying.

Personal Life

Zendaya owns homes in Los Angeles and Brooklyn. She is a vegetarian because she loves animals. She publicly acknowledged her relationship with British actor and Spider-Man co-star Tom Holland in November 2021. She found the media attention on their relationship to be "quite strange and weird and confusing and invasive." The couple moved into a home in London together in 2023 and became engaged in December 2024.

Awards and Recognition

In 2016, Zendaya was featured on Forbes magazine's 30 under 30 list. Time included her in its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022. Denis Villeneuve, director of Dune, described her as "a cultural icon in the making." Variety also listed her among the 500 most influential figures in global media that year.

In 2020, at age 24, Zendaya became the youngest person to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Rue Bennett in Euphoria. After winning the award again at the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards, she became the youngest two-time acting winner. Zendaya received the CinemaCon Star of the Year Award in 2023.

Zendaya was recognized as one of the best-dressed women in 2018 by Net-a-Porter. For a 2020 InStyle issue, she and her stylist, Law Roach, chose to feature only Black designers and artists. In October 2020, she won the Visionary Award at the CNMI Green Carpet Fashion Awards for promoting diversity in fashion and film. In November 2021, she became the youngest person to win the CFDA Fashion Icon award.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Director(s)	Ref.
2013	Super Buddies	Lollipop (voice)	Robert Vince
2017	Spider-Man: Homecoming	Michelle	Jon Watts
	The Greatest Showman	Anne Wheeler	Michael Gracey
2018	Duck Duck Goose	Chi (voice)	Chris Jenkins
	Smallfoot	Meechee (voice)	Karey Kirkpatrick
2019	Spider-Man: Far From Home	MJ	Jon Watts
2021	Malcolm & Marie	Marie	Sam Levinson
	Space Jam: A New Legacy	Lola Bunny (voice)	Malcolm D. Lee
	Dune	Chani	Denis Villeneuve
	Spider-Man: No Way Home	MJ	Jon Watts
2024	Dune: Part Two	Chani	Denis Villeneuve
	Challengers	Tashi Duncan	Luca Guadagnino
2026	The Drama	Emma Harwood	Kristoffer Borgli
	The Odyssey	Athena	Christopher Nolan
	Spider-Man: Brand New Day	MJ	Destin Daniel Cretton
	Dune: Part Three	Chani	Denis Villeneuve
2027	Shrek 5	Felicia (voice)	Walt Dohrn & Conrad Vernon

Television

Web

Music Videos

As Lead Artist

As Featured Artist

As Guest Appearance

Discography

• Zendaya (2013)

Concert Tours

• Swag It Out Tour (2012–2014)

Opening act

• Summer Tour (Bridgit Mendler) (2014)

See also

In Spanish: Zendaya para niños