Zendaya‘s inventiveness and energy shine through in her acting roles, fashion icon status, and social media impact. At only 27, the Dune star has already been honored with numerous awards, including two Primetime Emmys and a Golden Globe. By 2022, she had made TIME‘s annual list of the 100 most influential individuals in the world. Zendaya made her acting debut at the California Shakespeare Theater as a young girl. Her breakthrough role was as teen dancer Rocky Blue in the Disney Channel’s Shake It Up, which she followed by starring in another hit Disney Channel series, K.C. Undercover.
Zendaya made her big screen debut in 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming and has since reprised her role in both sequels. She also made the leap to more mature roles, such as Rue Bennett in HBO’s Euphoria, for which she received an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, making her the youngest recipient of the award in its history. Moreover, Zendaya’s fame stems from more than just her acting abilities; the actress also has a unique sense of style. She’s a regular at fashion shows and red carpets, where her signature style has earned her much acclaim.
As of 2023, Zendaya has amassed millions of fans on social media who are anticipating the release of her upcoming films like Challengers, a romantic sports comedy-drama film directed by Luca Guadagnino and set for release in the United States on September 15, 2023. While the wait continues, here are 10 of Zendaya’s most memorable performances from her film and TV credits to date.
10. K.C. Undercover (2015 – 2018)
Zendaya portrayed high school student K.C. Cooper, a secret agent, on the Disney Channel original series K.C. Undercover, which ran from 2015 to 2018. As the daughter of two spies, she carries on the family tradition. K.C. has a knack for numbers, is highly perceptive and quick on her feet, and is quite intellectual, all of which serve her well in her covert work. K.C. may be in a solemn profession, but her offbeat sense of humor makes her fun.
K.C.’s ability to keep her seemingly everyday high school life and the dangerous realm of international espionage apart is a notable aspect of her personality. While saving the world on covert missions, she still has to deal with the usual challenges of being a teenager: school, family, and friends. As the story progresses, K.C. matures as a person and spy, learning to balance her conflicting roles.
9. Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
Zendaya voices Lola Bunny in Space Jam: A New Legacy, the sequel to the classic 1996 film Space Jam, providing her with an opportunity to demonstrate her range outside her live-action performances. Lola Bunny is a feisty and skilled basketball player who has earned a reputation for dominating the floor. The movie introduces her as a fierce, self-reliant rabbit who belongs to the Amazons from the Wonder Woman realm.
Lola is a vital part of the Tune Squad, the team that LeBron James puts together to assist him in winning a crucial basketball game. The film’s Lola Bunny is a radical shift from the 1996 film’s representation of the character. This upgrade accompanies the film’s overall effort to bring its characters into the present day. Lola is more than just Bugs Bunny’s girlfriend; she’s a fully realized character in her own right with her own goals, abilities, and personality.
8. Shake It Up (2010 – 2013)
Shake It Up was the first step on Zendaya’s journey to stardom. Zendaya plays one of the show’s main characters, Raquel “Rocky” Blue, alongside Bella Thorne’s CeCe Jones. A brilliant and driven dancer, Rocky Blue and her closest friend CeCe get a job dancing on a Chicago television show called “Shake It Up, Chicago.” Of the two pals, Rocky is the more mature and level-headed one. While she tends to be overly cautious, she is nonetheless compassionate and dependable.
While CeCe is more of a free spirit and adventurer, Rocky is the voice of reason, providing a more conservative counterweight to CeCe’s bold schemes. Rocky and CeCe’s relationship, which emphasizes the value of friendship and teamwork despite their differences, is the show’s driving force. Zendaya’s performance as Rocky Blue in “Shake It Up” won rave reviews from both audiences and critics. Zendaya’s career took off thanks primarily to this role, paving the way for her to become an actor, singer, and fashion sensation.
7. Malcolm & Marie (2021)
Sam Levinson penned, co-produced, and directed the 2021 American black-and-white romantic drama film Malcolm & Marie, with Zendaya and John David Washington starring and producing. Marie, portrayed by Zendaya, is one half of a feuding pair. Marie has a troubled history and struggles with addiction. She also feels marginalized by her lover, the blossoming filmmaker Malcolm.
The movie’s events occur in one night, right after Malcolm’s film premiere (during which he forgets to acknowledge Marie’s involvement during his acceptance speech). Tensions mount as the pair goes on an emotionally raw trip that exposes their relationship’s realities, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities as the night progresses. Marie feels hurt by Malcolm’s failure to see her value as a partner and individual with aspirations and creative potential. Critics were divided on the picture, but many lauded Zendaya and Washington for their work in the film. The 26th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards nominated Zendaya for Best Actress for her performance.
6. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Zendaya’s character, Michelle “MJ” Jones, returns in Spider-Man: Far From Home after making her debut in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). The film adds variability to her personality and develops her romantic bond with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker/Spider-Man. With the development of her friendship with Peter Parker, however, Far From Home reveals a softer side of MJ to viewers. She expresses genuine worry and cares for Peter despite her usual austere demeanor.
Zendaya’s portrayal of MJ stands out partly because she is so different from previous portrayals of the character in past Spider-Man films. Zendaya’s MJ is less of a stereotypical “girl next door” and more of an eccentric, one-of-a-kind individual. Reviewers were generally enthusiastic about Spider-Man: Far From Home, praising the film’s wit, action, and graphics. As the first Spider-Man picture to earn over $1 billion, it was the year’s fourth highest-grossing film.
5. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Zendaya’s debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes in Spider-Man: Homecoming, where she portrays Michelle Jones/MJ. MJ is a friend of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man. Her portrayal is that of an intelligent, self-reliant, and intriguing character. MJ is reserved and prefers to watch events unfold from a distance. She has a sharp wit and often carries around a book, suggesting she is well-read.
MJ’s uniqueness and forthrightness are well-known. Zendaya’s portrayal of MJ is a departure from the usual love interest or damsel in distress; instead, she is a confident young person with her own peculiarities and personality. In Homecoming, MJ and Peter Parker’s relationship is that of casual friends with hints of more. As the second most successful Spider-Man film, Homecoming was also the sixth highest-grossing film of 2017.
4. The Greatest Showman (2017)
In “The Greatest Showman” (2017), a musical drama inspired by the story of P.T. Barnum’s creation of Barnum’s American Museum, Zendaya plays Anne Wheeler, a trapeze artist. Anne Wheeler is a young African American woman who, along with her brother, joins Barnum’s circus troupe. She’s talented, graceful, and highly skilled at her craft, capturing audiences with her thrilling performances. However, as an African American in the 19th century, she faces racial discrimination and prejudice, which the film explores.
One of the main storylines in the movie is the romantic relationship between Anne and Phillip Carlyle, a playwright and Barnum’s business partner, played by Zac Efron. Their relationship, which crosses racial and social boundaries, is portrayed with sensitivity and becomes a focal point of the narrative. Zendaya showcases not only her acting skills but also her abilities as a singer and a dancer. Her duet with Zac Efron, “Rewrite the Stars,” is a standout musical number in the film.
3. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Zendaya returns as Peter Parker’s confidante and love interest in Spider-Man: No Way Home, continuing a character she originated in the previous films. Particularly with Peter, she displays compassion and empathy. She shows her understanding by checking in on Peter’s feelings when the world finds out he’s Spider-Man, and he doesn’t have to conceal or lie to anyone about it.
Being in a wizard’s dungeon is a perfect example of her willingness to accept the supernatural elements they face, highlighting her adaptability. After earning over $1.9 billion worldwide, Spider-Man: No Way Home surpassed its predecessor as Sony Pictures’ highest-grossing film. It broke multiple box office records, including becoming the highest-grossing film of 2021 and the sixth-highest-grossing film of all time. It also became the highest-grossing Spider-Man film.
2. Dune (2021)
Directed by Denis Villeneuve and adapted from Frank Herbert’s novel of the same name, Dune is an epic science fiction film in which Zendaya portrays the role of Chani. In Dune, the planet Arrakis is home to the Fremen, including our protagonist Chani. The blue eyes of the Fremen are a byproduct of their diet of the spice melange, the rarest and most valuable commodity in the known universe.
Chani is a mighty and skilled warrior who feels a profound connection to her home planet despite its harsh conditions. She plays the love interest of Timothée Chalamet’s protagonist, Paul Atreides. Paul sees Chani in his dreams before they meet, indicating her pivotal role in his future. Dune garnered many awards and recognitions, including ten nominations at the 94th Academy prizes, six wins (including Best Actor in a Leading Role), and many others — one of the most influential science fiction stories of the 2020s and the 21st century.
1. Euphoria (2019 – Present)
In Euphoria (on HBO), Zendaya plays Rue Bennet, a far more serious and grown-up character than her Disney Channel days roles. High school senior Rue Bennett faces the tricky waters of adolescence while battling drug addiction. The show doesn’t pull any punches when depicting Rue’s problems; it goes in-depth with her addiction, mental health concerns, and rocky relationships.
Jules Vaughn, a transgender girl who moves to town and rapidly becomes Rue’s close friend and love interest, is one of the most important people in Rue’s life. Their connection has a significant role in shaping Rue’s personality throughout the series. The emotional depth and sincerity of Zendaya’s performance in Euphoria has won her widespread acclaim. She made history as the youngest recipient of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance.
