Zendaya
Birthdate: Sep 1, 1996
Birthplace: Oakland, California, USA
Zendaya (birthname: Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman) has emerged as one of the most dynamic and exciting actor-singers of her generation. Her blistering, Emmy-winning portrayal of Rue Bennett on Sam Levinson’s acclaimed HBO series, Euphoria (2019-present) is one of the most thrilling acting displays in either American cinema or television in recent years, announcing a major talent.
This undeniable brilliance certainly stems from her longtime training in Shakespearean theater, a fact often overlooked about this remarkable performer. Her childhood exposure to The Bard, and care of her mother Claire Stoermer, is at the heart of this: Helping her mom (the company’s house manager) at the East Bay-based California Shakespeare Theatre ignited Zendaya’s desire to perform, and allowing her to be several jumps ahead of her peers in her mastery of theater.
By the time she was cast in Disney’s series, Shake It Up (2010), Zendaya had already played Shakespeare in many guises on stage—a rare experience for young, aspiring American actors. This experience included acting with the renowned A.C.T. in San Francisco, the American Conservatory Theatre. Zendaya’s talent for musical theater received a fine platform in her movie debut in the runaway hit, The Greatest Showman (2017), with Hugh Jackman, earning $435 million globally to rank #5 on the list of top-grossing live-action musicals.
She parlayed this early movie success into the live version of the show, where she re-created her role as Anne. At the same time, Zendaya landed the plum role as MJ in Marvel’s reboot of the Spider-Man franchise, proving to be a key anchor—as co-star with the new Spidey, Tom Holland—of one of the most successful movie runs in the brief history of superhero movies, totaling approximately $4 billion worldwide for Homecoming (2017), Far from Home (2019), and No Way Home (2021). In between these behemoths, Zendaya performed voices for the Chinese-U.S. co-produced animated feature, Duck Duck Goose (2018), and Warner Animation Group’s Smallfoot (2018), with the voices of Channing, Tatum, James Corden, Common, LeBron James, Danny DeVito, and Gina Rodriguez.
Zendaya’s visibility in Spidey’s universe was extended in September 2022, with Marvel’s re-release (with additional material not in the original release), Spider-Man: No Way Home—The More Fun Stuff Version. Though not confirmed as of August 2022, the studio has reported plans for Zendaya to join Holland for a future trilogy of Spider-Man movies.
Zendaya’s knack for major projects continued in 2021, with her prominent role as Chani (lover to the story’s hero, Paul) in Denis Villeneuve’s elegant version of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi epic, Dune, with Timothée Chalamet (as Paul), Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Javier Bardem, and Charlotte Rampling.
This massive project—part one earning over $400 million globally--includes the sequel (filmed in 2022), Dune: Part Two (2024). Back on Planet Earth, Zendaya landed her first starring role—along with a position as producer, alongside the powerhouse Hollywood figure and fellow producer, Amy Pascal—of the tennis drama directed by Luca Guadagnino, Challengers (2024), which was produced via MGM and released theatrically by Amazon MGM Studios with Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist.
Personal Details
Oakland-born Zendaya was raised by mother Claire Stoermer and father Kazembe Ajamu Coleman. She has five older half-siblings, Austin, Annabella, Julien, Katianna, and Kaylee. Zendaya attended Oakland’s Fruitvale Elementary School, where her mother Claire worked as a teacher. There, Zendaya discovered live performances, and also at the nearby California Shakespeare Theatre, where she assisted her mother who was a part of the theater company’s summer staff. She studied hip-hop and Hulu dancing and attended Oakland School for the Arts while performing in productions at Berkeley Playhouse and TheatreWorks in Palo Alto.
Zendaya continued her theater studies at the California Shakespeare Theatre and at the prestigious American Conservatory Theater, performing in several Shakespeare productions. After her family moved to the Agoura suburb of Los Angeles when Zendaya had left Oakland School for the Arts to co-star on the Disney TV show, Shake It Up, Zendaya graduated from local Oak Park High School. Zendaya is single and is a vegetarian. Her height is 5’ 10”. Her estimated net worth is $20 million.
Awards
Winner, Best Actress—Drama Series, Emmy Awards (2020). Four-time Nominee, Best Drama Series/Best Lead Actress-Drama Series/Best Original Music and Lyrics, Emmy Awards (2022); Winner, Best Actress-TV Drama Series, Golden Globes Awards (2023); Winner, Best Performance in a Show, MTV Movie + TV Awards (2022); Five-time Nominee, Best Performance—Youth/Children’s Program/Best Actress/Entertainer of the Year, NAACP Image Awards (2012, 2014, 2023); Winner, Virtuoso Award, Santa Barbara Film Festival Awards (2021).
Critics Choice Award
Critics Choice Awards
Primetime Emmy
Primetime Emmy Awards
Golden Globe
Golden Globes, USA
Filmography
actor
Previous (13)
- 2024 | ChallengersasTashi Donaldson
Challengers
Tashi, a former tennis prodigy turned coach, transformed her husband into a champion. But to overcome a recent losing streak and redeem himself, he'll need to face off against his former best friend and Tashi's ex-boyfriend.
- 2024 | Dune: Part TwoasChani
Dune: Part Two
Paul Atreides unites with the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future.
- 2021 | Malcolm & Marieas Marie
- 2021 | Spider-Man: No Way HomeasMJ
Spider-Man: No Way Home
With Spider-Man's identity now revealed, Peter asks Doctor Strange for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.
- 2021 | Dune (2021)asChani
Dune (2021)
Paul Atreides arrives on Arrakis after his father accepts the stewardship of the dangerous planet. However, chaos ensues after a betrayal as forces clash to control melange, a precious resource.
- 2021 | Malcolm and Marie
Malcolm and Marie
A director and his girlfriend's relationship is tested after they return home from his movie premiere and await critics' responses.
- 2019 | Spider-Man: Far from HomeasMJ
Spider-Man: Far from Home
Following the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019), Spider-Man must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever.
- 2018 | A White Lie
- 2018 | Duck Duck Goose
- 2018 |
- 2017 | The Greatest ShowmanasAnne Wheeler
The Greatest Showman
Celebrates the birth of show business and tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.
- 2017 | Spider-Man: HomecomingasMichelle
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Peter Parker balances his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens with his superhero alter-ego Spider-Man, and finds himself on the trail of a new menace prowling the skies of New York City.
- 2010 | Be My Baby
Some Facts About Zendaya
What’s In A Name?: Zendaya’s name is a variation on the word “Tendai’ (“to give thanks”) from the Shona dialect of the Bantu language from Zimbabwe.
Hula Dancer: Zendaya studied hula dancing at the Academy of Hawaiian Arts.
Youth Will Be Served: Zendaya is the youngest winner of the Best Actress Emmy, at 24.
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