Zendaya

Zendaya, from television to the big screen

Zendaya was born in Oakland, California, on September 1, 1996. Her career connects Disney Channel series, the drama Euphoria and films including Spider-Man, Dune and Challengers. Rather than defining her through one franchise, viewers can discover her work through Rue, MJ, Chani and Tashi. These characters belong to different settings and call for different kinds of performances.

Early television and a change of tone

Her television career includes Shake It Up, which aired from 2010 to 2013, and K.C. Undercover, from 2015 to 2018. Those series came before her role as Rue in Euphoria, created by Sam Levinson. The shift in tone is significant: family entertainment gives way to a drama dealing with difficult teenage experiences.

Euphoria is intended for mature audiences. Choosing a starting point in Zendaya’s work therefore means considering the programme as well as the performer. Her early television roles and her portrayal of Rue are aimed at different audiences.

Rue and Emmy recognition

Playing Rue earned her Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the Emmy Awards in 2020 and again in 2022. The Television Academy notes that she became the youngest actress, and the first Black actress, to win this category twice.

Her involvement in Euphoria extends beyond performing. The 2022 nominations credit her as an executive producer and for lyrics to I’m Tired and Elliot’s Song. These are different contributions to the series. The nominations should be distinguished from her two wins for acting.

MJ in Spider-Man

Zendaya portrays MJ alongside Tom Holland’s Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far from Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home. Released in 2017, 2019 and 2021, the films allow viewers to follow her character through three connected adventures.

This part of her filmography offers a contrast with Euphoria. She performs within a superhero story and a recurring ensemble of characters. For viewers already familiar with Spider-Man, it provides a straightforward introduction to another side of her screen work.

Chani in Dune and Dune: Part Two

In Dune and Dune: Part Two, Zendaya plays Chani opposite Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides. Denis Villeneuve’s films, released in 2021 and 2024, adapt Frank Herbert’s novel. The second continues Paul’s journey among the Fremen and develops his relationship with Chani.

Watching the films in sequence is the clearest way to follow that story. The first introduces the world and its conflicts; the second continues the narrative. Chani offers a different introduction to Zendaya, this time within a large-scale science-fiction production.

Challengers: tennis and relationships

Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers, released in 2024, casts her as Tashi Duncan. A former tennis player turned coach, Tashi stands at the centre of a story combining sporting competition and personal relationships. Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor play the other two principal characters.

The film focuses on the connections between these three people and what tennis means to them. It gives viewers an adult role distinct from MJ or Chani, in a narrative driven by the ambitions, decisions and tensions of a trio.

Golden Globes and Instagram

Zendaya won Best Actress in a Television Series — Drama at the 2023 Golden Globes for Euphoria. Challengers later earned her a 2025 nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy. The latter is a nomination, rather than a second win.

Her Instagram account is linked through the button on this profile. To explore her performances, start with the kind of story that interests you: television drama, superhero adventures, science fiction or a film centred on sporting competition.

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FAQ

Who does Zendaya play in Euphoria?

She plays Rue, a role that earned Emmy wins in 2020 and 2022.

Who does she play in Dune?

She portrays Chani in Denis Villeneuve’s film.

Did she win a Golden Globe for Euphoria?

Yes, Best Actress in a Television Series — Drama in 2023.