Actress and singer Zendaya first rose to prominence in 2010 with the television comedy Shake It Up.
She went on to star in big-budget films such as Spider-Man: Homecoming and The Greatest Showman.
Who is Zendaya?
It all started as a child, acting in productions at the California Shakespeare Theater and other theater companies near his hometown of Oakland, California.
She landed her first television project in 2010 on the hit comedy series Shake It Up, followed by her self-titled debut album in 2013.
After another Disney series KC Undercover, Zendaya auditioned for Spider-Man: Homecoming and The Greatest Showman in 2017 before leaving her healthy image behind to star in the drama Euphoria.
early life Zendaya
Actress and singer Marie Störmer Coleman was born on September 1, 1996 in Oakland, California. As the daughter of a director, she spent most of her youth walking around the California Shakespeare Theater.
She also studied acting and participated in some productions.
While studying at the Oakland School of the Arts, Zendaya landed numerous roles in local theater productions. She also honed her craft at the American Conservatory Theater and the Cal Shakes Conservatory.
Zendaya was also interested in dance and music. For several years she was a member of the dance group Future Shock Oakland and taught dance to other guys at the Academy of Hawaiian Arts.
In addition to her theater work, Zendaya has been successful as a model, working for companies such as Macy's and Old Navy. For the Sears commercial, Zendaya acted as a backup dancer for Selena Gomez.
She decided to use only her first name professionally. Zendaya means "to give thanks" in the language of the Shona people of Zimbabwe.
Movies and TV shows
Shake it up
In 2010, Zendaya saw her career take off with the debut of Shake It Up on the Disney Channel.
The then 14-year-old performer described the show to McClatchy-Tribune Business News as "a buddy comedy about two best friends who dream of becoming professional dancers and finally get their chance when they get to audition for their favorite show."
Zendaya and her costar Bella Thorne have become teen idols for their young fans.
The songs they performed on the show, including Something to Dance For, were filled with hits with their target audience, and their two characters became so popular they even inspired their own fashion line.
ANT Farm, Good Luck Charlie, Frenemies
Outside of her hit show, Zendaya provided her voice for the animated TV movie Pixie Hollow Games (2011).
She has also made guest appearances on TV series such as ANT Farm and Good Luck Charlie and co-starred with Thorne in the 2012 TV movie Frenemies.
In 2013, the singer and actress transitioned from an imaginary dance show to the popular TV competition Dancing with the Stars.
She was paired with professional dancer Val Chmerkovsky on the show, competing against celebrities such as Andy Dick, Kelly Pickler and Ali Raisman.
However, her previous experience did not help. As she said on Good Morning America, "I'm really used to dancing hip-hop... So I have to forget what I know and reset again and again."
KC Undercover, Spider-Man, The Greatest Showman
After Dancing with the Stars, Zendaya starred in the Disney comedy KC Undercover for three seasons and then on the big screen in 2017 in Spider-Man: Homecoming and The Greatest Showman, playing the role of Ann Wheeler alongside Hugh Jackman.
In 2018, Zendaya lent her voice to two animated films: Duck Duck Goose and Smallfoot. She then reprized her role as MJ Michelle Jones in Spider-Man: Far From Home in 2019.
Euphoria
Stepping away from her Disney persona, Zendaya signed on to play the lead role of Ryu on the HBO series Euphoria.
Based on creator Sam Levinson's turbulent teenage years, the show generated a buzz ahead of its June 2019 debut due to its graphic depictions of teen drug use and sexuality.
Speaking to The New York Times about the show's provocative content, Zendaya said:
“I don't find it shocking, to be honest. People are who they are. I kind of resigned myself to the fact that it would be more negative ... although, if you think about it, this is the truth of life. I'm telling someone's story. Just because it doesn't happen to you doesn't mean it doesn't happen to anyone else."
In November 2019, the actress was awarded Choice Drama TV Star for Euphoria and Choice Female Movie Star for Spider-Man: Far From Home at the People's Choice Awards.
Music and book
Being in Shake Me and playing the role of Rocky Blue, she had to face the music. Several of the songs she performed on the show have been released as singles, including Watch Me (2011), a duet with her colleague Bella Thorne.
The track peaked at number 86 on Billboard's Hot 100. In the same year, she also released the promo single Swag It Out as well as the Shake It Up: Live 2 Dance soundtrack.
After signing with Disney Hollywood Records, she began work on her first solo album. In early 2013, Zendaya appeared on the 16th season of Dancing with the Stars, becoming the youngest participant in the show.
Shake It Up ended in July, and Between U and Me: How to Rock Your Tween Years with Style and Confidence, her debut album Zendaya, was released in the following months.
The album's lead single, Replay, became an online hit. The video received over 20 million views within weeks of the album's release. And it went platinum.
