π¬ Zendaya: From Disney Star to Hollywood Icon
Full Name: Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman
Date of Birth: September 1, 1996
Place of Birth: Oakland, California, U.S.
Occupation: Actress, Singer, Producer
Years Active: 2009βpresent
Notable Roles: Rue Bennett in Euphoria, MJ in the Spider-Man films, Chani in Dune, Anne Wheeler in The Greatest Showman, K.C. Cooper in K.C. Undercover
Upcoming Projects: The Drama (2025), Challengers (2024)nypost.com+7disney-material.fandom.com+7en.wikipedia.org+7euphoria.fandom.com+1disney-material.fandom.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1kcundercover.fandom.com+1kcundercover.fandom.com+3j-14.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3en.wikipedia.org+5theguardian.com+5people.com+5
π Early Life and Career Beginnings
Zendaya was born to teachers Claire Stoermer and Kazembe Ajamu in Oakland, California. She began performing at a young age, studying at institutions like the Cal Shakes Conservatory Program and the American Conservatory Theater. Her early work included stage productions such as Once on This Island and Caroline, or Change, as well as appearances in TV commercials and music videos .britannica.com+1people.com+1
She gained initial fame on the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up (2010β2013), where she portrayed Rocky Blue. This role established her as a household name among young audiences.en.wikipedia.org+1euphoria.fandom.com+1
π¬ Breakthrough and Notable Roles
Zendaya's transition to more mature roles began with her portrayal of Rue Bennett, a drug-addicted teenager, in HBO's Euphoria (2019βpresent). Her performance earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, making her the youngest recipient of the award .biography.com+7en.wikipedia.org+7en.wikipedia.org+7
In film, Zendaya has showcased her versatility:
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Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) as Michelle "MJ" Jones
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The Greatest Showman (2017) as Anne Wheeler
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Malcolm & Marie (2021) alongside John David Washington
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Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024) as Chani
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Challengers (2024), a romantic drama directed by Luca Guadagnino euphoria.fandom.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1en.wikipedia.orgtheguardian.com
π Awards and Recognition
Zendaya's accolades include:
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Two Primetime Emmy Awards for Euphoria
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Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series
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Critics' Choice Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series
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BET Award for Best Actress
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MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Performance in a Show
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Teen Choice Awards for Choice Summer Movie Actress and Choice Movie Ship
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Peopleβs Choice Award for Favorite Female Movie Star
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CFDA Fashion Icon Award theguardian.comj-14.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1
In 2022, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world .en.wikipedia.org
π€ Music and Other Ventures
Zendaya signed with Hollywood Records in 2012 and released her self-titled debut album in 2013. While her music career has been less prominent, she contributed to the Euphoria soundtrack and collaborated with artists like Zac Efron on "Rewrite the Stars" from The Greatest Showman .en.wikipedia.orgeuphoria.fandom.com+2biography.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2
She also authored the book Between U and Me (2013), offering advice to her young fans.biography.com
π Personal Life and Advocacy
Beyond her entertainment career, Zendaya is known for her advocacy on issues such as racial equality, body positivity, and mental health. She has been an active supporter of movements like Black Lives Matter and has participated in voter registration drives alongside Michelle Obama .theguardian.com
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