Zendaya

Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, known mononymously as Zendaya, is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She gained widespread recognition for her work across television and major feature films, with her leading roles contributing to a global box office total of over $9.8 billion. Her accolades include two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award, and in 2022 she was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time.

Born on September 1, 1996, in Oakland, California, Zendaya was raised by her parents, Claire Stoermer and Kazembe Ajamu Coleman, alongside six older half-siblings. She attended Fruitvale Elementary School, performed in a school play at age six, and participated in hip-hop and hula dance groups during her childhood. While assisting her mother at the California Shakespeare Theater, she developed an interest in stage acting. She later attended Oakland School for the Arts, appearing in regional theater productions, before moving to Los Angeles with her father and graduating from Oak Park High School in 2015.

Zendaya began her professional career as a fashion model and commercial dancer before gaining prominence on the Disney Channel. She starred as Rocky Blue on the sitcom Shake It Up from 2010 to 2013 and later produced and starred in K.C. Undercover from 2015 to 2018. During this era, she appeared in the Disney Channel original movies Frenemies and Zapped, and finished as the runner-up on season 16 of Dancing with the Stars.

Alongside acting, Zendaya launched a music career, releasing her independent single "Swag It Out" and the duet "Watch Me" in 2011. After signing with Hollywood Records, she released her self-titled debut studio album in 2013, featuring the multi-platinum single "Replay." She later contributed to film and television soundtracks, notably co-performing the multi-platinum duet "Rewrite the Stars" for The Greatest Showman in 2017 and co-writing songs for her television projects.

Zendaya made her feature film debut as Michelle "MJ" Jones-Watson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017, reprising the role in Far From Home, No Way Home, and Brand New Day. Her film credits expanded to include The Greatest Showman, Smallfoot, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Malcolm & Marie, Challengers, Denis Villeneuve's Dune trilogy, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, and The Drama.

In 2019, Zendaya began starring as Rue Bennett in the HBO drama series Euphoria. Her performance earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, making her the youngest performer to win in the category, as well as a Golden Globe Award in 2023. Beyond acting, she served as an executive producer on the series and has continued to participate in high-profile feature films and documentaries.