- Actress has just turned 28 but has been established as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars for some time
- Zendaya first came to national prominence on a Disney show
- The actress has already amassed an impressive fortune
It feels like Zendaya has been on our screens for many years, yet the actress, known for films such as Dune, Spider-Man and Challengers, only turned 28on September 1.
But how much do you know about Zendaya? Here are some facts you might not know about the American actress.
Name and early life
While Zendaya is known professionally just by her first name, her full name is Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman. Her name is derived from the Shona language – used by the Shona people of Zimbabwe – name Tendai, which translates as ‘to give thanks’.
She was born in Oakland, California. Her performing talent came to the fore at an early age – she performed a school play with two friends at age 6 for Black History Month. Two years later, she joined a hip-hop dance troupe called Future Shock Oakland, which she remained with for three years.
During her formative years in Oakland, she performed on stage as part of the California Shakespeare Theater.
Big break
In 2010, Zendaya came to national attention when she played Rocky Blue in the Disney sitcom Shake It Up, which had one of the biggest premieres in the Disney Channel’s history.
In 2015, Zendaya took the title role in another Disney Channel show, K.C. Undercover. Zendaya is said to have been influential in the series, including renaming her character K.C. from the original Katy and deciding elements of her personality.
Music career
Zendaya has also had a successful music career. She released her first single, Swag It Out, in 2011, followed by Watch Me – performed with Bella Thorne – which got to number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100.
A self-titled debut album was released in 2013, which debuted at number 51 on the US Billboard 200.
Style
Zendaya has been styled by Law Roach since she was 14. And, while she is always fashionable, she is never seen wearing big names such as Chanel, Gucci or Dior, as they rejected the chance to clothe her when she was an up-and-coming artist. Since then, Roach has refused to use those brands when compiling outfits for her.
Net worth
With success in films such as Dune, Dune: Part Two, the Spider-Man trilogy and Challengers, as well as a string of high-profile promotional deals, Zendaya has amassed an impressive fortune. According to Celebrity Net Worth, as of March 2024, Zendaya is worth $22 million.
