With the upcoming release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Zendaya has been on the red carpet at premieres – but how much do you know about her?
With Spider-Man: Brand New Day set to hit theaters this month, excitement is ramping up for the movie, which sees Tom Holland return as the webslinger, as well as Zendaya as MJ. Already the couple have been out at premieres and promoting the hugely anticipated movie.
This is just the latest chapter in what is already a lengthy career for Zendaya. Already, aged just 29, she has had success as an actor and singer with two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award and even gaining the title of one of the most influential people in the world in 2022.
During her career to date Zendaya has appeared in movies that have grossed more than $3.9 billion at the box office around the world – a figure set to rise significantly once Spider-Man: Brand New Day is released.
But how much do you know about Zendaya? Here are some facts you might not know.
Zendaya is her real name
Zendaya’s full name is Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman. However, to stand out from the crowd at an early age, she decided to use only her first name – a move that has worked out well.
Zendaya’s name is derived from the Shona name Tendai, which means ‘to give thanks’.
Zendaya rose to fame on the Disney Channel
Born in Oakland, California, Zendaya began her career as a child model and backup dancer before gaining prominence for her role as Rocky Blue on the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up (2010–2013). She then starred in and produced the channel sitcom K.C. Undercover (2015–2018). More recently, she has played Rue Bennett, a struggling drug-addicted teenager in the HBO teen drama series Euphoria (2019–2026).
She’s married to her Spider-Man co-star
One of her most well-known and biggest roles was to be MJ (Michelle Jones not Mary Jane) in the MCU’s Spider-man. She has appeared in all the main line Spider-man films gradually increasing in role importance. She started off as a relatively minor character to Tom Holland’s Peter Parker before evolving into his love interest and now as a person Peter clings to as a memory of what he used to have in the latest installment, Spider-man: Brand New Day, coming in July.
While other Spider-Man actors Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield dated their on-screen love interests in real life during their times as the webslinger, the relationships didn’t last. However, Tom Holland and Zendaya have been officially a couple since 2021, having been friends since 2016 when they met for the filming of Spider-Man: Homecoming, and are still very much together, having secretly married earlier in the year, which Tom confirmed in an interview with Esquire.
She also has a successful singing career
In 2011, Zendaya released the singles ‘Swag It Out’ and ‘Watch Me’, the latter in a collaboration with Bella Thorne. Signed to Hollywood Records, she released her self-titled debut studio album in 2013. Its lead single, ‘Replay’, was a moderate success, peaking inside the top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100. Her duet with Zac Efron, ‘Rewrite the Stars’, from The Greatest Showman soundtrack (2017), charted in the top 20 and achieved multi-platinum status in various countries.
Zendaya does plenty of charity work
Zendaya has supported several charities and causes over the years. Back in 2012, she became an ambassador for Convoy of Hope and encouraged fans to support the response efforts to Hurricane Sandy, which had devastated parts of the Caribbean and some US states.
She was UNICEF’s Trick-or-Treat 2014 campaign spokesperson, standing up for underprivileged children.
As she turned 20 in 2016, Zendaya led a campaign to raise $50,000 to support Convoy’s Women’s Empowerment Initiative.
