ArkaEvren
Zendaya

ACTOR · BORN 1996

Zendaya

Born
1 September 1996, Oakland, California, USA
Known for
Dune: Part Two (2024), Smallfoot (2018), Malcolm & Marie (2021), Shake It Up (2010)

30 archived facts 6 topics 2 sources Last reviewed Nov 2026

Zendaya (born 1 September 1996) is an actor best known for Dune: Part Two, Smallfoot and Malcolm & Marie.

30 Interesting Facts About Zendaya

Interesting Facts (7)

  1. #001

    Favorite singer: Michael Jackson.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  2. #002

    Favorite TV show: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999).

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  3. #003

    Her name means "giving thanks" in the language of the African Shona tribe.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  4. #004

    Is one of the back-up dancers in the "Sears Arrive" music video, featuring Selena Gomez.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  5. #005

    Passed on the role of Storm in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), feeling that the role wasn't big enough. The role then went to other contender Alexandra Shipp--who also replaced Zendaya in the role of Aaliyah in Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B (2014).

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  6. #006

    She danced with Future Shock Oakland for three years.

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  7. #007

    Was considered for an undisclosed role in Succession (2018).

    INTERESTING FACTS · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Production Story (5)

  1. #008

    Passed on the role of Storm in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), feeling that the role wasn't big enough. The role then went to other contender Alexandra Shipp--who also replaced Zendaya in the role of Aaliyah in Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B (2014).

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  2. #009

    Screen-tested for the role of Alita in Alita: Battle Angel (2019).

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  3. #010

    Originally attached to star as Aaliyah in the Lifetime TV movie Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B (2014) but ended up dropping out of the project, according to her, due to the lack of production value, complications with the music rights, and Aaliyah's family's disapproval of the making of the film not being handled delicately. Negatively received, she also faced massive backlash to her casting from the fans on social media.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  4. #011

    Was considered for an undisclosed role in Succession (2018).

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  5. #012

    Was not originally told what movie she was reading for when auditioning for "Spider-Man: Homecoming", but found out through her agents. It wasn't until the screen test that she found out she was reading for the role of MJ rather than for a background character.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Behind the Scenes (1)

  1. #013

    Famously wore faux locks with her Vivienne Westwood gown to the Oscars.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Characters & Cast (1)

  1. #014

    Was not originally told what movie she was reading for when auditioning for "Spider-Man: Homecoming", but found out through her agents. It wasn't until the screen test that she found out she was reading for the role of MJ rather than for a background character.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Career & Awards (11)

  1. #015

    A Barbie doll was made of the look she wore to the Oscars, but it was not made for public sale as it was originally reported to be.

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  2. #016

    Is in the Kidz Bop music video "Hot N Cold.".

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  3. #017

    As of 2020, she is the youngest winner of an Emmy in the category Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Just the previous year Jodie Comer had broken Lindsay Wagner's record from 1977.

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  4. #018

    Is one of the back-up dancers in the "Sears Arrive" music video, featuring Selena Gomez.

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  5. #019

    As of 2020, she is the youngest winner of an Emmy in the category Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Just the previous year Jodie Comer had broken Lindsay Wagner's record from 1977.

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  6. #020

    Screen-tested for the role of Alita in Alita: Battle Angel (2019).

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  7. #021

    Attended Oakland School for the Arts but left to move to Los Angeles when she got the role of "Rocky Blue" on Shake It Up (2010).

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  8. #022

    Originally attached to star as Aaliyah in the Lifetime TV movie Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B (2014) but ended up dropping out of the project, according to her, due to the lack of production value, complications with the music rights, and Aaliyah's family's disapproval of the making of the film not being handled delicately. Negatively received, she also faced massive backlash to her casting from the fans on social media.

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  9. #023

    Is in the Kidz Bop music video "Hot N Cold.".

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  10. #024

    A Barbie doll was made of the look she wore to the Oscars, but it was not made for public sale as it was originally reported to be.

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  11. #025

    Famously wore faux locks with her Vivienne Westwood gown to the Oscars.

    CAREER & AWARDS · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Life & Family (5)

  1. #026

    Attended Oakland School for the Arts but left to move to Los Angeles when she got the role of "Rocky Blue" on Shake It Up (2010).

    LIFE & FAMILY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  2. #027

    She had a Giant Schnauzer named Midnight who passed away in October 2015. She now has a Miniature Schnauzer named Noon.

    LIFE & FAMILY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  3. #028

    Her name means "giving thanks" in the language of the African Shona tribe.

    LIFE & FAMILY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  4. #029

    She danced with Future Shock Oakland for three years.

    LIFE & FAMILY · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  5. #030

    If she hadn't become an actress, she would've been a teacher like her parents, or a basketball player.

    LIFE & FAMILY · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Related pages

Sources & editorial notes

Reference databases

  • Wikipedia English Wikipedia article
  • IMDb IMDb name page (biography and trivia)

Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work