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)
- #001
Favorite singer: Michael Jackson.
- #002
Favorite TV show: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999).
- #003
Her name means "giving thanks" in the language of the African Shona tribe.
- #004
Is one of the back-up dancers in the "Sears Arrive" music video, featuring Selena Gomez.
- #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).
- #006
She danced with Future Shock Oakland for three years.
- #007
Was considered for an undisclosed role in Succession (2018).
Production Story (5)
- #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).
- #009
Screen-tested for the role of Alita in Alita: Battle Angel (2019).
- #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.
- #011
Was considered for an undisclosed role in Succession (2018).
- #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.
Behind the Scenes (1)
- #013
Famously wore faux locks with her Vivienne Westwood gown to the Oscars.
Characters & Cast (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.
Career & Awards (11)
- #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.
- #016
Is in the Kidz Bop music video "Hot N Cold.".
- #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.
- #018
Is one of the back-up dancers in the "Sears Arrive" music video, featuring Selena Gomez.
- #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.
- #020
Screen-tested for the role of Alita in Alita: Battle Angel (2019).
- #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).
- #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.
- #023
Is in the Kidz Bop music video "Hot N Cold.".
- #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.
- #025
Famously wore faux locks with her Vivienne Westwood gown to the Oscars.
Life & Family (5)
- #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).
- #027
She had a Giant Schnauzer named Midnight who passed away in October 2015. She now has a Miniature Schnauzer named Noon.
- #028
Her name means "giving thanks" in the language of the African Shona tribe.
- #029
She danced with Future Shock Oakland for three years.
- #030
If she hadn't become an actress, she would've been a teacher like her parents, or a basketball player.
Related pages
- Spider-Man: Far from Home — Zendaya comes up in the facts on that page
- Dune: Part One — Zendaya comes up in the facts on that page
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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