Zendaya describes this as one of the most intense years of her life, balancing a return to Euphoria with four major film releases on the horizon.
Upcoming Projects
The actress stars alongside Robert Pattinson in The Drama and portrays the goddess Athena opposite her fiancé Tom Holland in Christopher Nolan’s epic The Odyssey. She also reunites with Holland in Spider-Man: One More Day and teams up with Timothée Chalamet in Dune: Part Three.
“I think this is one of the most intense years of my life,” Zendaya states. She notes it feels less demanding than the previous year, when she filmed many of these projects.
Family Comes First
Family remains a top priority for Zendaya. “We’re very close. I’m an aunt, and watching my nephews and nieces grow up is very important to me,” she shares. “They bring so much to my life, even without realizing it. Sometimes it’s simple things, like helping to redecorate my niece’s room.”
Her loved ones have a special nickname for her: Aunt Daya. “At that moment, I’m just Aunt Daya – and that’s everything,” she says.
Career Reflections and Role Selection
This year marks the end of several character arcs. “This has been a year of wrapping up chapters with some characters I’ve grown with, of finishing their journey in a really beautiful way,” Zendaya explains. Revisiting roles like those in Spider-Man proves fascinating due to time jumps, allowing fresh interpretations.
She seeks complex roles that challenge her. “I like complex and interesting characters that challenge me and unfold. When I’m choosing roles, I get a lot of inspiration from the script,” she admits. A captivating script holds her attention despite her tendency to get distracted easily.
“It’s important that the work is exciting, but also a little scary—like, a little healthy fear about whether or not I’ll be able to embody the character is always good,” Zendaya adds. Collaborating with inspiring directors also drives her decisions.
Lessons from Characters
Each role offers personal growth. “Even though the characters might seem very different, there’s still a lot of personal emotion, my own, that I use in each of them,” she notes. “And they all teach me something new about the world, and about myself.”
She draws facets of herself into performances but maintains boundaries. “I usually believe in separating that… When the director says ‘cut,’ I usually try to detach myself from them somehow.”
Current Vibes and Style Favorites
Currently in relaxation mode, Zendaya favors cozy outfits. “I’m in relaxed mode right now, so I practically only wear pajamas. My current obsession is pajama sets,” she reveals.
One standout red carpet moment involved a Joan of Arc-inspired look resembling knight’s armor. “It made me feel very powerful and confident. It was one of my favorites,” she says.
