Zendaya has grown from a child-star to a popstar to a social media phenomenon and… even to saving Spider-Man’s bacon! But how much do you know about this talented actor? Read on to find out more about her upbringing, her big successes, and what the name Zendaya really means!

If celebrity and movie facts are your thing – then check out these Black Panther facts, these High School Musical facts, or even have a go at this epic true or false movie quiz!

Ok, now back to Zendaya!

1. Zendaya’s early years!

Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman (that’s just Zendaya to us!) was born on September 1, 1996, in Oakland, California. She began her career in the entertainment industry at a young age, and took part in local theater and dance competitions. And then came her big break!

2. Her big break!

Like lots of actors and pop stars, Zendaya got her big break through Disney! From the age of 14 she was much loved for her role as Rocky Blue in the Disney Channel series “Shake It Up,” which she starred in from 2010 to 2013. This was just the start of her successful journey in showbiz!

3. She can sing! She can dance!

And that’s not all! She can act as well (but you probably knew that already)! Her versatile skills have been shown off in all kinds of projects, from acting in hit movies to releasing her own music. Her music particualrly shows that she’s definitely still on the way up – but more on that later!

4. Zendaya in the Spider-verse

Zendaya won best supporting actress in Spider-Man Far From Home for her role of MJ (Michelle Jones) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man films. She’s played MJ since “Spider-Man: Homecoming” in 2017. MJ is a call back to older Spider-Man storylines, where it stood for Mary Jane instead of Michelle Jones!

5. Emmy time

In 2020, Zendaya made history by becoming the youngest winner of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in the HBO series “Euphoria.” Her role was a tricky one in that show, and the win catapulted here into bigger roles! By the way… this pic is an Oscar, not an Emmy…. but you get the idea!

6. She’s very fashionable!

Being in the limelight since the age of 14 has given Zendaya lots of time to get used to media attention – and she’s learnt a lot about how to look good! Zendaya is famous for her fashion sense, and she’s had some very bold looks on red carpets and celebrity events! Just look at what she’s wearing here!

7. What does Zendaya mean?

Zendaya has mixed German and African heritage, and her name reflects that. Her first name is inspired by the Shona name Tendai – meaning “give thanks”. Her dad changed it to include a Z, because he “had a thing for Zs and Zen, so he helped name me Zendaya,” she said once in an interview

8. Dancing with Zendaya

In 2013, Zendaya joined the sixteenth season of “Dancing with the Stars” and finished as the runner-up. Her dance skills and charisma on the show were a big hit with audiences, so we’re sure we’ll see more of her in reality TV in not too long!

9. She was in Space Jam!

Not the original! Zendaya lent her voice to the remake of Space Jam, where she played the amazing characer Lola Bunny! She also voice acted in “Smallfoot” (2018), where she played the character Meechee. Just when you thought acting, dancing and singing was enough!

10. She’s really popular on social media

Zendaya is active on social media and has a massive following. She has a huge presence on platforms like Instagram and Twitter, which allows her to connect with fans and share snuppetsof her life beyond the screen. SHe uses this to have a laugh, and even raise money for charity – but more on that later!

11. She runs a lot of businesses!

Beyond acting, Zendaya has ventured into business. She collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger for a fashion line called “TommyXZendaya,” and draws on her fashion skills, fame and social media to offer young people some cool new clothes and looks!

12. She’s a campaigner

Zendaya is vocal about issues of diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry. She actively advocates for equal representation and opportunities for people of all backgrounds. This is a cause that’s close to her heart as a non-white woman – she’s very aware of the struggles people face, because she’s experienced a lot of them herself!

13. Zendaya the popstar!

Zendaya has been musical almost as long as she’s acted! Her first hit was “Replay”, which got into the Billboard Top 40! Since then she’s had lots of big tracks, like “Something New” and “Watch me”. She’s also worked on a lot of sountracks for different movies and shows she has worked on, like The Greatest Showman and Euphoria!

14. She’s really close to her family

Zendaya’s family has been a crucial part of her success. They have supported her all the way through it, and offered loads of good advice. And they should know – her dad is in the industry too! Her worked as a stage manager so knows a bit about how Hollywood works. Her mother was a teacher too, and was a big influence on her love for the arts and education.

15. She does loads of charity work!

Like many celebs, Zendaya is involved in a range of different charitable causes. She has supported organizations like Convoy of Hope and worked with UNAIDS to raise awareness about the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. She uses her platform to make a positive impact on the world – so thanks Zendaya! We can’t wait to see what she gets up to next!