Zendaya is undeniably one of the fastest rising actresses working in Hollywood right now, becoming the youngest recipient of an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Rue in Euphoria. She has worked on such high-profile projects as the Spider-Man franchise and, most recently, the 2021 adaptation of Dune.
Outside of her films, Zendaya comes across as an extremely likable person, participating in fun challenges such as Lip Sync Battle alongside co-star Tom Holland. She often portrays likable and relatable characters in her projects, despite some of these films and shows having a dark or dramatic tone.
Michelle Jones - Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) & Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Michelle Jones is an observant student that keeps tabs on Peter Parker, struggling to get close to him but liking him from the start. She is not afraid to point things out that make others uncomfortable, such as the history of the Washington Monument, and is kind of quirky, refusing to do physical activity in gym class and instead reading Of Human Bondage.
MJ's initial abrasive personality is a fresh sight in the roster of MCU love interests. In Spider-Man: Far From Home, MJ grows much closer to Peter. Comic fans enjoyed seeing the small details about MJ that were directly taken from the comics, such as the Black Dahlia necklace, as well as her distinct personality. MJ will next be seen in Spider-Man: No Way Home, which will undoubtedly further MJ's development even more.
Marie Jones - Malcolm & Marie (2021)
The performances of John David Washington as Malcolm and Zendaya as Marie in Malcolm and Marie power this film beyond a straightforward couple's argument. As Malcolm and Marie argue over Malcolm's latest film and his reluctance to rely on Marie, their relationship is examined and they discover more about each other than they originally planned.
Zendaya makes Marie likable by exposing her faults and insecurities, allowing Marie to express herself through tense moments and impressively acted dialogue. Marie is sympathetic as the audience can see themselves in her, identifying with her wish to be thanked for her work, as well as relating to the times when we have been overlooked in favor of others.
Meechee - Smallfoot (2018)
Smallfoot follows a young yeti, Migo, that lives above the clouds on a mountain, who one day finds evidence of humans - also known as smallfoot - living below the clouds. Migo is in love with Meechee, a good and curious character, who wants to explore the world and find out more about the land below the clouds, especially when Percy the smallfoot arrives in the Yeti Village.
Meechee's name and the promotional material for Smallfoot spawned a meme by Vine artist Gabriel Gundacker, but Meechee is a genuinely likable character, acting kindly to everyone and showing Migo that the world is full of wonder if he takes the time to explore.
Rue Bennett - Euphoria (2019-present)
HBO's Euphoria follows a group of teens as they navigate the world and overcome traumas due to sex and drugs. The characters each have defined roles and dialogue that sums them up perfectly, especially Rue, a recovering drug addict that leaves rehab at the start of the series.
Rue is introverted and sarcastic, often being rude to others and utilizing deadpan humor to hide a deeply emotional core. Rue is secretly caring, especially towards Jules and her younger sister, which enables the audience to establish a connection to her and root for her despite her destructive tendencies and abrasive personality. Sarcastic characters are potentially likable for an audience because they are so different from typical protagonists, and some viewers may enjoy that type of crass humor. Rue is also able to resonate with viewers because her journey is emotional and pulls us along with her.
Rocky Blue - Shake It Up (2010-2013)
Shake It Up was one of Zendaya's first performances, and showcases her ability to demonstrate sincere character growth, even within a comedic children's show. Rocky starts the series as an unsure girl that doubts herself and becomes scared if things don't go to plan, but by the end of the show, she has become much more confident, standing up for herself and her friends and acting maturely.
Rocky is loyal, but she can be sensitive about her appearance, such as getting dirty or being teased about her height. The little details in her personality are built up throughout the show and make the audience genuinely like her, as viewers can watch her become more confident and grow as a person throughout the seasons.
Fola - The OA (2016-2019)
The OA is a mystery show about Prairie, a young woman that went missing for seven years. Prairie suddenly reappears and assembles a team to save other missing people via an interdimensional portal. Fola appears in season 2 as a guest character, and Zendaya plays her with subtlety, using cryptic dialogue to examine the mysteries in the series.
Despite her brief appearance on the show, Fola was liked by fans for providing a spiritual side to the series, explaining the themes of enlightenment and advancement within society. Like many Netflix shows, The OA was canceled after two seasons, despite the creators planning for five seasons, but it is missed by a large portion of the fandom for its interesting premise and characters.
Anne Wheeler - The Greatest Showman (2017)
Zendaya portrays one of the most likable and compelling characters in The Greatest Showman, Anne Wheeler, a trapeze artist that falls in love with P.T. Barnum's rich business partner Philip Carlyle. Anne is wary of both her and Philip's status in Victorian society and is frequently discriminated against by Philip's parents.
Anne is extremely likable for her caring personality, staying by Philip's side in the hospital after he is badly burned. She is wary of what society will think of her relationship with Philip, but pursues her love anyway, deciding to stay with him regardless of what others may say. Philip becomes more likable by association, as he supports her no matter what and defends her against criticism.
Lola Bunny - Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
A big franchise crossover movie, Space Jam: A New Legacy features the Looney Tunes as they join forces with LeBron James to defeat an evil artificial intelligence via a basketball game. Lola Bunny appeared in the original Space Jam as a love interest for Bugs Bunny, and audiences had mixed reactions to her significant redesign in the latest film.
Lola appears in this film as a protégé of Wonder Woman until she is recruited to join the Tune Squad and save the world. Lola's redesign to be less sexualized is a more modern take on the character, and her bouncy personality is fun and likable to watch, with Zendaya's voice work being a highlight.
K.C. - K.C. Undercover (2015-2018)
K.C. Cooper is a mathematics and karate genius who is recruited to be an undercover spy for The Organisation alongside her parents. K.C. is outspoken and extremely skilled, aspiring to become like her parents. She is a tomboy and dislikes dresses and stereotypically feminine things, and can sometimes be arrogant about it, looking down on others for the things they enjoy.
However, K.C. is extremely likable for her tenacious and sarcastic personality. She protects those she likes, despite being socially awkward - especially around boys - and is a pretty good role model for young audiences, enjoying her schoolwork and working hard at the things she enjoys.