Zendaya has made an impact in the film and television industry, recently winning an Emmy for her role in Euphoria. She's played a wide range of characters in TV and film; audiences will surely recognize her for her role as MJ in Spider-Man: Homecoming and its sequel, Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Only 24, Zendaya has already made Emmy history and appeared in several productions; audiences are bound to see only more great things come from her. In the meantime, Rotten Tomatoes helps determine her best work thus far.
Film: The Greatest Showman (57%)
The Greatest Showman, released in 2017, was inspired by P.T. Barnum's story of creating his beloved Barnum's American Museum, as well as the lives of the star attractions. Zendaya became a part of the circus in the film, playing trapeze artist and acrobat Anne Wheeler.
Zendaya's talent was showcased in this musical film, as she not only demonstrated her acting chops but also issues in society at the time the film's setting took place, as she faced discrimination from peers given her relationship with Phillip Carlyle (Zac Efron) in the film. Portraying both of these things was no easy feat, but Zendaya made it look effortless.
Film: Smallfoot (75%)
Zendaya lent her voice to this 2018 animated film as Meechee, the love interest of the film's protagonist, Migo. Migo and Meechee are both yetis, living high in the mountains. Migo's life is forever changed when he encounters a "smallfoot", also known as a human.
This discovery causes some trouble for the yetis, including Meechee who is attacked by police later on in the film. It's a children's movie that integrates life lessons about acceptance and includes the likes of Channing Tatum, Common, and Danny DeVito alongside Zendaya in its talented cast.
TV: Euphoria (82%)
Zendaya plays the conflicted Rue in this HBO TV series that follows several high school students who face different experiences concerning drugs, sex, identity, hardships, and more. Zendaya's character is troubled by drug use and several mental issues and struggles to grow up and find her place in the world.
She faces depression and relationship difficulties, among other things. The role won Zendaya her first Emmy, which was definitely earned for her impeccable performance.
Film: Spider-Man: Far From Home (90%)
MJ plays a bigger part in the sequel, becoming Peter's love interest. Peter (Tom Holland) has his hands full, trying to tell MJ about his feelings for her while they're on a class summer trip in Europe, but ends up having to play superhero a majority of the time, which thwarts his plans for a relationship with MJ for a bit.
Luckily, MJ, being the observant person she is, realizes who Peter really is, and returns his affections. It's a good thing Peter has MJ, as when Far From Home ended, he was facing a pretty big problem in having his secret identity unveiled to the entire world, and he's going to need all the support he can get.
TV: Black-ish (91%)
Zendaya guest-starred on the popular sitcom as Rasheida, who causes something of a rift in the Johnson family, albeit unintentionally. Dre, tired of Father's Day being overshadowed by Mother's Day, comes up with a new concept: a Daddy's Day in the fall. His company is equally excited about the idea, and when his daughter Zoey is disinterested in the concept, Dre chooses her friend Rasheida to be the face of the campaign instead.
Dre starts spending lots of time with Rasheida; she doesn't get to see her own dad often, so she enjoys hanging with Dre. The trouble is, all the attention Dre has been giving Rasheida has hurt his own daughter's feelings, but luckily, they make up before the episode is over.
Film: Spider-Man: Homecoming (92%)
Zendaya plays MJ, a fellow classmate of Peter Parker's. She is intelligent and observant, with a penchant for sarcasm. While Peter is busy trying to stop the film's main villain, played by Michael Keaton, and trying to come into his own as a potential Avenger, MJ appears here and there throughout the film.
Like Peter, she is also on the academic decathlon team, and for a heart-stopping moment near the film's conclusion, Peter fears MJ knows his secret, but it turns out she's just messing with him.
Film: Beyoncé: Lemonade (100%)
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Released in 2016, this film, and visual album, made a significant impact. Beyoncé herself directed and produced the project. The film was divided into eleven chapters and featured home videos of Beyoncé's and Jay-Z's daughter Blue Ivy, alongside Jay-Z's grandmother.
Three mothers, whose sons were killed, are also featured. Zendaya made a cameo on Beyoncé's visual album, commenting that she felt like she "was a part of music history."