Zendaya needs no introduction. She has been the talk of Hollywood ever since she rose to prominence with her remarkable ability to lend a unique touch to every role of hers. She is the youngest person to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2020. She is also the youngest two-time Emmy winner for her role as Rue in Euphoria, which the audience absolutely loved her in!
We have seen her ace both teenage and mature roles, for which she has bagged the prestigious Golden Globe. Zendaya has also been named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2022. Being a woman of many talents, including a fashion icon, this does not come as a shock to any of her fans. Her musical prowess shines through in "Rewrite the Stars" from The Greatest Showman, and the soundtrack of Euphoria Season 2.
Here’s a roundup of top 7 Zendaya performances to watch if you liked her in Euphoria.
Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers. It also reflects the author's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.
Top 7 Zendaya performances to watch if you liked her in Euphoria:
Spider-Man: Homecoming
In this Spider Man movie, Zendaya takes on the role of Spider-Man’s love interest, Michelle "MJ" Jones. Like any other character she has ever stepped into, Zendaya brings a fresh twist to this iconic character. Her chemistry with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker and her quick wit make her a standout. As is expected, Zendaya absolutely owns the character with her smart and sarcastic dialogues.
Spider-Man: Homecoming is about Peter Parker juggling life as a high schooler and a superhero. Full of humor and action, this Marvel movie delivers what it promises. The movie also features Michael Keaton as the Vulture and Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark.
Dune: Part Two
In Dune: Part Two, Zendaya plays the character of Chani. The second installment of this movie gets her a lot more screen time than the first part of it, where she is mostly just a vision in Paul Atreides' (Timothée Chalamet) mind.
In the second movie, she is more central to the driving force of the story. She is Paul’s love interest on the desert planet Arrakis. She teaches him the ropes of living in the harsh environment and even shows him how to ride those massive sandworms. The movie dives deeper into Chani’s world as she guides Paul through the ways of her people, the Fremen. She’s not just a love interest; she teaches Paul crucial survival skills in the second installment.
This movie shows Zendaya’s unique ability of completely getting into a character, allowing her to add depth to each role.
Malcolm and Marie
This Netflix original movie came out in 2021. It features only Zendaya and John David Washington, is black-and-white, and takes place over just a single night. Zendaya is Marie in the movie, Malcolm’s (John David Washington) girlfriend. One night, when the couple returns home after the premiere of Malcolm’s new movie, things start falling apart as they argue about Malcolm not thanking Marie in his speech. This small argument turns into a big one and things start getting more complicated.
The movie reveals Zendaya’s acting chops as she goes through a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the story. The audience is unable to take their eyes off her as she becomes the character, Marie, and delivers a top-notch performance. This also gave her an opportunity to explore a mature role compared to her earlier roles. She is strong, vulnerable, intense, and emotional in the movie.
K.C. Undercover
In this Disney show, Zendaya plays a high schooler who is hired to be an undercover spy by her parents. She is sassy K.C. Cooper in the show that aired from January 2015 to February 2018. Packed with action and comedy, Zendaya’s K.C. is a smart character who uses her cool karate moves to catch the bad guys on secret spy missions. Needless to say, she stole the show. It also marked an important step for Disney Channel as it promoted diversity through this show.
Her adaptability as an actress really shines through in K.C. Undercover.
Smallfoot
Just when you think, she can’t get any better, there she is, flexing her voice acting skills! Smallfoot is a heartwarming and fun movie about a group of yetis who live in the Himalayas. They have zero clue that humans even exist. However, one of the yetis believes that he actually saw one. That’s how the movie gets its name–Smallfoot. The yeti tries to convince his tribe that he saw a human and they do exist.
The movie also stars Channing Tatum, Danny DeVito, and Common. Zendaya lends Meechee her voice in the movie. Meechee is a keen yeti who has an optimistic attitude. She starts questioning if smallfoots (humans) could actually be real. A musical comedy, this movie is about being open-minded and embracing what might lie beyond all we know. Zendaya brings a positive and cheerful energy to her role.
The Greatest Showman
Though Zendaya has a small role in this musical, she does not fail to impress the audience with her skills as a performer. With her pink hair, aerial acrobatic skills, she leaves a deep imprint on the minds of the audience. Playing Anne Wheeler, Zendaya did her own stunts in the movie. She is Phillip Carlyle’s (Zac Efron) love interest and their chemistry makes this movie a must-watch.
Based on the man behind the Barnum & Bailey Circus, P.T. Barnum, this is a vibrant movie that easily draws its audience in with its catchy music and feel-good energy. Featuring an all-star cast including Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, and Rebecca Ferguson, The Greatest Showman is a treat to the eyes and ears. If you’d like to see Zendaya effortlessly swing on the trapeze, and also hear her sing, this is what you are looking for.
Spider-Man: Far From Home
Spider-Man: Far From Home is a sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming. This movie lends Zendaya a bigger role as she becomes a key player in the plot. A lot is happening in this movie. Peter Parker is on a summer trip with his classmates, while he is dealing with the loss of Tony Stark. He is also gathering the courage to confess his feelings to MJ, besides fulfilling his duties as a superhero.
The movie features Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio, the new hero in town. Peter is roped into a ‘save the world’ mission by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). However, MJ finds out Peter is Spider-Man and helps him find out Mysterio’s truth. Hence, we see a significant development in her role in the movie as she becomes more involved in Peter’s life.
If you liked Zendaya in Euphoria, watch these performances to see her doing what she does best.
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