From her early days on the Disney Channel to swinging across the screen in the MCU Spider-Man franchise, Zendaya has been captivating audiences for the majority of her life. The twenty-five-year-old actress got her big break on Disney Channel’s hit television show Shake It Up back in 2010 in which she starred alongside actress Bella Thorne for almost three years. Since then she has gone on to star in major feature films and franchises. Her transition from Disney Channel child star to leading actor on the big screen is one of the smoothest seen in the business and is a true testament to the brilliant actress that she is.
Zendaya is not only admired by fans for her acting but for her personal style and fashion choices. Audiences always look forward to seeing what she will bring to the screen as well as wear on the red carpet. Her fashion statements are filled with bold, powerful, and original choices. They are an extension of herself and convey all the emotions you feel from the actress while watching her on-screen performances. Though her career is just beginning, here are Zendaya’s five best movie and TV show performances ranked.
5 The Greatest Showman
The Greatest Showman is based on the true story of P.T. Barnum's circus and his rise to fame. Hugh Jackman stars in the film alongside the talented Zendaya, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, and Rebecca Ferguson. In a movie filled with an incredible score, dazzling set designs, and choreography, one of the most entrancing aspects of the film is the love story between Anne Wheeler (Zendaya) and Phillip Carlyle (Efron). The two characters find themselves trying to make their relationship a reality in a world that tells them they can't be together due to their place in society. By far the most memorable scene from Zendaya in this film is her acrobatic duet with Efron to the song "Rewrite the Stars".
4 Malcolm and Marie
Sam Levinson's 2021 Romance/Drama Malcolm and Marie explores a young, abusive, and extremely passionate relationship between an up-and-coming filmmaker and a failed actress. While trying to balance new success and their relationship, the two fight over each other's intentions and which one of them really deserves credit for the success of Malcolm's new film. This movie is filled with stunning cinematography and powerful performances from both Zendaya and John David Washington who star in the film. Now available to stream on Netflix, this movie is nothing short of an emotional roller-coaster.
3 Dune
Denis Villeneuve's Dune was one of the most anticipated movies to be released in 2021. The film follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a young man who is destined to travel to dangerous planets in order to defend his family and ensure the survival of his people. On his journey, he suffers restless nights where he has dreams of a girl calling out to him for help. Finally, when Paul makes it to the planet of Arrakis he meets the girl in his dreams, Chani (Zendaya). The film leaves off very open-ended giving Dune: Part 2, which was just officially confirmed, a variety of directions to go in.
2 Euphoria
Euphoria is one of the most successful projects Zendaya has ever been a part of and it's all due to her incredible portrayal of the character Rue Bennett. Rue is a seventeen-year-old drug addict who was just released from rehab and has no desire to stay clean. Suffering from depression and being forced to stay in high school, Rue has difficulty finding meaning and happiness in her life. Nothing is looking up for her until she meets Jules (Hunter Schafer) a transgender girl also searching for her meaning. The two go on a journey of finding themselves together and helping breathe life into each other's dark situations. Euphoria which is available on HBO Max to stream became an instant hit when it was initially released in 2019 and season 2 is set to be released on January 9, 2022. This show was a monumental point in Zendaya's career as it won her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
1 Jon Watts' Spider-Man Trilogy
To say this franchise is a hit is an understatement. The Marvel Cinematic Universe Spider-Man trilogy has always been successful, since the release of its first installment Spider-Man: Homecoming back in 2017 but in under a week the final installment Spider-Man: No Way Home has changed cinema history. The film was released on December 17, 2021, and had the second biggest box office opening of all time, beating out classics such as Avengers: Infinity War and James Cameron's Avatar and Titanic, all of which were notorious for their massive box office earnings. Tom Holland stars as Spider-Man himself while Zendaya plays MJ also known as Michelle Jones, Spider-Man's love interest. MJ and Peter Parker's best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) are always right there by Spider-Man's side to help him on his adventures throughout the trilogy. The chemistry between Holland and Zendaya is just as real on screen as it is off. The two have officially announced that they are dating which makes fans love to see Peter Parker and MJ together on the big screen even more.