section_path: Career/2019–present: Rise to prominence
section_name: 2019–present: Rise to prominence
paragraph_text: 2019–present: Rise to prominence
  
  In 2019, Zendaya began starring in the HBO drama series Euphoria, an adaptation of the Israeli series of the same name, as Rue, a 17-year-old drug addict and the narrator of the series. The series premiered on June 16, 2019, to positive critical reception, with her performance receiving acclaim: Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian wrote that "Zendaya is reinvented as the self-destructive, self-loathing Rue, in what is a truly astonishing, mesmerising performance, upending every expectation of what she could do"; Doreen St. Felix of The New Yorker echoed the sentiment writing: "It becomes difficult, and then absolutely silly, to recall the pink outlines of her early career on the Disney Channel, so grandly does she inhabit this dark new role. She understands the neediness of her character: that Rue, at heart, wants nothing more than to be loved; that her chemical cravings work in service of a spiritual one". Also in 2019, Zendaya reprised her role as MJ in Spider-Man: Far from Home. Critic Christy Lemire called Zendaya's portrayal "darkly alluring" and praised her "humorous, deadpan charm". The film was a commercial success, becoming the fourth highest-grossing release of the year. At the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards in 2020, Zendaya won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, becoming the youngest winner of the award at the age of 24.
  
  In 2021, Zendaya starred in Malcolm & Marie, which was filmed during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The production complied with extensive safety protocols and had a lean crew to minimize health risks. The film co-stars John David Washington, and was directed by Sam Levinson, who also created Euphoria. Zendaya allocated shares to the film to everyone involved in its making, as a way of offering a financial bonus when the movie was sold. Part of the proceeds was shared with Feeding America. The film had a mixed reception but Zendaya's performance was positively reviewed. Brian Truitt of USA Today described her as "luminous" and "absolute fire", Richard Brody called her performance "the movie's only redeeming quality", and Variety ' s Peter Debruge praised her for "wear Marie's fragility on the surface, only to reveal the character's strength through reaction shots and silence".
  
  Zendaya next voiced the character of Lola Bunny in Space Jam: A New Legacy. She accepted Coogler's offer to star in the film because of her interest in working with Coogler and being a fan of the original 1996 film. Growing up with the first film since childhood, Zendaya drew on her experiences with her family's love of basketball for the role. Zendaya played Chani in Denis Villeneuve 's science fiction film Dune, the first part of a two-part adaptation of the 1965 novel of the same name. Critic Glenn Kenny dubbed her portrayal "better than apt", while Brian Lowry of CNN noted that her role was limited to "gauzy images" in the protagonist's visions. Zendaya reprised her role as MJ for the third time in Spider-Man: No Way Home. RogerEbert.com ' s Brian Tallerico praised Zendaya and Tom Holland 's chemistry as well as her execution of MJ's "emotional final beats".
  
  Having already collaborated with Labrinth on the song " All for Us " for Euphoria ' s first season, in 2022 Zendaya co-wrote two songs (" I'm Tired " and " Elliot's Song ") for the second season, also performing as a vocalist on the former. Receiving continued acclaim for her performance as Rue, the second season of Euphoria earned her four Emmy nominations. Nominated for Lead Actress in a Drama for the second time, she became the youngest two-time nominee in Emmy history, while her nomination as an executive producer for Outstanding Drama Series made her the youngest woman ever nominated for producing. She also received two nominations for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for her lyrical contributions to the show's soundtrack. In 2023, Zendaya won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama at the 80th Golden Globe Awards and received a Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination for her work in Euphoria.
  
  Zendaya made an appearance in the Elvis Mitchell 's documentary Is That Black Enough For You?!? During the second weekend of Coachella 2023, she joined Labrinth in a surprise performance of "All for Us" and "I'm Tired", which marked her first return to the stage in 8 years. She was featured on the opening song "The Feels" of Labrinth's third album Ends & Begins. Zendaya next appeared in the documentary film Invisible Beauty, based on work of American fashion model and activist Bethann Hardison.
  
  In 2024, Zendaya reprised her role as Chani in the sequel Dune: Part Two. The film was released in March to highly positive reviews, with her performance also receiving praise. Zendaya next starred in and produced the romantic sports drama Challengers, directed by Luca Guadagnino, opposite Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist. She described the role as an opportunity to shed her younger image and "play a woman closer to own age". The film was released in the United States in April to critical acclaim, with Zendaya's performance getting particular praise. In her review for the New Statesman, Simran Hans wrote that the film is "a brilliant showcase for Zendaya, whose on-screen magnetism has rarely been channelled so effectively". She received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
  
  Zendaya will next star opposite Robert Pattinson in the romantic drama The Drama and in Christopher Nolan 's The Odyssey (2026). She’s set to appear as MJ for the fourth time in Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026). She will also reprise her role in the third season of Euphoria.
  
  In 2019, Zendaya began starring in the HBO drama series Euphoria, an adaptation of the Israeli series of the same name, as Rue, a 17-year-old drug addict and the narrator of the series. The series premiered on June 16, 2019, to positive critical reception, with her performance receiving acclaim: Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian wrote that "Zendaya is reinvented as the self-destructive, self-loathing Rue, in what is a truly astonishing, mesmerising performance, upending every expectation of what she could do"; Doreen St. Felix of The New Yorker echoed the sentiment writing: "It becomes difficult, and then absolutely silly, to recall the pink outlines of her early career on the Disney Channel, so grandly does she inhabit this dark new role. She understands the neediness of her character: that Rue, at heart, wants nothing more than to be loved; that her chemical cravings work in service of a spiritual one". Also in 2019, Zendaya reprised her role as MJ in Spider-Man: Far from Home. Critic Christy Lemire called Zendaya's portrayal "darkly alluring" and praised her "humorous, deadpan charm". The film was a commercial success, becoming the fourth highest-grossing release of the year. At the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards in 2020, Zendaya won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, becoming the youngest winner of the award at the age of 24.
  
  In 2021, Zendaya starred in Malcolm & Marie, which was filmed during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The production complied with extensive safety protocols and had a lean crew to minimize health risks. The film co-stars John David Washington, and was directed by Sam Levinson, who also created Euphoria. Zendaya allocated shares to the film to everyone involved in its making, as a way of offering a financial bonus when the movie was sold. Part of the proceeds was shared with Feeding America. The film had a mixed reception but Zendaya's performance was positively reviewed. Brian Truitt of USA Today described her as "luminous" and "absolute fire", Richard Brody called her performance "the movie's only redeeming quality", and Variety ' s Peter Debruge praised her for "wear Marie's fragility on the surface, only to reveal the character's strength through reaction shots and silence".
  
  Zendaya next voiced the character of Lola Bunny in Space Jam: A New Legacy. She accepted Coogler's offer to star in the film because of her interest in working with Coogler and being a fan of the original 1996 film. Growing up with the first film since childhood, Zendaya drew on her experiences with her family's love of basketball for the role. Zendaya played Chani in Denis Villeneuve 's science fiction film Dune, the first part of a two-part adaptation of the 1965 novel of the same name. Critic Glenn Kenny dubbed her portrayal "better than apt", while Brian Lowry of CNN noted that her role was limited to "gauzy images" in the protagonist's visions. Zendaya reprised her role as MJ for the third time in Spider-Man: No Way Home. RogerEbert.com ' s Brian Tallerico praised Zendaya and Tom Holland 's chemistry as well as her execution of MJ's "emotional final beats".
  
  Having already collaborated with Labrinth on the song " All for Us " for Euphoria ' s first season, in 2022 Zendaya co-wrote two songs (" I'm Tired " and " Elliot's Song ") for the second season, also performing as a vocalist on the former. Receiving continued acclaim for her performance as Rue, the second season of Euphoria earned her four Emmy nominations. Nominated for Lead Actress in a Drama for the second time, she became the youngest two-time nominee in Emmy history, while her nomination as an executive producer for Outstanding Drama Series made her the youngest woman ever nominated for producing. She also received two nominations for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for her lyrical contributions to the show's soundtrack. In 2023, Zendaya won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama at the 80th Golden Globe Awards and received a Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination for her work in Euphoria.
  
  Zendaya made an appearance in the Elvis Mitchell 's documentary Is That Black Enough For You?!? During the second weekend of Coachella 2023, she joined Labrinth in a surprise performance of "All for Us" and "I'm Tired", which marked her first return to the stage in 8 years. She was featured on the opening song "The Feels" of Labrinth's third album Ends & Begins. Zendaya next appeared in the documentary film Invisible Beauty, based on work of American fashion model and activist Bethann Hardison.
  
  In 2024, Zendaya reprised her role as Chani in the sequel Dune: Part Two. The film was released in March to highly positive reviews, with her performance also receiving praise. Zendaya next starred in and produced the romantic sports drama Challengers, directed by Luca Guadagnino, opposite Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist. She described the role as an opportunity to shed her younger image and "play a woman closer to own age". The film was released in the United States in April to critical acclaim, with Zendaya's performance getting particular praise. In her review for the New Statesman, Simran Hans wrote that the film is "a brilliant showcase for Zendaya, whose on-screen magnetism has rarely been channelled so effectively". She received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
  
  Zendaya will next star opposite Robert Pattinson in the romantic drama The Drama and in Christopher Nolan 's The Odyssey (2026). She’s set to appear as MJ for the fourth time in Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026). She will also reprise her role in the third season of Euphoria.