2021 was a landmark year for Zendaya, with four major film releases, including Spider-Man: No Way Home and Dune, which became blockbuster hits. Having started acting in 2009, Zendaya has starred in numerous acclaimed films and TV shows, earning her widespread recognition.
Zendaya and her stylist, Law Roach, attend the HBO Max FYC event for “Euphoria” at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on April 20, 2022, in Los Angeles, California (Credit: MEGA / WENN)
By the time she turned 26 in 2022, Zendaya had already won several prestigious awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award and a Critics’ Choice Movie Award. In 2022, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world—an incredible achievement at such a young age.
Check out these fun facts and discover Zendaya’s age during her top 7 movies, as ranked by Rotten Tomatoes. These films highlight her best work before she turned 26, after which she continued to shine in other great movies like Dune 2 and Challengers.
7. Malcolm & Marie – A Powerful Performance with a 56% Rating
The story progresses, but it’s the actors’ performances that truly elevate the film, compensating for the less-than-stellar writing. In particular, the performances of Zendaya and John David Washington were widely praised by both critics and audiences alike.
The critics opined that the strong chemistry between the film’s stars often offset the film’s flaws. In addition, the audiences said that Zendaya and John David Washington bring Malcolm & Marie to life, even when the story and the dialogue they’re given don’t do them any favors.
Zendaya and John David Washington served as producers and starred in the 2021 American black-and-white romantic drama film Malcolm & Marie (Credit: Netflix)
Malcolm & Marie was released in January 2021. Since Zendaya’s birthday falls on September 1, she was 24 years old when the film hit the screens.
Interesting Fact: Malcolm & Marie takes the credit for being Hollywood’s first feature to be written, produced, and financed during the Covid-19 pandemic
6. The Greatest Showman – Zendaya Shines in a 57% Rated Spectacle
The Greatest Showman was released in December 2017 when Zendaya was 21 years old. It received mixed reviews from critics.
They opined that the film tries hard to dazzle the audience with a Barnum-style sense of wonder — but at the expense of its complex subject’s far more intriguing real-life story.
Zendaya hardly used stunt doubles as trapeze artist Anne Wheeler in the 2017 American biographical musical drama film The Greatest Showman (Credit: 20th Century Fox)
However, in terms of audience score, The Greatest Showman is only one score less than Spider-Man: Homecoming, released in the same year. It received a total score of 86%.
Interesting Fact: The Greatest Showman was an ambitious project that took nine years to bring to the screen. A standout moment for Zendaya in the film is her performance of the original song “Rewrite the Stars” alongside her co-star Zac Efron, showcasing her dual talents as both a singer and an actor.
5. Smallfoot – Animated Fun with a 76% Rating
Smallfoot received positive responses from critics who reviewed that it keeps youngsters entertained with its colorful distraction and has a story whose message might even resonate with older audiences, suggesting that the film is a good watch for any age viewers.
Zendaya flaunts her legs in a Michael Kors dress on the blue carpet as she steps out for the premiere of Smallfoot on September 22, 2018, at the Regency Village Theatre in Westwood, California (Credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock)
However, the audience gave only 62% to the film. Smallfoot was released towards the end of September 2018, and so Zendaya was 22 years old at the time of its release.
Interesting Fact: This animation flick employed over 100 character animators, and the makers rendered millions of strands of hair for the principal actors.
4. Dune – A Sci-Fi Epic Garnering an 83% Score
Dune performed well among critics and audiences alike, with the former giving it an 83% score and the latter a 90% score. Critics praised the scope and ambition of this visually thrilling adaptation.
On the other hand, viewers commented that the film is slow-building but gets you hooked and that you will be on the edge of your seat for the sequel. Dune was also released in 2021, and Zendaya was 25 years old when the film was released.
Zendaya disappointed her fans by appearing for only seven minutes as the mysterious young Fremen woman Chani in the 2021 American epic science fiction film Dune (Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)
The sequel to Dune, Dune 2, is in the making now. She had a small yet exciting role in the first part and will have a more prominent presence in the future installments of Dune.
Interesting Fact: The internet broke out with possible assumptions and clarifications about what Zendaya’s role as Chani actually is in Dune. The film is based on the first half of a novel written by Frank Herbert and published in 1965.
3. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) – A Teen Romance with a 91% Score
Spider-Man: Far From Home received a slightly lower rating than its predecessor, Spider-Man: Homecoming, which was released in 2017. However, the audience gave it a remarkable score of 95%, surpassing the first film’s rating.
The film was released in 2019 when Zendaya was 23 years old. Critics praised it as a breezily unpredictable blend of teen romance and superhero action.
Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man and Zendaya as Michelle “MJ” Jones-Watson in the 2019 American superhero film Spider-Man: Far From Home (Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing)
They also asserted that Spider-Man: Far From Home stylishly sets the stage for the next era of MCU. The three films in the Spider-Man Trilogy scored the highest and are ranked the first three in Rotten Tomatoes’ top films of Zendaya.
Interesting Fact: Zendaya was constantly worried about Tom Holland’s safety during the shoot. She feared that he would not be able to breathe or he might choke inside the suit because he was wearing a one-piece costume.
2. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) – Introducing MJ with a 92% Score
It is the first in the three-part Spiderman series in the MCU world. Though Zendaya was introduced in Spider-Man: Homecoming, she did not have a significant role in the first part.
Only towards the film’s end will her name be revealed as MJ. Spider-Man: Homecoming was well received by the critics, scoring 92%. The audience score was 87%.
Zendaya made her debut as Michelle Jones, or “MJ” for short, in the 2017 American superhero film Spider-Man: Homecoming (Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing)
Interesting Fact: Zendaya’s character as MJ is not Mary Jane Watson as in the character played by Kirsten Dunst in the first Spider-Man as Peter Parker’s love interest.
Zendaya played Michelle, but the makers decided to call her MJ in homage since she plays the same character. Zendaya was 21 years old when Spider-Man: Homecoming was released.
1. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) – A Franchise Finale with a 92% Rating
The critics praised the third and possibly last of the Spider-Man series as a bigger, bolder sequel. They appreciated that it expanded the franchise’s scope and stakes without losing sight of its humor and heart.
Interesting Fact: Tom Holland asked Zendaya and Batalon (Ned Leeds) to visit the set even when they were not shooting to provide emotional support.
Zendaya’s third Spider-Man film, the 2021 American superhero film Spider-Man: No Way Home, was a box office success (Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing)
While the critics gave a 92% score, the audience considered it franchise fan service at its best and gave a 98% score.
Zendaya was 25 when Spider-Man: No Way Home was released in December 2021, three months after her 25th birthday.
Zendaya Stuns in Silver at Glamour’s Game Changers Lunch 2016
Zendaya wears her hair in braids at Glamour Magazine’s Game Changers lunch held on April 20, 2016, at Au Fudge in West Hollywood (Credit: Michael Wright / WENN)
In April 2016, Zendaya was just 19 but had already established herself as a true style icon. She turned 20 on September 1, 2016.
She’s one of our favorite faces to watch when it comes to fashion, and it was no exception when she attended Glamour Magazine’s event in West Hollywood.
The “K.C. Undercover” star made quite the entrance as she showed off her mile-long legs in a Manning Cartell ensemble at Jessica Biel’s restaurant Au Fudge.
Zendaya was at the restaurant to co-host Glamour’s Game Changers lunch, which honored some of today’s most influential women.
Zendaya shows off her mile-long legs in a silver miniskirt (Credit: Michael Wright / WENN)
Zendaya paired a white long-sleeved button-down shirt from Manning Cartell with a silver button-front mini skirt that showcased her endless legs.
She finished her ensemble with minimal silver jewelry by John Hardy and a pair of silver sandals by Stuart Weitzman.
Zendaya pairs an iridescent silver miniskirt with a white button-down shirt (Credit: Michael Wright / WENN)
Ever the hair chameleon, the Disney star switched up her hairstyle and went for sleek cornrows tied into a knot at the nape of her neck.
She rounded out her look with heavy smoky eye makeup, signature bold brows, and subtle pink lipstick.
Zendaya’s Manning Cartell button-down shirt peeks out from beneath her silver skirt (Credit: Michael Wright / WENN)
Zendaya picked the silver version of the iconic Stuart Weitzman “Nudist” sandals to match her skirt. These glittery sandals have keyhole cutouts at the rear, adjustable ankle straps, open toes, and about 4.5-inch heels.
Zendaya shows off her feet in silver Stuart Weitzman sandals (Credit: Michael Wright / WENN)
You can get these Stuart Weitzman sandals in different versions at Nordstrom and Zappos.
Stuart Weitzman “Nudist” Sandals, $266 – $415