Zendaya, now 27, first gained fame as a teenager in the entertainment industry, beginning her career as a model before landing a role on the Disney Channel series Shake It Up. She went on to star in K.C. Undercover before transitioning to more mature roles. In 2019, she began playing Rue Bennett on HBO’s controversial teen drama Euphoria, which earned her an Emmy in 2020, making her the youngest recipient of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Despite her success, Zendaya has complicated feelings about working as a child actor and being in the public eye from a young age.
Zendaya opened up about feeling like she was thrust into an adult position early in life, becoming the breadwinner of her family and experiencing a lot of role-reversal. She expressed that she feels like she’s going through her “angsty teenager phase” now, even though she’s in her late 20s, as she didn’t have the time to do so before. Zendaya reflected on the challenges of being a child actor and the unique experiences and pressures that come with it, acknowledging that only now, as an adult, is she beginning to realize the impact it has had on her.
Although Zendaya is still navigating her feelings about her child stardom, she has learned to make more space for herself without compromising the expectations of her fans. She shared that she used to feel obligated to say yes to every request for a picture or interaction, feeling grateful for her success and the opportunities it brought. However, she has since realized that it is okay to say no and set boundaries, allowing herself time to recharge and have moments of privacy away from the limelight.
Despite her adult success in projects like Dune: Part Two, Zendaya has found it difficult to fully enjoy or embrace her accomplishments. She described feeling tense and unable to relax or fully experience the positive moments in her career, attributing this to her childhood experiences as a working actor. Zendaya expressed a desire to have had the opportunity to explore and try different things as a child, mentioning that she wishes she had been able to attend school and have a more traditional upbringing.
Zendaya’s journey as a child actor and transitioning into more mature roles has allowed her to reflect on the impact of fame and success from a young age. She has faced challenges in finding a balance between her personal needs and expectations as a public figure, learning to prioritize her well-being and happiness. As she continues to navigate her career in the entertainment industry, Zendaya remains introspective and open about her experiences, using them to gain insight and perspective on her past, present, and future.
