Zendaya, the Oakland native and Hollywood star, describes this as one of the most intense years of her life. She returns to Euphoria while preparing for four major film releases.

Upcoming Projects

Her slate includes The Drama alongside Robert Pattinson. She portrays goddess Athena opposite fiancé Tom Holland in Christopher Nolan’s epic The Odyssey. Additional projects feature Spider-Man: One More Day with Holland and Dune: Part Three with Timothée Chalamet.

“I think this is one of the most intense years of my life,” Zendaya said. She notes it feels less demanding than the previous year spent filming these projects.

Family Priorities

Family remains central to her life. “We’re very close. I’m an aunt, and watching my nephews and nieces grow up is very important to me,” she shared. “They bring so much to my life, even without realizing it. Sometimes it’s simple things, like helping to redecorate my niece’s room.”

Her family affectionately calls her “Aunt Daya,” a nickname that brings her great joy.

Career Reflections

This year marks the end of several character arcs. “This has been a year of wrapping up chapters with some characters I’ve grown with, of finishing their journey in a really beautiful way,” Zendaya explained.

Revisiting roles like those in Spider-Man offers fresh perspectives due to time jumps. “What’s interesting about this whole story is that I’m revisiting them at very different points in their lives,” she added.

Selecting Roles

Zendaya seeks complex characters that challenge her. “I like complex and interesting characters that challenge me and unfold,” she said. Scripts must capture her imagination quickly, given her tendency to get distracted while reading.

“It’s important that the work is exciting, but also a little scary—like, a little healthy fear about whether or not I’ll be able to embody the character is always good,” she noted. Collaborating with inspiring directors also motivates her choices.

Each role reveals personal insights. “Even though the characters might seem very different, there’s still a lot of personal emotion, my own, that I use in each of them,” Zendaya reflected. “They’re all parts of me or facets of me.”

She maintains boundaries post-production. “I usually believe in separating that… When the director says ‘cut,’ I usually try to detach myself from them somehow.”

Current Vibe and Style Favorites

Currently in relaxed mode, Zendaya favors pajama sets. For red carpet moments, a Joan of Arc-inspired look stands out. “It was like wearing a knight’s armor, literally. It made me feel very powerful and confident,” she said.