Zendaya is an actress, singer and producer who's one of the most prominent artists of the modern day. Dune director Dennis Villeneuve has described her as "a cultural icon in the making," and as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022 according to Time Magazine, her stardom knows no bounds despite her relative youth.

Zendaya set the record for the youngest Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series winner in 2020 and the youngest two-time winner when she won again in 2022 for her portrayal of Rue in Euphoria, and since then, she has continued to star in memorable roles and contrasting characters. Zendaya played a high school student in a family of spies in the Disney Channel series K.C. Undercover and a high school student dealing with drug addiction in the HBO drama Euphoria. However, she also starred in more mature roles, like Marie in Malcolm and Marie and Tashi in Challengers more recently, showcasing her wide range of talents.

10 Shake It Up Was Zendaya’s Debut

Role: Rocky Blue

Shake It Up is a Disney Channel sitcom that aired from 2010 to 2013 starring Zendaya as Rocky Blue and Bella Thorne as CeCe Jones, two best friends who love dancing. They were only 14 and 13 years old, respectively, but both stars are amazing in the series. The premiere of Shake It Up garnered 6.2 million viewers and was the highest-rated series premiere in Disney Channel's history.

Zendaya's performance as Rocky is energetic and relatable, capturing the joys and challenges of the world of entertainment. In her first lead role in a television series, she shows her talent for singing and dancing as well. Making her debut in one of the best Disney sitcoms, Zendaya's career started strong.

9 KC Undercover Was Zendaya’s Best Disney Project

Role: K.C. Cooper

After Shake It Up ended, Zendaya starred in K.C. Undercover as a high school genius who gets recruited by her parents to be an undercover spy. The show aired on Disney Channel from January 2015 to February 2018, and it's the best project among all Disney Channel shows and movies starring Zendaya.

With amazing fight scenes and funny premises in each episode, K.C. Undercover uses its protagonist's talent for math and karate to catch bad guys on spy missions. In addition to highlighting Zendaya's ability to star as the lead of her own television series, K.C. Undercover was an important step in Disney Channel's move toward increased diversity in its programming — something Zendaya credits as inspiration for taking the role.

8 Malcolm and Marie Gave Zendaya a Mature Role

Role: Marie Jones

Malcolm & Marie is a 2021 black-and-white drama film written, co-produced and directed by Sam Levinson. It stars Zendaya and John David Washington, who also served as producers alongside rapper Kid Cudi. It follows a writer-director and his girlfriend whose relationship is tested on the night of his latest film's premiere.

It was a much more mature and dramatic role than all the previous characters Zendaya had played. Marie Jones is a strong woman who shows a lot of vulnerability in this story. Arguably the highlight of the film revolves around an argument between Malcolm and Marie, which starts when the former snubs his romantic partner in his award acceptance speech. From there, John David Washington and Zendaya highlight their talents as performers, displaying the dark duality of romance in the world of performers.

7 Zendaya Gave a Career-Defining Dramatic Performance in Euphoria

Role: Rue Bennett

Euphoria is the project that established Zendaya as one of the best actresses of her generation. Her work on the show led to her winning the Critics' Choice Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, and the Primetime Emmy Awards, among other accolades. The HBO hit created by Sam Levinson is one of the most shocking series about teenagers today, with Zendaya playing a high school student struggling with drug addiction and bipolar disorder.

Rue Bennett is a non-binary lesbian 17-year-old who is fresh out of rehab and has been dealing with addiction since she was 13. It's a unique role within Zendaya's filmography and her best performance to date, and as evidenced by the massive effect that the show had on the cultural zeitgeist, it's impact will likely be felt for decades to come.

6 The Greatest Showman Brought Zendaya Back to Music

Role: Anne Wheeler

The Greatest Showman is a 2017 musical about a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation. Zendaya portrays Anne Wheeler, a talented trapeze artist who falls in love with Zac Efron's Phillip Carlyle. Her performance is both graceful and emotionally resonant, particularly in her aerial acrobatics sequences and in conveying the character's struggles against societal prejudice.

The film stars an ensemble cast led by Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya. It's a heavily fictionalized depiction of the life of real-life P. T. Barnum, a showman and entertainer who created the Barnum & Bailey Circus. It was praised for the performances, music and cinematography.

5 Spider-Man: Homecoming Was a Great Reboot

Role: Michelle "MJ" Jones

The second Spider-Man film reboot and the 16th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Tom Holland-led trilogy started strong with Spider-Man: Homecoming. Zendaya plays MJ, or Michelle Jones, Peter Parker's love interest who borrows Mary-Jane's initials to reference the dynamic, but it's a different character. The movie also stars Michael Keaton as the Vulture and Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark.

The film focused on Peter Parker's growth as both a superhero and a teenager, highlighting the challenges he faces in balancing his dual identity. It balanced action with well-timed humor, capturing the essence of Spider-Man as a witty young hero. Spider-Man: Homecoming seamlessly integrated the new Spider-Man into the MCU, allowing for crossover events and interactions with other beloved Marvel characters.

4 Spider-Man: Far From Home Expanded Zendaya’s Character

Role: Michelle "MJ" Jones