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Zendaya is one of the most beloved and talented young actresses of her generation. Born in 1996, Zendaya started her acting career as a Disney star alongside Bella Thorne in Shake It Up! From there, the young actress moved to the world of feature film, and these days, she's known for her roles in major franchises such as Spider-Man as well as her dramatic roles both in movies and in the HBO series Euphoria.
Zendaya also holds the title of the youngest Emmy winner for her role on the show. Unsurprisingly, Zendaya has a lot of interesting roles under her belt despite her youth so all fans of Euphoria can enjoy other movies and series Zendaya starred in. All ratings are courtesy of IMDb.
7 Malcolm And Marie (2021): 6.7
One of Zendaya's latest and also most civil roles see her act opposite just one actor, John David Washington. Zendaya plays Marie, Malcolm's much younger girlfriend. When the couple returns home from the premiere of Malcolm's successful movie, a conflict arises between them because Malcolm didn't thank Marie in his speech. From there on, the relationship between them grows even more complicated over the course of a single night.
The movie was an ideal opportunity for Zendaya to prove once again she can pull off challenging dramatic roles since Zendaya barely leaves the screen, and her character goes through a large number of moods and emotions. As a result, it's fascinating to watch the movie, and not just because it's visually beautiful.
6 Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019): 7.4
Even though Spider-Man: Far From Home is a superhero movie, it's the closest to a romantic comedy of all the three Tom Holland Spider-Man solo movies. Peter spends a better time in the movie trying to figure out how to tell MJ he likes her.
He manages it in the end but not before MJ reveals she knows Peter's Spider-Man and she also helps save the world alongside Happy, Ned, and other characters. Zendaya's MJ got more space in the second movie and all fans of the actress surely appreciated it.
5 Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017): 7.4
Not everyone can say that their first huge foray into the world of feature films was Spider-Man. Zendaya managed it. Even though Michelle doesn't have such a big part in the first movie, she's still memorable thanks to her clever observations and sarcastic remarks.
It's also quite clear from the movie that she has a crush on Peter. The ending then hints that Zendaya's character will be much more important in the future when Michelle mentions her friends call her MJ.
4 The Greatest Showman (2017): 7.6
Zendaya doesn't often appear in musicals, despite the fact that she's a talented dancer and a singer as well. So watching The Greatest Showman is a unique opportunity to hear her sing. Based on the life of a real man, P.T. Barnum, but changed to a large degree, the movie is a colorful and captivating story with many great actors and wonderful music.
Hugh Jackman gives an unforgettable performance in the leading role, but Zendaya as Anne Wheeler and her on-screen love interest, Philip, played by Zac Efron, is also impossible to overlook in the movie.
3 Dune (2021): 8.1
Based on the novels by Frank Herbert, Dune is one of the greatest classics of the sci-fi genre, close to the likes of Star Trek and Star Wars, importance-wise. The story has been first filmed in 1984 by David Lynch but the 2021 version got even better reviews.
The talented cast, Zendaya included, plays a big part in this movie. Timothée Chalamet shines in the leading role but even though Zendaya's role isn't as big as the audience might have wished, she easily captures the viewers' attention in every scene she appears in thanks to her charisma.
2 Euphoria (2019-Present): 8.4
Those viewers who only knew Zendaya from her Shake It Up! role must have been surprised by her portrayal of Rue, a young girl who struggles not only with love but also with her drug addiction in Euphoria. Playing Rue would be a challenge for any young actress, and Zendaya took it on in stride, proving her immense acting chops in the process.
With the second season recently premiering, the audience can learn even more about Rue's uneasy life and enjoy Zendaya's memorable performance in the show, one that won her an Emmy in the process.
1 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021): 8.8
In the latest record-breaking Spider-Man movie, No Way Home, Zendaya's Michelle Jones has an even bigger part than in the previous two movies. The audience finally learns that her full name is Michelle Jones-Watson, making her the ultimate MJ.
Michelle is instrumental for the story since she not only helps Peter but is one of the few people who stand by him when the young hero faces difficult times. MJ shows a unique determination and courage in the movie, and Zendaya's performance makes her both civil and sympathetic.