Zendaya /zənˈdeɪə/ ⓘ zənDAYə born September 1 1996 is an American actress and singer Her accolades include two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award In 2022 Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world Born and raised in California’s Oakland Zendaya began her career as a youth model and backup dancer She made her television debut as Rocky Blue in the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up 2010–2013 and starred as the main character in the channel's sitcom K C Undercover 2015–2018 Her feature film debut came in 2017 as MJ in the superhero film Spider-Man Homecoming she later reprised her role in its sequels Far from Home 2019 and No Way Home 2021 Zendaya's role as Rue Bennett a struggling drug-addicted teenager in the HBO teen drama series Euphoria 2019–present made her the youngest recipient of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series which she won 2 times Her other film roles include the musical The Greatest Showman 2017 the romantic dramas Malcolm & Marie 2021 and Challengers 2024 and the science fiction films Dune 2021 and Dune Part Two 2024 In 2011 Zendaya released the singles Swag It Out and Watch Me the latter a collaboration with Bella Thorne She signed with Hollywood Records in 2012 and released her self-titled debut studio album 2013 to moderate success The album's lead single Replay reached the top 40 on the U S Billboard Hot 100 chart Her Zac Efron collaboration Rewrite the Stars from The Greatest Showman soundtrack 2017 reached the top 20 of several record charts and has received multi-platinum sales certifications globally She has also written and performed several songs for Euphoria.