At the Berkeley Playhouse, she played Little Ti Moune in Once on This Island, and in the TheaterWorks' production in Palo Alto, she played a character originally written as male, Joe, in Caroline, or Change. Zendaya attended Oakland School for the Arts and, while still a student, was cast in several roles in area theaters. She also spent two years dancing hula with AHA, The Academy of Hawaiian Arts. At eight, Zendaya joined a hip-hop dance troupe called Future Shock Oakland and was a member for three years. She helped her seat patrons, sold fundraising tickets, and was inspired by the theatrical performances to pursue acting. She grew as a performer in part at the nearby California Shakespeare Theater in Orinda, California, where her mother worked a summer job as the house manager. At age six, she and two friends from the school performed a play there for Black History Month. Zendaya, whose name derives from the Shona name Tendai, meaning "to give thanks", attended Fruitvale Elementary School, where her mother taught for two decades. Her father is African-American, with roots in Arkansas, while her mother has German and Scottish ancestry she has five older siblings. Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman was born on September 1, 1996, in Oakland, California to teachers Claire Stoermer and Kazembe Ajamu Coleman. 2.2 2016–present: Film breakthrough, Euphoria, and transition to adult roles.2.1 2009–2015: Shake It Up and Dancing with the Stars.The single reached within the top 20 of several record charts and has received multi-platinum sales certifications globally. Zendaya's biggest commercial success as a musician came with her Zac Efron collaboration, " Rewrite the Stars", from The Greatest Showman soundtrack in 2018. She released her eponymous debut studio album in 2013 to moderate success and critical acclaim. She signed with Hollywood Records in 2012 and subsequently released her debut single, " Replay", which reached the top 40 on the U.S. In 2011, she released the singles " Swag It Out" and " Watch Me", the latter a collaboration with Bella Thorne. In addition to her acting career, Zendaya has ventured into music. Her film roles include the musical drama The Greatest Showman (2017), the superhero film Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and its sequels, the computer-animated musical comedy Smallfoot (2018), the romantic drama Malcolm & Marie (2021), the live-action/animation hybrid sports comedy Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021), and the science fiction epic Dune (2021).
Her performance as a struggling, drug addict teenager in the HBO drama series Euphoria (2019–present) made her the youngest recipient of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She produced and starred as the titular spy, K.C. In 2013, Zendaya was a contestant on the 16th season of the dance competition series Dancing with the Stars. She rose to mainstream prominence for her role as Rocky Blue on the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up (2010–2013). Zendaya began her career as a child model and backup dancer. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Satellite Award, and a Saturn Award. ə/ zən- DAY-ə born September 1, 1996) is an American actress and singer. Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman ( / z ə n ˈ d eɪ.