As an actress, Zendaya has quickly risen to stardom in recent years. With versatile talent and captivating charm, she continues to impress audiences and critics alike. At just 25 years old, she already has an impressive filmography under her belt. While it’s hard to narrow down, this article will review Zendaya’s top four movie performances thus far. From a trapeze artist in The Greatest Showman to a high schooler battling addiction in Euphoria, she has proven her incredible range. You won’t want to miss this breakdown of the key roles that have cemented Zendaya as one of the most promising actresses of her generation. Stay tuned for a look back at the highlights of her blossoming career on the silver screen.
Zendaya’s Breakthrough Role in The Greatest Showman
Zendaya’s memorable performance as Anne Wheeler, a trapeze artist, in the musical film The Greatest Showman, marked her breakthrough into more mature roles. As part of P.T. Barnum’s troupe of performers, Zendaya’s character Anne falls in love with Phillip Carlyle, played by Zac Efron, despite facing difficulties due to racial biases during that period.
Showcasing Her Versatility
In this role, Zendaya was able to showcase her singing and dancing talents, as well as her ability to portray poignant emotional depth on screen. Her memorable duet “Rewrite the Stars” with Zac Efron has become an iconic moment from the film. Zendaya’s moving performance during this song, as Anne longs to be with Philip but believes their relationship cannot be due to societal constraints, highlights her ability to connect with complex emotions on screen.
Critical Acclaim for a Meaningful Performance
Zendaya’s breakthrough performance received widespread critical acclaim. Her emotional depth and vocal talents were frequently praised. This role established Zendaya as a versatile actress able to take on more meaningful, nuanced work. The Greatest Showman ended up grossing over $434 million at the worldwide box office, exposing Zendaya’s talents to a huge audience and launching her into more high-profile film opportunities. Zendaya’s memorable turn as Anne Wheeler in The Greatest Showman marked her transition into more mature work in film. Her moving performance established her as a talented actress and singer able to bring emotional nuance and depth to complex roles. This breakthrough part paved the way for Zendaya to take on higher-profile leading roles in her later films.
Her Emotional Performance in Euphoria
In the HBO show Euphoria, Zendaya delivers an emotionally captivating performance as Rue Bennett, a 17-year-old drug addict struggling with loss and mental health issues.
Complex and Layered
Rue is a complex character, and Zendaya portrays her layers with nuance and care. In scenes depicting Rue’s drug use or mental breakdowns, Zendaya conveys her pain and inner turmoil through her expressive face and voice with equal parts anguish and apathy. Yet in lighter scenes with her friend Jules, Zendaya radiates warmth, humour and carefree joy. This range and depth of emotion, especially for an actor so young, demonstrates Zendaya’s skill and maturity.
A Standout Among Strong Performances
While Euphoria features many compelling performances, Zendaya’s is particularly impactful and memorable. She is the emotional centre of the show, and her performance elevates each scene she’s in. In a cast full of talented actors like Hunter Schafer and Jacob Elordi, Zendaya still manages to be a standout – a testament to her abilities and star power.
Poignant and Purposeful
Above all else, Zendaya’s performance feels poignant and purposeful. She gives Rue’s story the care and consideration it deserves, using her platform to shed light on issues around addiction, mental health, and the teenage experience. Her moving and meaningful performance in Euphoria showcases Zendaya as one of her generation’s most gifted and thoughtful actors.
Spider-Man: No Way Home Showcases Her Range
In Spider-Man: No Way Home, Zendaya demonstrates her impressive range as an actress. As MJ, Peter Parker’s quick-witted yet caring friend and love interest, she provides much-needed emotional support to Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Early in the film, MJ astutely notices that Peter is troubled by the public backlash against his superhero alter ego. She reassures him of her belief in his good character and intentions. Zendaya skillfully portrays MJ’s empathy and compassion, which give the audience insight into why Peter values her so deeply.
However, MJ is no mere damsel in distress. When Peter’s enemies from other dimensions threaten her and others, Zendaya allows MJ’s fear and vulnerability to show through. Yet she also demonstrates MJ’s resilience, courage and quick thinking in the face of danger. In a climactic battle scene, MJ refuses to be a passive victim and instead helps turn the tide against the villains.
Zendaya’s multidimensional performance is pivotal to the emotional heart of the film. She brings gravitas and believability to a character that could have remained in the background. Thanks to her skill, MJ emerges as a heroine in her own right and a fitting partner for the “friendly neighbourhood SpiderMan.” Through her work in No Way Home, Zendaya showcases her range and cements her status as one of her generation’s most talented and compelling actresses.
Malcolm & Marie – A Tour De Force for Zendaya
Zendaya delivers an indelible performance in the Netflix original film Malcolm & Marie. As the titular Marie, Zendaya simmers with barely suppressed rage and resentment towards her boyfriend, the filmmaker Malcolm, played by John David Washington. In a bravura display of acting prowess, Zendaya channels the emotional turbulence of a woman scorned and underappreciated. Through piercing glares and acerbic bursts of anger, she conveys Marie’s angst and indignation at being an afterthought in Malcolm’s self-centred world. Zendaya’s nuanced and layered performance elevates what could have been a pedestrian domestic drama into a compelling character study.
Under the direction of Sam Levinson, Zendaya and Washington engage in a battle of words and wills over the course of one long night. Their verbal sparring and heated arguments lay bare the fractures in their relationship.
Zendaya more than holds her own against the formidable Washington, demonstrating her impressive range and depth as an actress.
With her memorable turn in Malcolm & Marie, Zendaya proves her mettle as a performer of substance and conviction. She delivers a tour de force that marks her continued ascent as one of the most promising leading ladies of her generation. Zendaya’s searing and unflinching performance makes this film, despite its flaws, worth watching for her alone. She cements her status as an actress to watch with her indelible work in this film.
