Zendaya: The Art of Becoming

Zendaya has spent much of her life in front of a camera, yet the impression she leaves is rarely one of effortless arrival. There is a sense of preparation behind the poise: the work before the performance, the trust built with collaborators, and the willingness to enter a new world without pretending to know everything about it. It is an outlook that makes her presence in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey particularly compelling. In the conversation that follows, she speaks openly about nerves, craftsmanship and the people who made an immense production feel human.

Born and raised in Oakland, California, Zendaya grew up around theatre, where her mother worked. Her early television success came with Disney Channel’s Shake It Up, followed by K.C. Undercover, a series she also helped produce. She moved between music, television and film, steadily choosing work that demanded a different kind of attention from her and from viewers.

Her portrayal of Rue Bennett in Euphoria marked a decisive shift. The performance won her the Primetime Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a drama series in 2020 and again in 2022. Rue is a character whose pain cannot be tidied into a reassuring arc; Zendaya played her with vulnerability, force and remarkable control. The two awards recognise a role that required her to hold conflicting emotions in the same moment. They also established her as a performer able to carry difficult material without sacrificing its complexity.

On the cinema screen, the range has widened. Her Michelle Jones brought dry humour and quiet intelligence to the Spider-Man films. As Chani in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films, she inhabited a world of prophecy and power while giving its vast mythology a sceptical, emotional centre. In Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers, she played Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy whose competitive drive shapes the lives around her. These are distinct characters, but they share the precision of an actor interested in what people conceal as much as what they reveal.

That precision extends beyond acting. Zendaya’s approach to fashion has made a red carpet appearance feel less like a routine promotional obligation and more like a continuation of a story. Clothing, silhouette and reference become part of the conversation around a role. Yet the effect depends on discipline: a coherent idea, a command of detail and the confidence to let an image speak. Her influence in fashion sits alongside, rather than in place of, the work she does on screen.

Zendaya is part of the Rolex family, joining figures from the arts and other fields whose accomplishments reflect a commitment to excellence. The association is a fitting editorial thread here. Rolex speaks of achievement as an ongoing pursuit; Zendaya’s account of her craft is similarly concerned with process. In this interview, she describes wanting to meet the standard set by Nolan and her fellow actors, and even worrying about wasting precious IMAX film after a missed line. Such moments reveal the effort behind the finished image. The connection to Rolex is one of perspective and values, rather than a claim that the watchmaker played any part in the film.

The Odyssey asks its characters to consider the distance between departure and return. Zendaya plays Athena, the goddess whose presence on Odysseus’s journey carries both authority and compassion. Her interpretation begins with a question about humanity: what changes when a divine figure approaches another person as a human being? That idea runs through her reflections on the role. She sees redemption as something Odysseus must confront directly, with Athena prompting a deeper reckoning rather than simply guiding him safely home.

The scale of Nolan’s production could easily dominate any discussion of the film. Zendaya instead draws attention to the hands that built its world: costume makers, stunt teams, cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema and the many craftspeople whose work gave the sets their tangible detail. She remembers Tom Holland coming in on his day off for her first day of filming, a gesture of support at a moment when she felt anxious. For all the grandeur of ancient Greece recreated on screen, what stays with her is the generosity and commitment of the people around her.

There is a useful continuity between the young performer who grew up around a local theatre and the star stepping onto an enormous IMAX set. Zendaya says each character teaches her something about the world and herself; she also learns from the crews who become like family during a production. In an industry quick to celebrate the final frame, she keeps returning to the shared endeavour that made it possible. Her own odyssey is still unfolding, and she seems determined to pay attention along the way.

The Interview

Interview by Vicky Dearden, The Interview People. Licensed syndication.

Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland and Zendaya star in Christopher Nolan’s much anticipated new epic action fantasy The Odyssey. The film is an adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic of the same name.

Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca, and the film chronicles his long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War, as well as his encounters with mythical beings, as he attempts to reunite with his wife, Penelope, portrayed by Anne Hathaway. Tom Holland plays Telemachus, Odysseus’s son and the prince of Ithaca, who is determined to find his father. Meanwhile, Zendaya plays Athena, the goddess of wisdom, warfare and handicraft, who protects Odysseus on his journey. The ensemble cast also includes Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o and Charlize Theron.

So Zendaya, is it true that you found out from Tom [Holland] that you got this role?

Yes. He came home from another meeting with Chris [Nolan], and mind you, when he got the call, we freaked out. It was very exciting. My heart was so full for him. Because I already knew, I was like, ‘I’m gonna be calling you. What was it like?’ You know what I mean? I was trying to hear all the things. So I was just so excited and definitely peeking over his shoulder while he was reading because as a fan, like, I’m curious. I wanted to know, ‘What’s Nolan gonna do next? What’s your part?’ And then he came back from another meeting and he was like, ‘Read this again, but now read it with this character in mind.’ And I was like… ‘What?’ So yeah, I don’t know. I was incredibly grateful that I just even got to be a part of it too. Didn’t see that coming.

So was this a surprise for you, this role?

Yeah. I mean, I couldn’t have asked for a better phone call. I remember when he first got the phone call and I was over the moon, so excited. I was like, ‘You have to do this. We’ve got to figure out the schedule. This is going to get done.’ And then he was able to come home and tell me, ‘Hey, you got a meeting with Mr Nolan as well.’ That was so special. I couldn’t have imagined it getting any better.

What was the reaction on your face when he said that?

I mean, you have to ask him. I don’t even know what my face was like. I was like, ‘You’re joking!’ [laughs] You know what I mean? ‘You’re poking me.’ But it was very special.

Let’s talk about Athena’s relationship with Odysseus, because she believed in him when others didn’t. What do you think that says about the importance of having someone in your life who can see the potential in you, even when others don’t?

I think it’s interesting, this idea of redemption. And I think there is so much that Odysseus throughout his journey has to confront in order to get home and has to face up to his wrongdoings and the harm that he’s caused. And it’s like, he can’t go around it. He has to go through it. And she is a manifestation of that pain that he’s caused and having to really deal with it and come to terms with it in a real way. And so when she appears, there’s a peace that comes, but also there’s a little bit of introspection that needs to come too. You know when she’s there, there’s a lesson to be learned or something deeper to try to understand.

Your performance as Athena is very commanding, but she is also deeply compassionate towards him. How did you balance the divine authority she has while also being emotionally invested in him?

I think it’s similar to when I was reading the script and how he interpreted Athena. Seeing her first just as the goddess Athena and then having a greater understanding of why she’s appearing the way she’s appearing, her intention, how she comes to him and when she chooses to come to him, I think has a deeper meaning towards the end and really changes, at least for me, how I wanted to try to portray this goddess from a really human perspective and really think of it that way, you know?

Did you find it hard to show humanity when you are playing a goddess?

I think her manifestation to Eumaeus is to prove that point, that it’s about humanity. The emphasis on humanity. She’s not coming to him as a god. She’s coming to him as a human being. And that human to human connection that we so often forget to even think about. I think it’s Zeus’s law, right? But it’s also like the golden rule of treating people how you want to be treated. But if he only knew and saw her as a goddess, would the answers come?

What is the Christopher Nolan experience like for an actor?

Unlike anything, unlike any experience I think I’ve ever had, in all the best ways. I was so nervous. It was really nice to have Tom because he got to experience it first and he was like, ‘It’s going to be amazing, you’re going to be good.’ But going in, there’s a level of just wanting to do your best, because everyone is operating on this level that you’re like, ‘Okay, I just want to match that.’ And so there’s that pressure. But then also, there’s such an ease to his sets as well. He is a very confident director and that confidence spills off onto you because you go, ‘Okay, he trusts me. And he believes in me. If he’s good with it, I’m good with it.’ Also, he very clearly knows what he wants and knows what he’s looking for. And he’s like, ‘Yep, got it. Moving on.’ And that assurance is really, really special to watch.

What was the most “I can’t believe this is my job” day on set?

It’s crazy. I think probably even just my first day on set, I didn’t really know what to expect. And I’m very grateful that Tom came in on his day off because I was so nervous. You read a script and you start to think, ‘Well, how is this going to look, what is this going to be like?’ And then you get to immerse yourself in the world that’s been created. And there’s so much attention to detail and thoughtfulness in everything that you see. And it’s so tactile. It’s all there. There’s nothing I need to imagine. It’s all in front of me. And I get to do it with the most incredible people that I’m massive fans of and have appreciated their work for so long. So there’s definitely a sense of anxiety that comes with that.

What is it like the night or two before the first day of filming? How much are you in your head, knowing you’re about to work with Chris Nolan on one of the biggest movies he’s ever made?

I was kind of grateful that the day before I was shooting, I was literally on Euphoria doing a night shoot. I didn’t have enough time at that moment to freak out too hard until I was there. So I was like, ‘Let me just compartmentalise as much as I can.’ And I was grateful that I didn’t freak out just yet. So I could, yeah, try to sleep.

You and Tom are in this movie but don’t have any scenes together. It’s lovely that he showed up for your first day, and to hear the care you have for one another.

Well, that’s really how it felt. I’ve never seen sets like this before. But it’s gorgeous. And the attention to detail, all these craftspeople, people who have put so much into every single detail of the set, the costumes. Ellen [Mirojnick], who I got to do The Greatest Showman with, who I also got to see on this, which is very special. Stunts as well. George Cottle, who was our stunt coordinator for all of the previous Spider-Man movies, who is a dear friend of ours, who’s so talented. And he took care of people; people were safe as well. But this is the scale: I’m looking around, and there are about 40 different fights going on at once. And we’re also shooting this on IMAX with Hoyte, who’s a master of his craft. And not wanting to waste a moment of this very precious film. It’s the first day, so you value that experience so much, but you value that team, and you value their time and the effort that they’ve already given. And you don’t want to be a hindrance to this forward moving thing. You show up ready, you show up prepared, you try to push all that anxiety to the side, or you use it, and you just give all you can because everyone else is doing that. Everyone.

What was the hardest thing about working in IMAX?

The preciousness of the film. It’s like, ‘I don’t want to waste any of it. Let me not be the reason that this take doesn’t work out,’ you know? In digital you just keep going. So that was definitely intimidating for sure. I remember I flubbed a line once and I was mortified, because I was like, ‘This is IMAX!’ You didn’t want to let Chris down. And he was so cool about it. He was like, ‘That’s fine.’

How did Chris build the time machine that took you back to ancient Greece to film on location?

Honestly, it’s a secret that I’m probably never going to tell. No, he’s incredible. And I think what he also inspires in the people that he works with is such a determined work ethic, and people who are such masters of their craft. Really being present in those moments and looking around and trying to be as much of a sponge as possible, because you just can’t believe the places that you’re in and what you’re looking at; so much is being done practically. And I even got a peek behind the curtain. I got to see things being made that I was like, ‘How did you? How was this? How?’ And even watching it back, I’m still blown away. The magic is not lost at all having seen it made in real life and knowing how it was done; it’s really extraordinary. And to try to do something like The Odyssey, I mean, I don’t really think there’s one guy who could do it.

Finally, tell us about Zendaya’s personal odyssey. What people, movies and experiences have shaped you as an actress?

Oh man, I think every character that I have the privilege of playing teaches me something new about the world, about myself, opens my heart up a little bit more. But I also think the people you get to work with as well, and that’s across the board, not just the directors, but the different crews, become so much like family to you when you’re on a film like this. And I’m lucky to be able to reconnect with those people in other places. Many people I’ve worked with on other things I’ve been able to see on this again, which has been so special. What is similar to all of them is a true love for what they do. They just really love what they do, and they are fans of the filmmaking process, and I feel like I’m lucky to be around other people who just really love what they do.