Zendaya’s career took to new heights after she starred in the critically acclaimed television show, Euphoria, but her career can be traced back to her childhood when she was a young Disney star.
Like most child stars, Zendaya also used Disney as a launchpad for her singing and acting career, and she’s one of the few in the industry who’ve managed to stay on the rails despite being exposed to fame at such a young age.
The Euphoria actress says that the industry can be brutal for young actors who are often taken advantage of. But she learned to recognize her talent at a very early age and never sold herself short.
The 23-year-old star recently appeared on one of the episodes of ‘Actors on Actors’ where she revealed the struggles she faced on her road to stardom. Like most child actors, Zendaya found it hard to break free from her Disney persona at first, and create an acting career based solely on her talent.
In 2010, Zendaya found her breakthrough role on Disney in Shake It Up, with Bella Thone, and later starred in another Dinsey production, K.C. Undercover, until 2018 when she turned 17. After five years with the channel, she decided that she wanted something more.
She knew what she was capable of, and she didn’t want to sell herself short when signing any new projects. This strong sense of self-worth is what helped her carve a name for herself in the industry.
Even during her time with Disney, Zendaya didn’t just limit herself to acting. In fact, she was credited as one of the producers on K.C. Undercover and plans to use this experience working behind the cameras to amplify voices that aren’t hers.
Working as a producer also helped Zendaya to be taken seriously by her peers. She used her newfound role to present ideas that were her own and have a strong, assertive presence on the show.
Like most of us, Zendaya says that she’s her own worst critic which is why she has been on a quest to prove herself ever since leaving Disney. She has faced many obstacles along the way, like coming from a Disney background and being a woman of color in a predominantly white industry. But with her role in Euphoria, she’s one step closer to getting to her goal.