Pop Culture

Zendaya Says She Doesn't Know If She Can Handle the Pressure of Fame

“I feel like, often, I am not cut out for that part of it," she explained.

Zendaya
(Photo by The Hapa Blonde/GC Images)

Zendaya doesn’t know if she can handle the pressures of being famous.

The actress spoke about dealing with fame at a recent screening event for Dune: Part Two in New York City. When someone in the audience asked about the state of celebrity fandom in pop culture, she got honest about her experiences. “I feel like, often, I am not cut out for that part of it,” she said, per Deadline. “I do love my job, I’m so grateful. I love doing the work, I love being on set, I do love moments like this — don’t get me wrong — but I am terrified of that part of it, often.”

Zendaya continued on, revealing that she was an introvert growing up. “I was a shy kid, always have been, and so this part isn’t natural —that is a huge reason why fashion became important to me because it became like armor to pretend to go out and do the job, she said.”

“I would like for a person and for people to see me as that first,” she explained. “I don’t necessarily know if I want or can hale all of that or want [that] — some people that’s part of it, they enjoy the power that comes from it, and I don’t know if that’s for me.”

Zendaya’s dealt with a lot of the problems of becoming famous over the years — most recently, because moviegoers were hyper fixated on her kissing scenes. During a press tour for Challengers, Zendaya had a discussion with an interviewer about why her kissing scenes are constantly overly hyped.

“I don’t know if it’s because they want it to be a viral thing; I don’t know. But I have noticed that, with me specifically, she explained after calling people’s obsession with her scenes “odd.” “I feel like other actors don’t… If you were with somebody else here, you probably wouldn’t be asked that question. But, yeah, it’s a part of my job, and it is a completely normal part of the job, I think, despite other people's perceptions of our job.”

Related Stories

Zendaya
pop-culture

Zendaya and John David Washington Filmed a Secret Movie During COVID-19 Lockdown

The film, titled 'Malcolm & Marie,' was reportedly filmed between June 17 and July 2. 'Euphoria' creator Sam Levinson reportedly wrote the script in six days.

Joshua Espinoza2126 days ago
Zendaya
pop-culture

Zendaya on Her Role in 'Spider-Man: Homecoming': 'I Was Just So Excited to Be Doing the Movie At All'

The actress also touched on the differences between filming 'Spider-Man' and her hit HBO drama 'Euphoria.'

Joshua Espinoza2141 days ago
Zendaya wins the Emmy for Best Actress
pop-culture

Zendaya Wins Best Actress Emmy for ‘Euphoria’

After making history with her win in 2020, 'Euphoria' star Zendaya has once again walked away from the Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony as a winner.

Joe Price1330 days ago

Stay ahead on Exclusives

Download the Complex App