Zendaya has been in the public eye as an artist since her teens, which she says is why people struggle to see her in more mature roles.
The 24-year-old won her first Emmy last year playing troubled high school student Rue Bennett on HBO’s Euphoria, and she plays 36-year-old John David Washington’s younger girlfriend in Malcolm & Marie, which debuts on Netflix on February 5.
The actress spoke in a new interview with E! On the 12-year age difference between her and her co-star and stated that she thinks the controversy is because, ‘I’ve played a 16-year-old since I was 16’.
Not a teenager: Zendaya has been in the public eye as an artist since she was a teenager, which she says is why people struggle to see her in more mature roles.
Age Difference: The actress addressed the 12-year age difference between her and her co-star in a new interview with E! , in which she claims the controversy is because, ‘I’ve played a 16-year-old since I was 16’
‘You also have to remember that people grew up with me as children. It’s like looking at your younger sibling, you know, they’ve grown up… ”she added.
So it’s hard for people to get around the idea that I’ve grown in real life. You know, even though I’m still playing a teenager on television, ”she said of her role as Rue.
Both her roles of Rue and Marie came from writer-director Sam Levinson, who created Euphoria and wrote and directed Malcolm & Marie.
Grown: ‘You also have to remember that people grew up with me as a child, it’s like looking at your younger sibling, you know, they’re grown up …’
The film was shot during the COVID-19 lockdown this summer, with only Zendaya and Washington in the cast, along with a minimal crew.
Sometimes when you don’t see the roles you want, sometimes you have to be involved. So I’m grateful that Sam wrote this movie for us, ”Zendaya added.
She also said the safety of the film’s cast and crew was their “ main concern, ” which they achieved by creating a “ bubble ” -like environment.
Cast: The film was shot during the COVID-19 lockdown this summer, with only Zendaya and Washington along with a minimal crew.
Zendaya also talked about her childhood as a ‘Disney kid’ in a new interview with Promising Young Woman star Carey Mulligan as part of Variety’s Actors on Actors series.
Mulligan said she certainly “ can’t think of yourself as a Disney kid right now, ” though Zendaya said that’s still part of who she is.
The point is, I am. And to some extent I am grateful for that. That’s where I started, and I’ve learned so much from that experience, ”she added.
Disney Kid: Zendaya also talked about her childhood as ‘Disney Kid’ in a new interview with Promising Young Woman star Carey Mulligan as part of Variety’s Actors on Actors series
‘It’s just been kind of slow progress, and I’m glad it’s all been to prove it to myself and not anyone else, you know? I kind of embrace it. It’s part of my heritage to some extent, ”said Zendaya.
Malcolm & Marie debuts on Netflix on Feb. 5, with both Zendaya and John David Washington earning serious Oscar buzz.
She’s also scheduled to film the second season of Euphoria sometime this year, although it’s unclear when the season will debut on HBO.
Identity: Mulligan said she certainly “ can’t see yourself as a Disney kid right now, ” though Zendaya said that’s still part of who she is