Former Disney kid turned Hollywood powerhouse Zendaya is getting real about what it’s really like to grow up with cameras watching your every move.
Advertisements
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter alongside stars like Angelina Jolie and Demi Moore, the 28-year-old opened up about the tricky side of being a child actor. Zendaya, who kicked off her career at just 14 on Disney’s “Shake It Up,” didn’t hold back about how tough it can be.
“I’ve seen it be detrimental to people,” she admitted, thinking back on her nearly 15 years in showbiz. The “Euphoria” star got super honest about missing out on normal teenage experiences: “There are things I wish I could have figured out in private,” she shared. “Instead, I was trying to be perfect for everyone while still trying to figure out who I even was.”
Advertisements
But don’t get it wrong – Zendaya’s not complaining about her Disney Channel days. After “Shake It Up” wrapped in 2013, she stuck around Disney for “K.C. Undercover” before landing huge roles in “Spider-Man” and “Dune.” Still, even with all her success, she’s still working on finding herself away from the spotlight.
These days, between filming “Euphoria” season 3 and promoting “Challengers,” Zendaya’s trying something new – getting her hands dirty with pottery. “It sounds silly, but I’m trying to find out what makes me happy besides work,” she explained. “I’m still figuring out who I am when I’m not in front of the cameras.”
It turns out even someone as successful as Zendaya is still learning who she is – just like the rest of us, except she had to do most of it with the whole world watching.