Zendaya is one of the biggest young stars in Hollywood today. From her breakout role on the Disney Channel show Shake It Up to her recent Emmy-winning performance in Euphoria, Zendaya has proven herself to be a talented actress and singer.
Part of the fascination with stars like Zendaya is a curiosity about their romantic relationships. Who is Zendaya dating? While the 25-year-old likes to keep that side of her life private, there are strong clues that she and fellow actor Tom Holland have been in a serious relationship since at least 2021.
Zendaya’s early relationships
In her early career, Zendaya has been linked to a few fellow Disney stars. In 2010, she was rumored to be dating her Shake It Up co-star Adam Irigoyen, though their relationship was never confirmed. A few years later, Zendaya was photographed out with Trevor Jackson, her co-star in the music video for her single “Replay.”
Again, Zendaya never publicly confirmed she was dating Jackson. The actress likes to keep mum about her romantic life – even refusing to say whether she was single or not in interviews around that time.
Zendaya’s relationship with Tom Holland
Rumors about a romance with Tom Holland began swirling in 2017 when they were filming their first Spider-Man movie together. Zendaya and Tom denied being anything more than friends. But over the years, evidence mounted that there was indeed a secret relationship blooming.
How Zendaya and Tom met
Zendaya and Tom Holland first met in 2016 when they were cast as the leads in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Zendaya was cast as MJ and Tom landed the coveted role of playing Spider-Man aka Peter Parker. They were both young stars on the rise at that point.
The co-stars reportedly connected right away as friends. They had great banter and chemistry while promoting the film. But it took years before that friendship turned romantic.
Evidence that Zendaya and Tom are dating
Over the years, there have been increasing examples pointing to Zendaya and Tom Holland dating in real life.
Public outings together
As early as July 2021, they were photographed together at a friend’s wedding. Zendaya brought Tom as her date to the event. The media began to suspect they were an item as it was a major hint at their closeness.
In September 2021, the pair was photographed kissing in Tom’s car. This seemed to confirm that Zendaya and Tom were indeed dating.
Since then, they have had other public outings together – going for drives, attending sporting events and the theater. While they kept things low-key, it became hard to deny that Tom and Zendaya had progressed past friendship into romance.
Comments about each other in interviews
Another clue about their relationship is how they talk about each other in interviews. While careful not to share too much, they frequently sing one another’s praises.
In an October 2021 interview with InStyle, Zendaya praised Tom’s recent role as a dark character in an indie film: “It’s so exciting to see someone you care about living out their dreams.”
For his part, Tom Holland has emphasized in interviews how he and Zendaya looked out for each other on difficult shoots. He called Zendaya “equally as loving and caring” as she is talented.
Social media posts
The actors tend to share sweet, subtle birthday posts on Instagram for each other as well.
In 2021, Zendaya wished Tom Holland a happy birthday by sharing a funny candid photo of them laughing together behind the scenes.
Tom also posted a cute tribute in September for Zendaya’s special day: “My MJ, have the happiest of birthdays. Call me when you’re up.”
So while not overt declarations of love, their actions on social media hint that they are sharing a close bond.
Zendaya’s response to dating rumors
The Euphoria actress tends to keep quiet about the romance rumors swirling around her and Tom Holland. In November 2021, she did open up slightly about why she prefers not to talk about it.
In an interview with E! News, Zendaya explained her perspective on keeping her love life private:
“I think loving someone is a sacred thing and a special thing. And something that you want to deal with and go through and experience, and enjoy amongst the two people that love each other.”
While Zendaya cherishes her relationship with Tom, she wants to guard it from too much outside scrutiny or pressure. And Tom seems onboard with her stance. He told People in November 2021:
“One of the downsides of our fame is that privacy isn’t really in our control anymore. And a moment that you think is between two people that love each other very much is now a moment that is shared with the entire world.”
So while fans might wish the stars were more forthcoming about being a couple, they intend to keep those special moments just between themselves as much as possible.
Details on Tom Holland
To better understand one half of this famous pairing, here are some key details on Tom Holland’s background.
Tom’s career and background
Tom Holland was born in London in 1996. He caught the acting bug early, starring in theater productions like Billy Elliot as a child.
His breakout role came when he was cast as Spider-Man/Peter Parker in Marvel movies starting with 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. Tom has portrayed the superhero in multiple films since then.
Outside of the Spidey suit, Holland has starred in movies like The Impossible, In the Heart of the Sea, Cherry and Uncharted. The versatile performer does his own stunts and brings depth to both action blockbusters and offbeat independent films.
Tom’s past relationships
Tom dated family friend Olivia Bolton for a period until breaking up in 2020. Since then, rumors started swirling about him and Zendaya.
But the two have known each other since at least 2016. They clearly were close as friends and co-stars for years before taking things to a romantic level.
How Zendaya and Tom complement each other
Based on comments from both stars, they connect over having similar backgrounds and outlooks – despite coming from opposite sides of the pond!
In a 2021 Variety interview, Zendaya observed how she and Tom approach work similarly:
“In the beginning, I think everybody was kind of nervous about how to approach me… Tom Holland did not care. Maybe it’s because he’s British.”
They seem to admire each other’s ethics when it comes to acting as well. Holland praised Zendaya’s dedication, saying:
“I’m a little less stressed about it because Zendaya has it handled. She’s so on the ball with everything.”
It probably helps that they can depend on each other as they navigate the world of celebrity and high-profile roles in their early careers. Both stars are wise beyond their years.
Analysis of Zendaya and Tom’s relationship
Looking at all the evidence, Zendaya and Tom appear to be in a happy, thriving relationship – even if they don’t flaunt it publicly.
Why people are fascinated by their relationship
There are several reasons why Zendaya and Tom get so much attention as a couple.
Their chemistry on screen
As Spider-Man and MJ in three films now, Tom and Zendaya light up the screen with natural chemistry. They make the romance between the iconic characters feel authentic.
Seeing that chemistry carry over off screen makes their relationship even more interesting for fans.
Challenges they may face
Of course, Zendaya and Tom face challenges like any other couple – perhaps even more so given their fame.
Dealing with publicity
Navigating publicity and press tours together while trying to keep their romance private has to be difficult. They often have to dodge questions about their status.
And they probably have to tune out gossip, rumors and paparazzi interest that comes with being young, attractive stars.
Scheduling and distance
Like many busy professional couples, finding time together around their filming schedules is probably tough too.
In 2021, Tom mentioned missing Zendaya when she was filming in New York while he was stationed in the U.K. Long distance takes effort to overcome.
What the future may hold for the couple
It’s only been about a year and a half since Zendaya and Tom were first linked as a couple. So it feels early to speculate too much about their future. But a few possibilities hang over them.
Possibility of an engagement or marriage
Both only 25 years old now, marriage feels premature. That said, they seem very compatible so far.
If their relationship continues smoothly for a few more years, an engagement could certainly be on the horizon before too long.
Working together again in future projects
Since they have such creative chemistry together, fans would love to see Zendaya and Tom Holland share scenes again.
With another Spider-Man trilogy reportedly in development, it seems likely their characters will team up again down the road.
Using their star power for good
Both actors are compassionate people who use their fame to support worthy causes when possible.
For example, Tom is an advocate for charities supporting child hunger and homelessness. Zendaya has brought attention to issues like justice for Breonna Taylor.
Together or solo, fans can expect both stars to continue leveraging their platforms to enact positive change.
Conclusion on Zendaya’s current relationship status
Based on the public evidence available, Zendaya appears to have been in a steady, long-term relationship with Tom Holland for close to two years now.
They met as co-stars and friends. Over time, thanks to their natural chemistry and bond, that friendship blossomed into romance.
The two certainly seem to enjoy a special connection. But they also make an effort to maintain privacy around their coupling.
While curious fans won’t get all the details they crave, Zendaya and Tom are likely to keep cultivating their relationship far from prying eyes.
Where that may lead in the future – whether to marriage, joint creative projects or activism – remains to be seen. For now, both stars are thriving in their careers and apparently very happy together behind closed doors.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zendaya and Tom’s Relationship
When did Zendaya and Tom Holland start dating?
They likely progressed from friends to dating sometime in mid-2021. While rumors circulated earlier, they were photographed kissing in July 2021 – marking the first real confirmation that their relationship had turned romantic.
Have Zendaya and Tom Holland worked together?
Yes, Zendaya and Tom Holland co-starred in the Spider-Man films Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far from Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home as love interests MJ and Peter Parker/Spider-Man.
Where did Zendaya and Tom Holland meet?
They met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016 when they were cast as the leads in the film. They were friends first before it developed into a relationship.
Are Zendaya and Tom Holland getting married?
While they appear very happy together so far, Zendaya and Tom are only 25 years old. So marriage rumors seem premature. They have not indicated publicly any immediate plans to get engaged or married.
When is Tom Holland’s next movie with Zendaya?
Currently, there are no confirmed upcoming movies where Zendaya and Tom Holland will co-star together. But since another Spider-Man trilogy is reportedly in the works, chances seem good they will reprise their roles as MJ and Peter Parker down the road in future movies.
