Ways of Hathaway: America’s sweetheart Anne Hathaway has journeyed from girl next door to empowering woman of the world

Anne Hathaway has been a fixture in Hollywood for more than two decades, cementing her status as one of America’s most beloved and talented actresses. With her girl-next-door charm and undeniable acting chops, the ingénue has blossomed into an influential humanitarian and won over audiences worldwide.

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1982, Hathaway was drawn to the performing arts and appeared in local theatre productions while still at school – her mother, Kate McCauley, was an actress. “I knew from a very early age that this is what I wanted to do with my life,” she reflects. “There was just something about being on stage that felt so natural and exhilarating to me.”

The family moved to New Jersey, where she graduated from Millburn High School and attended Vassar College before transferring to New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. Her breakout role came in 2001 when she was cast as the clumsy-yet-charming Princess Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries. The movie was a runaway success, and Hathaway’s star began a rapid ascent.

Showing her versatility as an actor, she took on a variety of roles, from ground-breaking romance Brokeback Mountain (2005) and comedy The Devil Wears Prada (2006) to iconic musical Les Misérables (2012), for which she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

“As an actor, I’m always looking to push myself and tackle roles that will allow me to grow and explore new emotional terrain,” says Hathaway, who turns 42 in November. “Fantine (a single mother forced into prostitution in Les Misérables) was one of the most demanding and rewarding parts I’ve ever had the privilege of playing.”

Her modus operandi is to immerse herself completely in her roles. For Fantine, she shed 25 pounds and resolved to shave her head after researching that this look was genuine to the historical period. She also insisted on more than 20 takes of her character’s lament, I Dreamed a Dream, despite the fact that director Ang Lee thought she had nailed it on the fourth attempt.

She gets so into the zone when filming that she feels as if she leaves her body: “The truth is that you let go. You black out a little bit. You come up at the end and you’re like, ‘What just happened?’”

Positive Outlook

Hathaway has spoken candidly about her approach to life and happiness. “I think the most important thing is to find what you love and just go for it,” she once said. “Don’t let fear or self-doubt hold you back.”

She also emphasises the importance of self-care and finding balance in life. “It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of this industry, but I’ve learned that it’s crucial to take time for yourself. Whether it’s a yoga session, a long walk, or just a quiet moment of reflection, those moments of self-care are what keep me grounded and happy.”

Hathaway’s commitment to authenticity and willingness to show vulnerability have also been sources of inspiration for her fans. “I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs, and I think it’s important to be honest about that,” she says. Her first husband, Italian property developer Raffaello Follieri, was imprisoned for fraud in 2008. “It’s not always easy, but I believe that by embracing our flaws and our struggles, we can find true happiness and fulfilment.”

She believes she is now less stressed and nicer as a mother to Jonathan, eight, and Jack, four – her sons with actor-producer Adam Shulman whom she married in 2012 – and applies that gentleness to herself: “When I was younger, the way that I knew how to improve was by being hard on myself. There’s a ceiling to that path. I had to relearn what it means to have a drive but to do it in a nurturing way. And that’s when you go, ‘Oh, if there’s a ceiling, I haven’t discovered it yet.’”

A Voice for Good

Off-screen, Hathaway uses her platform to advocate for important causes. She is a long-time supporter of the Nike Foundation’s efforts to empower adolescent girls in developing countries, lending her celebrity to raise awareness and funds for initiatives in education, healthcare and economic opportunities. In addition, she has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and mental health issues, using her social-media platform to speak out against discrimination and destigmatise conversations about mind wellness. She has also participated in fundraisers and public awareness campaigns related to these causes, demonstrating her commitment to using her influence to create positive change.

“I believe that we all have a responsibility to use our voice and platform to make a positive difference,” she remarks. “These are issues that are deeply important to me, and I’m honoured to be able to lend my support.”

Through her philanthropic work and willingness to use her voice for important social issues, Hathaway has consistently shown that she is dedicated to making a meaningful impact beyond her achievements in the entertainment industry. Her determination to do good serves as an inspiring example for her fellow celebrities and the general public alike.

Future Path

From Disney adolescent princess to celestial monarch in Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland (2010), Anne Hathaway is a real Hollywood blue blood. Paradoxically, she is the go-to girl next door; intellectual and alluring; and as loved by women as she is cherished by men. She shows no signs of slowing down, continuing to captivate audiences with her work. She earned praise for her role as WeWork founder Adam Neumann’s wife Rebekah in the Apple TV+ miniseries WeCrashed (2022), starred in this year’s Amazon Prime romantic comedy The Idea of You, and will appear opposite Ewan McGregor in the sci-fi movie Flowervale Street next year.

When reflecting on her remarkable career, Hathaway emphasises the importance of staying true to oneself. “The best advice I can give is to find what lights you up and pursue it with passion and authenticity,” she says. “That’s the path to true fulfilment, both professionally and personally.”

Guided by her inspiring talent, unwavering dedication and compassionate spirit, Anne Hathaway’s remarkable journey serves as a testament to the power of following your dreams – and underlines how celebrities can use their platform to make a difference in the world.

Kraven Power: From Bullet Train to Marvel villain and on to Bond? Aaron Taylor-Johnson remains surprisingly grounded

Aaron Taylor-Johnson has captivated audiences worldwide with his versatile acting and magnetic on-screen presence. The British talent, who turns 34 this month, has carved out an impressive career, transitioning seamlessly from independent films to big-budget blockbusters, and industry spies suggest he might take on the biggest action role out there – a certain Bond, James Bond.

Born in 1990 in High Wycombe, England, Taylor-Johnson’s passion for the arts blossomed at a young age. He recalls: “As a kid, I was always putting on little shows and performances for my family. I knew early on that acting was my calling.” His breakthrough role came in 2009 when he starred (under his birth name, Aaron Johnson) in the critically acclaimed film Nowhere Boy, portraying the teenage John Lennon. The performance earned him a trio of British film award nominations and showcased his remarkable talent. “I wanted to do justice to Lennon’s story and capture the complexity of his character,” the actor reflects.

Following this breakout success, he continued to impress, taking on diverse roles that showcased his impressive range. In 2010, he headlined the action-packed Kick-Ass, playing a high-school student who becomes a superhero. “I loved the opportunity to explore the duality of the character – the shy teenager and the fearless masked avenger,” he says.

Taylor-Johnson’s range was further demonstrated in films like Anna Karenina (2012), Godzilla (2014) and Nocturnal Animals (2016), for which he earned critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Best Supporting Actor trophy. “I’m drawn to characters that challenge me and allow me to step outside of my comfort zone,” the actor reveals.

Age is More Than a Number

In life and work, Taylor-Johnson has advanced quickly. In addition to acting from the age of six, he married his Nowhere Boy director Sam Taylor-Wood in 2012 at just 22 and had children at a young age. His wife is 24 years his senior, and the couple adopted a shared surname of Taylor-Johnson.

When he was 13, he starred in the Jackie Chan-Owen Wilson vehicle, Shanghai Knights, and at the youthful age of 15, he dropped out of school. He gained knowledge by working on movie sets instead of attending drama school. “You work with good and bad actors, divas and non-divas. You learn how not to behave. You get skilled at misbehaving,” he claims.

Reflecting on (as it turned out) a well-spent youth, he recalls his travels with his mother to London from their Wycombe home – a 60-mile round trip – to attend countless auditions. “It wasn’t easy. Sometimes I’d audition twice a day five days a week, up and down London. My mum would take me to Amersham.”

Quite the Character

Taylor-Johnson has consistently sought out diverse and challenging roles, a strategy that has played a pivotal role in shaping his versatile on-screen persona. “I’m not interested in playing the same type of character over and over again,” he has said. “I want to constantly challenge myself and explore new avenues of storytelling.”

Each performance has showcased his remarkable ability to inhabit vastly different characters and bring them to life with authenticity and depth. “As an actor, I’m constantly searching for roles that will push me to grow and expand my abilities,” he explains. “I’m not afraid to take risks or step outside of my comfort zone if it means I can deliver a powerful and memorable performance.”

This dedication to exploring new creative horizons has earned the actor critical acclaim and a reputation as one of the most versatile performers of his generation. “I’m driven by a desire to tell stories that matter, to create characters that resonate with people on an emotional level,” he shares. “That’s what keeps me motivated and excited about my craft.”

2024, Beyond and Bond?

Fast-forward to 2024, and Taylor-Johnson still seems to be moving at a faster pace than many of his peers. He will appear in Robert Eggers’ remake of the 1922 F.W. Murnau silent horror masterpiece Nosferatu with Bill Skarsgård, who plays the titular vampire. On the horizon too is the lead role in the Marvel superhero instalment Kraven the Hunter. Next year there will be Fuze, a heist thriller from Hell or High Water director David Mackenzie, and 28 Years Later, Danny Boyle’s post-apocalyptic sequel.

More flamboyant, mainstream roles have been inserted in between. He recently starred in David Leitch’s charming action film The Fall Guy, portraying an arrogant A-lister whose stuntman happens to be Ryan Gosling. Huge action scenes abound in the movie, which is basically Barbie’s Ken amplified to the maximum.

At time of writing, Taylor-Johnson neither confirms nor denies the Bond rumour. “I don’t feel like I need to have a future drawn out for me,” he says. “It’s the best when you sometimes lose all inhibitions completely, and you feel like you’re dangling there, and the director has sort of got one finger on the back of your shirt, so you don’t fall. It’s all about chasing that feeling. There’s nothing so exhilarating as that.”

This analogy is nearly exactly in line with the vibrancy and physical elegance that define his on-screen persona. Whether he’s fighting Brad Pitt on a Bullet Train or tearing through the African savannah with a knife in the Kraven the Hunter trailer, Taylor-Johnson has shown that he is an incredibly physical actor for whom the tough demands of the part are intrinsic to the character’s transformation. He explains: “I grew up dancing; I work with movement coaches.”

As Taylor-Johnson continues to impress audiences and critics alike with his diverse filmography, it is clear that his impact on the industry will be felt for years to come. By challenging preconceptions and demonstrating the power of versatility and emotional depth, the actor has set a new standard for what it means to be a celebrity.

Wondering what’s next for Hollywood’s most grounded new leading man has occupied many column inches in the entertainment media. Will he really step into Daniel Craig’s shoes? Well, it’s certainly no time for dreams to die.

Set in Stone: Double Oscar winner Emma Stone’s bold acting choices have enriched our viewing experience

Emma Stone has been a favourite in Hollywood for more than 10 years, enthralling with her girl-next-door charm, comedic timing and amazing range. Her audacious approach to the lead in Poor Things, the Frankenstein-like tale of a Victorian-era woman who commits suicide and is resurrected with the brain of her unborn child, paid off. It earned her a second Academy Award for Best Actress, placing her on par with film industry icons such as Meryl Streep, Jodie Foster and Elizabeth Taylor.

“It’s not about me. It’s about a team that came together to make something greater than the sum of its parts,” she declared as she accepted the statuette. “And that is the best part about making movies, it’s all of us together.”

It was a deserved win, with Stone dominating the Yorgos Lanthimos film as the unconventional Bella Baxter, who embarks on a daring and liberating voyage of self-discovery. “Bella falls in love with life itself, rather than a person. She accepts the good and the bad in equal measure, and that really made me look at life differently,” she noted at the Golden Globes ceremony in January.

Once upon a tone

Emily Jean Stone was born in Scottsdale, Arizona on 6 November 1988 and began acting at an early age, participating in youth theatre. She was home-schooled for a spell and then dropped out before finishing high school, moving to Los Angeles in order to follow her passion. Her breakthrough performance was in the teen comedy, Superbad, in 2007, where her natural humour and likeability were evident. Parts in movies such as Easy A (2010), The Help and Crazy, Stupid, Love (both in 2011) solidified her position as a rising star.

Stone’s first Oscar came in 2017 for her turn as struggling actress Mia in the dreamy musical romance La La Land, Damien Chazelle’s ode to Hollywood’s Golden Age. The dazzling musical showcased her versatility as both a powerhouse singer and a nuanced dramatic performer.

“My mom would play Les Misérables in our house when I was growing up,” she recalls. “She told me the story and then I saw it on stage when I was eight, and it was transformative for me. I loved it. After that, singing became a medium of expressing feelings that was so much bigger than just saying it.”

As she reiterates in many interviews, however, dancing used to be her favourite art form. She took dance lessons for 10 years, mostly tap classes, but was not as technically proficient as other budding young dancers. She eventually realised that acting spoke to her in a different way.

“I think I connected with acting I was more able to bring to life what I wanted to,” she says. “Performing helped me as a kid to channel my energy somewhere else, to put it out instead of turning it inward. Acting is therapy, especially as a kid. It was nice to have an outlet like that when I was really struggling with panic attacks. Being on stage early on made me less afraid to try things that are challenging and scary.”

Odd is good

With Stone’s glittering ascent showing no signs of slowing, she likes to express her opinion on odd topics as many people do, proving that being a superstar does not make one ‘special’.

“When I was younger, I had a soft spot for anything spooky and I would go to visit cemeteries,” she shares. “I’m still interested in that stuff, but not in a negative way. Once you understand that your time is limited, you live with a lot more awareness. Why should I worry about everything else? The actual reality is death. And I think there’s something strangely comforting about that.”

Her real life is as colourful as her reel life. Having previously dated actors Kieran Culkin and Andrew Garfield, she tied the knot with writer-director Dave McCary in 2020, and the couple welcomed daughter Louise Jean in 2021. They live in Austin, Texas, where she can go out, see friends and lead a normal life, or at least, a more normal life than she would have in Hollywood. She and Jennifer Lawrence are close: “We go on trips together, we hang out at each other’s houses in New York and watch [fantasy comedy film] Hocus Pocus.”

Although Stone is known as a redhead, her natural hair colour is blonde. She dyed it red on the advice of Superbad director Judd Apatow and the colour has remained almost ever since.

Ready, set, go!

Off the sound stage, she served as producer on Poor Things and executive producer of the 2023 black comedy-horror TV series The Curse, in which she stars alongside creator-writers Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie. Through their production company, Fruit Tree, Stone and McCary also guided the comedy film A Real Pain to life; written, directed and starring Jesse Eisenberg, it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. Numbering among Fruit Tree’s credits as well is Problemista (2023), the brainchild of writer and comedian Julio Torres, who created two of Stone’s best-ever Saturday Night Live skits, Wells for Boys and The Actress.

Stone’s talent and diverse roles have earned her a substantial fortune, with her current net worth reportedly estimated at about US$40 million (HK$313 million). She’s also a dedicated philanthropist, supporting causes such as cancer research and Stand Up to Cancer – her mother is a cancer survivor.

“I learn from my mistakes … I never feel like I am doing it all right all the time. But that’s okay. Being human is okay. That’s a hard lesson if you are a sensitive person; when you care about people and you don’t want to hurt anybody, you don’t want to f*** up. And it’s hard because you will,” she confesses.

This all paints a picture of Emma Stone as a kind of auteur, giving herself and others a platform to experiment with their greatest and most unusual work – work meant to challenge the audience. After two critically acclaimed collaborations with Lanthimos, The Favourite (2018) and Poor Things, she is set to make it a trio with the Greek maestro. Kinds of Kindness debuts at the Cannes Film Festival this month. Bring on more Emma Stone brilliance, we say.

Taylor Making: From the Kissing Booth to Instagram, rising star Taylor Zakhar Perez shouts out for equity

In the vast landscape of Hollywood, certain individuals possess the talent and drive to capture our attention and leave a lasting impact. Taylor Zakhar Perez, a rising star, has emerged as one such individual, captivating audiences with his acting prowess and using his celebrity platform to advocate for social causes close to his heart.

Born on Christmas Eve 1991, in South Chicago Heights, Illinois, into a family of Mexican, Middle Eastern and Eastern European ancestry, Taylor discovered his passion for the performing arts at a young age. Raised in a supportive environment that nurtured his creativity, he participated in school plays and local theatre productions. After completing high school, where he excelled at swimming, the budding thespian pursued his dreams and enrolled at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles, where he honed his acting skills and laid the foundation for his future career.

Kissing Tell

“Failure wasn’t an option,” says Zakhar Perez today of his decade-plus journey through Hollywood. Now 31, the actor moved away from his seven siblings in the Midwest to attend UCLA – in part so he could moonlight as an assistant at creative agency Art Department, where his uncle worked at the time. That was in addition to a few other gigs and, of course, attending class.

“I was working three or four jobs at one time: school, Art Department, production assisting, acting classes, and I was also a cater-waiter,” he says. “I didn’t move to Hollywood to not do what I wanted to do.”

It was in the second part of Netflix’s high-school romantic comedy series The Kissing Booth that Zakhar Perez made his big screen debut as Marco Peña, the dreamy, muscular and gifted “snack” that Elle (Joey King) calls him. Fans of the first film had launched co-stars King and Jacob Elordi into superstardom seemingly overnight, and Zakhar Perez received similar treatment. Within hours of The Kissing Booth 2’s release in 2020, he had more than four million Instagram followers. He was blown away by the response.

“I think my Instagram glitched, and my DMs [direct messages] still don’t work!” he exclaimed shortly after, highlighting the seeming absurdity of his instant appeal. “I try to delete them, I’ve talked to Instagram like, ‘Hey, I think these DMs are breaking my phone. It just glitches all the time.’ And they’ve tried to do it, but they still come in hot.”

His charismatic portrayal of the charming and confident Marco garnered critical acclaim and quickly endeared him to audiences worldwide. The following year he reprised his role in The Kissing Booth 3, solidifying his status as a rising star in the industry.

Honour Colour

Zakhar Perez is not only known for his talent but also for his unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community. Since entering show business, he has expressed his commitment to creating an inclusive and accepting society. “Love knows no boundaries, and it’s high time we embrace and celebrate the diversity within the LGBTQ+ community,” he notes. “Acceptance is the first step towards building a society where everyone feels seen, heard and loved.”

As a vocal and highly visible advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, he has actively participated in events and initiatives that promote equality and understanding. He says: “As an actor, I believe it’s crucial to use my platform to amplify voices that are often marginalised. Supporting the LGBTQ+ community is not only a moral obligation, but it’s also about creating a more compassionate and inclusive world.”

In addition to his support for the LGBTQ+ community, Zakhar Perez is a champion of mental health awareness. Recognising the importance of destigmatising mental health struggles, he has openly discussed his own experiences and encouraged open conversations about mental well- being. His dedication to raising awareness and promoting self-care serves as an inspiration to many.

Movies and Movements

Zakhar Perez is always moving forward. Having two successful films in quick succession under his belt, he was keen to take riskier steps in his career and continue to develop as an artist. “I’m inspired to lead more, inspired to throw myself in with talented people who are better than me. I just wanna learn it all,” he said at the time.

His guest role as a firefighter and potential raunchy cover star in HBO Max’s female-driven, female-created show Minx (2022) allowed him to do just that. The unconventional rom-com was greatly altered by this series set in the 1970s about the launch of an erotic magazine for women.

Zakhar Perez was thrilled to work with comedy great Jake Johnson of New Girl fame, who played one of the show’s leads.

His most recent film role sees him playing the co-lead. In the Amazon romantic comedy Red, White and Royal Blue, he is the gay son of the US president who falls for a prince of England – another character that casts him in a different light to his legion of adoring fans.

For him, life lessons aren’t limited to the big screen and cameras. He actively seeks to use his stardom to inform people about critical subjects, particularly in this era of performative ‘repost culture’. He has personally and consciously explored the topic of environmental challenges on his Instagram.

“I really like digging my heels into one social issue and being like, ‘This is what I know. This is what I’m learning,’” he says. “And maybe the people that follow me will have read everything along the way and understood it.”

And he’s all about practising what he preaches. “I’m trying to figure out composting. I’m trying to figure out a garden and chickens,” he laughs. “I’ll be that crazy chicken dad!”

Zakhar Perez’s background, career and advocacy works reflect his multifaceted, multicultural nature as an actor and individual. Through his talent, authenticity and dedication, he has positioned himself as a role model for future generations of actors and as a rising star with a passion for making a difference in the world. As his journey continues, audiences can anticipate witnessing his growth and impact both on and off the screen.

However, he may need a chicken-sitter when he’s away on long shoots, which is what he plans to do, keeping an open mind to wherever his next move will take him.

Yes, She Chan! – Gemma Chan’s powerful performances and outspoken advocacy have shattered barriers and opened doors for under

Gemma Chan’s high cheekbones, bright eyes and full lips characterise a face that is symmetrical to the point where it seems statistically improbable. This may be the reason behind her frequent casting in superpowered or non-human roles, such as the selfless android, Mia, in the British TV series Humans, space sniper Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel, and immortal alien Sersi in Eternals. But though her striking face will have helped her acting career, it is really just a superficial footnote to a person who runs truly deep.

Long before Hollywood came calling with a part in Crazy Rich Asians, Chan nearly took a different professional path. She declined a job offer from a prestigious London legal firm after earning her law degree at Oxford University in 2004. Rather, she enrolled at the esteemed acting school Drama Centre London. Two decades on, the British-Chinese actor has reached a comfortable level of celebrity status, capturing the hearts of audiences worldwide with her talent and unwavering commitment to breaking barriers in the entertainment industry.

Not So Crazy Rich

From humble beginnings to trailblazer, Gemma Chan’s life story is one of perseverance, resilience and a relentless pursuit of empowering others. She has openly acknowledged that her parents – hardworking Chinese immigrants from Hong Kong (father) and mainland China originally (mother) – overcame great adversity to earn degrees in engineering and pharmacy respectively.

Now aged 41, she was born in London and raised in a tight-knit Chinese family who had made Scotland their home. Her parents instilled in her the values of hard work, education and cultural heritage. Her father had survived two years of homelessness when their one-room flat in Hong Kong burned down and put his five siblings through school by working on oil tankers – which is why he considered Gemma’s artistic dreams not at all practical.

Some of her many early jobs include stocking shelves at the UK chemist chain, Boots, manning a shopping centre perfume counter and working as a lifeguard – all unimaginably far from the glamorous lifestyle she is now experiencing.

Diversity in Hollywood

But her breakthrough via the role of Astrid Leong-Teo, a strong, independent woman and a famous actress, in the surprise hit Crazy Rich Asians (2018) proved her father’s view wrong. The film not only became a global phenomenon but also marked a significant milestone for Asian representation in Tinseltown.

In various interviews, Chan has emphasised the importance of diversity in the film industry. She believes in the power of representation and the positive impact it can have on audiences. She says: “When people see themselves on screen, it validates their existence, their experiences, and it tells them that their stories matter.”

Playing celebrated social climber Bess of Hardwick in Mary Queen of Scots (also 2018) was another step toward prominence, and it was swiftly followed by her strong entry into the Marvel universe. Chan has a platform now that she is well-known in the media, and she is using it to every minority’s benefit.

She has been spotted on the red carpet, sporting clothing from Asian designers including Jason Wu, Prabal Gurung, Kenzo, Altuzarra and Adeam. “I was just so moved,” she says.

Power to the Women

Beyond her on-screen presence, Chan has been a vocal advocate for women’s rights and combating gender stereotypes. Spotlighting the need for more complex and diverse female characters, she says: “It’s important to tell stories about women, showing them as fully realised human beings with desires, flaws and dreams.”

She did just that in Captain Marvel, supporting the first standalone female title character (played by Brie Larson) in the Marvel universe in the first Marvel film directed by a woman. Chan also expresses her admiration for Gurung who has been “putting plus-size and transgender models on the runway”. She adds: “I love opening up a magazine and seeing a whole mixture of body types … grey hair, dark skin, wrinkles – we are saying that we find these things beautiful.”

Chan’s passion for empowering women extends beyond her acting career. She has been involved with various organisations, including the Time’s Up movement, to call out sexual harassment, address inequality and promote gender parity in the entertainment industry and beyond. Her advocacy work amplifies marginalised voices and challenges societal norms.

She supports Time’s Up Justice and Equality Fund, the British counterpart of the Legal Defense Fund that assists people challenging workplace sexual harassment and an unequal status quo. Additionally, she collaborated with fellow actor Ruth Wilson and the British Film Institute to conduct educational sessions with more than 400 drama school students on how to spot various forms of power abuse, comprehend nudity clauses, and safeguard oneself from compromising audition scenarios.

“What’s going to be expected of you if you have to do a sex scene? What if you get asked to do something you’re not comfortable with? How can you say no?” asks Chan. “These are things they don’t teach you in drama school.”

To Be Continued

Despite her rising fame, Gemma Chan remains grounded and acknowledges the challenges she has faced. She emphasises the importance of staying true to oneself, stating, “It’s really important to find your own voice and your own path, and to not be afraid of speaking out and saying no.”

With all this activity in her life, from superhuman roles to battling for better industry standards, what could be next on her agenda? She expresses a desire to create more opportunities for underrepresented voices, saying: “I want to be part of making those stories visible, and hopefully, that will inspire someone else to tell their story.”

Elordi in Waiting: Priscilla star Jacob Elordi is rapidly climbing the Hollywood ladder to become Gen Z’s leading man

In the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, where talent and charisma go hand in hand, Jacob Elordi has emerged as a rising star who is captivating audiences worldwide. With his striking looks, undeniable acting prowess and an impressive range of performances, the 26-year-old Australian has quickly made a name for himself in the industry. From his breakout roles in The Kissing Booth films and the hit series Euphoria to being cast as Elvis in the latest exposé of the King of Rock and Roll’s rollercoaster life and loves, he is now one of Tinseltown’s most sought-after talents and a Gen Z idol.

Heart for Art

Born in 1997 in Brisbane, the Gen Z actor showed an interest in the entertainment industry during his childhood. He attended St Joseph’s Nudgee College, a prestigious Catholic school, where he nurtured his acting skills by participating in school productions. After completing high school, he decided to pursue acting professionally and enrolled at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney, which is renowned for producing talented actors.

Having appeared as an extra in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, which was shot on Australia’s Gold Coast, his dedication and commitment to his craft paid off when a year later he secured his first film role, at the age of 21, in the Australian comedy Swinging Safari (2018).

Faces and Phases

Elordi’s international breakthrough happened about the same time, as he was cast as Noah Flynn, the bad boy, in the US teenage romance The Kissing Booth. The film’s popularity got him noticed by Hollywood insiders and he reprised his role in two sequels within the next three years.

Determined to make a bigger name for himself, he relocated to Los Angeles after the first film wrapped in 2017. He stayed on a friend’s couch in the San Fernando Valley for a few weeks, then slept in his 2004 Mitsubishi car on Mulholland Drive.

It was a hit-or-miss period in his young life and Elordi rode his luck. “I wasn’t booking jobs,” he recalls of this uncertain time. “I think I had US$400 or $800 left in my bank account – and Euphoria was my last audition before I went home for a little while to make some money and recuperate.”

Fortunately, the stars were aligned as he landed the part of Nate Jacobs in the groundbreaking series. When it came time to film the pilot, however, Elordi continued to rely on his vehicle. After noticing this less than ideal living arrangement, a producer on the show moved him into a room at the Standard Hotel in West Hollywood. “I got really lucky. Which is just an L.A. story, you know?” he says.

Fairy Revelation

For a heartthrob whose friendships with female co-stars Joey King and Zendaya, model Kaia Gerber and YouTuber Olivia Jade Guiannulli are constantly the subject of media speculation, Elordi was proud to take on a gender-bending persona in his youth. At age 12, he was chosen to play Oberon, King of the Faeries, in a production of the Shakespeare comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As might be expected in an Australian school at that time, he had to wear the thickest of skins to face the bullies.

“I did a play and I was called gay at school,” he says. “When they said I was gay, I remember leaning into the makeup [and thinking] if I’m going to be the King of the Fairies, I’m going to be the f—ing hottest King of the Fairies you’ve ever seen.”

The budding actor was motivated by the homophobic bullying because he wanted to disprove his friends’ beliefs about his passion, rather than rejecting it in favour of hobbies they thought were manlier.

“I’m going to show you that’s bulls—,” he vowed at the time of personal mission. “I could never understand, how could you label anything, ever? How could you label sport as masculine? How does your sexuality inform your prowess as an athlete, or your prowess as a performer?”

Brad Choice

In line with his debut US film, Elordi confesses that his own first kiss experience was one of the most romantic moments of his life. “Train station in East Malvern, in Melbourne, with a girl named Ruby,” he recalls of the encounter. “We met at, I think, 4:20 sharp. It was a date to meet and kiss. It’s probably still one of the most romantic moments in my life.”

His first celebrity crush may be a little more unexpected. “Brad Pitt, Yeah. I think in Troy,” he says, referencing the epic 2004 film in which the celebrated actor, who turns 60 this month, played the mythological ancient Greek warrior Achilles.

“That’s a beautiful man, there’s no denying it.”

Stripped Bare

When it comes to romance, Euphoria treads a more unconventional and daring path than the usual teen dramas. The show, which broke the mould for its depiction of drug use and transgender relationships when it debuted in 2019, has a lot of intimate nude scenes. Elordi, who describes Nate as a “sweet, lovable, relatable, giant, 18-year-old psychopath” says the nudity “comes with the territory of the character” who is in an abusive sexual relationship and that he “kind of [has] no choice” to realise the demands of series creator Sam Levinson’s challenging script.

Magnetic Power

Elordi is currently turning heads as Elvis Presley in the Sofia Coppola film based on Priscilla Presley’s autobiography. When asked if he’s a huge fan of Elvis, the youthful Australian honestly answers no, admitting that the songs in the 2002 Disney animated picture Lilo & Stitch were probably his first exposure to the rock icon’s music.

He was reportedly in a head-to-head battle with Austin Butler – who clinched a Bafta award in Baz Luhrmann’s acclaimed 2022 biopic – for the role of Elvis, but got the nod to step into those famous blue suede shoes. “I thought nobody was going look quite like Elvis, but Jacob has that same type of magnetism. He’s so charismatic, and girls go crazy around him, so I knew he could pull off playing this type of romantic icon,” says Coppola, who wrote, directed and produced Priscilla.

This latest movie is somewhat reflective of Jacob Elordi’s own story – a deft breakthrough performance perfectly poised between youthful fantasy and adult reality.

The Mermaid’s Tale: Halle Bailey makes a splash in the groundbreaking role of Ariel – under the sea and above it

Halle Bailey never anticipated that she would be called for the main role in Disney’s live-action musical adaptation of The Little Mermaid. She believed, Ariel, the Disney princess who gives up her voice and mermaid tail to be with a “spineless, savage, harpooning fish- eater” human – would not be played by an actress who looked like her, despite her obvious credentials. The 23-year-old popstar has been writing music since the age of eight, opened for Beyoncé in Europe at 16, and has five Grammy nominations.

“I love that there’s so much Black diversity on screen now,” she says. “There was a time when we’d barely see locs – and now we have a Disney princess with them. It was super important for me to have my natural hair in this film. I’ve had my locs since I was five, so they’re a huge part of who I am. We need to be able to see ourselves, we need to be able to see our hair on big screens like this so that we know that it’s beautiful and more than acceptable.”

Beyoncé protégé

Before her successful Disney big-screen debut, Bailey was best known as one-half of the sisterly pop duo Chloe x Halle, whose first claim to fame was their YouTube cover of Beyoncé’s Pretty Hurts grabbing the attention of the music legend herself. The song changed the teenagers’ lives, propelling them to overnight prominence. They became the opening acts for both Beyoncé’s The Formation World Tour and Andra Day’s Cheers to the Fall Tour in 2016 and released popular EPs and albums including Uncovered, Sugar Symphony and The Kids Are Alright.

Their musical style, which transcends genres, distinguishes Chloe x Halle, two years her senior, from other artists. “My sister and I would always play mermaid in the pool,” she recalls. “Our first mixtape was called The Two of Us – I think weput it out when I was 15–and on the cover,I’m wearing my favourite mermaid blanket; it’s like a mermaid tail. Looking back, I’m like, that’s so weird. In a way, it was a coincidence. But really, it was the universe or God [giving me] a hint.”

Musical youth

Born in Mableton, Georgia, Halle picked up the cello and violin at a very young age, and like her sister learned how to play the guitar by studying YouTube tutorials. Noticing their musical development, their father, Doug Bailey, became their full-time manager, arranging for the girls – the middle pair of four siblings – to perform in the Atlanta area.

The family relocated to Los Angeles in late 2012 when Halle was 12. Two years later, Chloe x Halle signed with Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment management company and record label. By 2021, the sisters had released two albums and earned a slew of industry accolades.

“One major high would definitely be when my sister and I were nominated for Grammys,” she says. “We sang Where Is the Love by Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack, and that was actually the performance that got me noticed by Little Mermaid director Rob Marshall. It was confirmation for me that my own abilities and belief in myself [is enough]. I believed in myself for the first time.”

Purple patch

In addition, Bailey is a fantastic actress who made her screen debut in the 2006 romantic comedy Last Holiday. She then appeared in the 2012 films Let It Shine and Joyful Noise, and has played Skylar in the American TV sitcom Grown-ish. Completing a hat-trick of films this year is The Line, which premiered a few months before the Disney musical, and the much anticipated The Color Purple, based on the stage musical and Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker.

“I am so excited to be playing young Nettie in The Color Purple. This film has meant a lot to me for a very long time – it’s a Black family staple,” she says. “I also got a chance to write an original song for the film. It’s been really cool to incorporate my artistry into this new world of acting. I’m just so grateful to be a part of the film. I cannot wait for people to see it. I think they’ll love it.”

Breaking the mould

Early this year, when the first pictures of Bailey as Ariel appeared on social media, there was a definite shift toward a new normal that was felt all over the world. The internet was inundated with videos of young Black girls excitedly responding to an Ariel they could identify with. Disney broke the mould when choosing its lead actor, and The Little Mermaid delivered a plethora of surprises appropriate for the new decade. The movie – and Bailey – are taking the responsibility of its global impact seriously.

She says: “My main goal has always been to stay true to myself. There’s so much more to being a young woman than this fairy-tale character. I think other people have a hard time separating who Halle is and who a princess is – and that’s natural when you’re a fan of an artist. But it’s a beautiful thing to be a layered individual and not fit into one certain image.”

Bailey imagines herself working as a nurse, paediatrician or a kindergarten teacher if she had not broken into entertainment. As to whether she ever yearns for the realism seen outside the Hollywood bubble, she remarks: “It’s fun to think about, but honestly, no, because this has been my normal for so long.”

Greater purpose

Instead, she is careful not to let her work as an artist and entertainer distract from the purpose she would like to fulfil. “The awards and the accolades and the people complimenting, it’s all great, but what [am I] here for really?” she ponders. “What am I doing to give it back to God? What am I doing actively to be a better person every single day?”

Arguably, her historic role as Ariel is indeed part of her larger purpose, and something she is – and should be – remarkably proud of. Some people believe that our fate is predetermined. Some people think we can control our own future. But for Halle Bailey, both these factors may have contributed to her extraordinary rise from child prodigy to bona fide Hollywood actress.

Cillian Instinct: Despite his startling eyes and immense talent, actor Cillian Murphy shuns the limelight

Throwback is a new-century buzzword, and old-century proponent Cillian Murphy is one through and through. He has purposefully maintained his obscurity at a time when celebrities openly share their true selves on social media. He doesn’t use X (Twitter) or Instagram; he doesn’t even have a mobile phone or computer. Instead of posing for photos with fans, he approaches them and asks if he can shake their hand, converse with them, or sign something.

He aggressively rejects the notion that he should be renowned and doesn’t even want to be known for anything. And the 43-year-old aims to keep it this way regardless of the hype generated by Oppenheimer, the latest addition to his long catalogue of both artistic films and blockbuster hits. Truly, Murphy nails the quiet masculinity of a man who strikes his own path in life with the air of supreme self-assurance while inwardly dealing with his own moral quandaries.

Early aptitude

The striking Irish actor was born in Douglas, the eldest child of four; his mother was a French teacher and his father worked for the Department of Education. He attended Presentation Brothers College in Cork, and went on to study law at University College Cork but – realising the profession wasn’t for him – left after a year.

His first passion was music, singing and playing the guitar in several bands. He was then wooed by acting, taking roles in student productions and joining the Corcadorca Theatre Company in Cork. He made his professional debut on stage in 1996 in Disco Pigs, a play whose initial six-week run extended into a two-year international tour and was made into a film in 2001.

Having relocated to Dublin and then London to secure theatre work, Murphy was noticed in this first major screen performance by the casting director for Danny Boyle’s post-apocalyptic horror film, 28 Days Later (2002). He landed the star role and earned himself nominations for Best Newcomer at the Empire Awards and Breakthrough Male Performance at the MTV Movie Awards. The acclaim that he didn’t want began in earnest.

Genius revealed

Fast forward to 2023, a time of blockbusters that spotlight women, but there is still something to be said for storylines that let men be men. Particularly if they are brilliant, charismatic men. A prime example of this is Oppenheimer, the epic biopic of the American physicist who designed the atomic bomb.

Ten years earlier, a BBC series headlined by Murphy changed television forever. Peaky Blinders combined the intriguing genres of historical fiction, gangster drama and psychological thriller to create an irresistible hybrid. Much like in Oppenheimer, a brilliant man finds himself thrust into a position of power while on his own (dubiously moral) mission, and whether that’s pushing the boundaries of science to develop a weapon of mass destruction or taking out his enemies one by one, you can’t help but root for him.

Piercing eye

Murphy’s signature looks, most notably his piercing blue eyes, have drawn in audiences around the world. It appears that his Oppenheimer co-stars were also affected by this mesmerising gaze. “It’s a real problem when you’re doing scene work with Cillian,” said Matt Damon. “Sometimes you find yourself just swimming in his eyes.” Emily Blunt added: “It’s like that Ocean Eyes song by Billie Eilish. We just hum it all day.”

The choice to cast Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer was a straightforward one, according to the film’s director Christopher Nolan. “I’d been staring at the cover of the book American Prometheus [Oppenheimer’s biography] for so many months, and there’s this photograph, black and white, a light blue-eyed stare, very intense, of this guy,” says Nolan. “And I thought, ‘Well, I know who could do that.’”

Murphy has appeared in six of Nolan’s films, but this is the first in which he plays the lead. The filmmaker reportedly admitted to being originally captivated by Murphy’s “crazy eyes” when casting him as the evil Scarecrow in Batman Begins (2005), beginning an 18-plus year collaboration. He portrayed the petulant heir of a business magnate in Inception (2010) and appeared as a traumatised soldier in Dunkirk (2017).

Consequently, the public perception of the actor is that because he is usually a little spooky onscreen, and we almost never see him off- screen, he must be kind of a creepy guy. But there’s really more than meets the eye.

Oscar buzz

The actor delivers a powerhouse performance in Oppenheimer. It’s a complex role and Murphy soars in it. It will surely result in Murphy’s first- ever Oscar bid, but unlike the Golden Globe Best Actor nod he received for playing a transgender woman in Breakfast on Pluto (2005), many critics think that it will go one better than the nomination and he will win on his first try.

His Oppenheimer silhouette is one of the most striking cinematic images of the year. Blunt has said he ate only one almond a day in preparation for the role. While he hasn’t revealed his exact diet, Murphy did say: “I love acting with my body, and Oppenheimer had a very distinct physicality and silhouette, which I wanted to get right. I had to lose quite a bit of weight, and we worked with the costume and tailoring; he was very slim, almost emaciated, existed on martinis and cigarettes.”

His dedication to the role also extended to learning 3,000 words of Dutch over one weekend. He shares: “I used to set aside, ‘I’ll work on this for a week and I’ll work on that for a week.’”

Cult of obscurity

He has rigorously assembled a creative body of work on his own admirable terms. One consequence of those choices is that his career has been spent further from the white-hot centre of show business than his talent would suggest; he’s remained purposefully guarded against the notoriety that he finds antithetical to creative success (not to mention personal happiness).

Oppenheimer, though, as a box-office giant has changed all that. It displays the full breadth of his gifts – and has earned him a level of fame he finds completely mortifying.

Taylor to Perfection: Beyond the guitar strum, blonde locks and sold-out concerts, there is plenty of substance to Taylor Swift’s striking silhouette

It was music for Taylor Swift and Taylor Swift for music at the get-go. The country star turned pop star royalty showed a passion for music at a young age and quickly advanced from parts in children’s theatre to performing in front of a large audience. Before a Philadelphia 76ers basketball game at age 11, she sang The Star-Spangled Banner and the following year she picked up the guitar and started writing songs.

Swift created original music that expressed her experiences of tween alienation by drawing inspiration from country-music performers like Shania Twain and the Dixie Chicks. Her parents, supportive of her ambition for a musical career, sold their farm in Pennsylvania when she was 13 and relocated to Hendersonville, Tennessee, so she could attract the attention of country labels in nearby Nashville.

Swift met recording-industry veterans through a development arrangement with RCA Records, and in 2004, when she was 14 years old, she signed with Sony/ ATV as a songwriter. She frequently played her own songs at venues in the Nashville region, and it was during one of these performances that record executive Scott Borchetta took note.

Swift was recruited by Borchetta to his budding Big Machine label, and in the summer of 2006, she released her debut single, Tim McGraw, which was heavily influenced by the teenager’s favourite country musician. And the rest, including her chart-topping discographies, as they say, is history (her story in that case).

Voice for feminism

When the Grammy Award-winning music video – full of strong women kicking ass – for her iconic hit Bad Blood came back to back with her topping Maxim’s 2015 Hot 100 list, she took a moment to speak out about feminism and equality: “A man writing about his feelings from a vulnerable place is brave; a woman writing about her feelings from a vulnerable place is oversharing or whining. Misogyny is ingrained in people from the time they are born. So, to me, feminism is probably the most important movement that you could embrace, because it’s just basically another word for equality.”

At the same time, Swift faced criticism for penning too many songs in the past about her ex-boyfriends and other intimate relationships. She finds this critique anti-feminist and no longer has time for it. “When I was a teenager, I would hear people talk about sexism in the music industry, and I’d be like, I don’t see it. I don’t understand. Then I realised that was because I was a kid,” she explains.

“I didn’t see myself being held back until I was a woman. Or the double standards in headlines, the double standards in the way stories are told, the double standards in the way things are perceived.” She used her 2019 song The Man to emphasise how women and men are treated differently in the industry.

Political pride

Taylor also wants people to know that she supports the LGBTQ community, having received criticism of inaction in this regard. She claims she has consistently supported the movement through her work and charitable contributions. Clarifying her viewpoint, she says: “I didn’t realise until recently that I could advocate for a community that I’m not a part of. It’s hard to know how to do that without being so fearful of making a mistake that you just freeze.”

You Need To Calm Down, the smash-hit single from her 2019 album Lover, highlights her support of the LGBTQ community. The music video features Katy Perry, Ellen DeGeneres and iconic drag queens. The whole Lover catalogue was released at midnight on June 1, the beginning of Pride Month, when Swift introduced a petition in support of the US federal Equality Act. This legislation would amend the Civil Rights Act to outlaw discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

Swift also posted a letter to the Republican Lamar Alexander, then the US Senator from Tennessee, asking him to vote yes. The request, on her personal letterhead, denounced President Donald Trump for not supporting the Equality Act. “I personally reject the president’s stance,” Swift wrote. Need she say more?

Unfashionable authenticity

Since breaking into the public eye in 2006 as a 16-year-old wunderkind, Swift has become one of the most commercially successful singers of all time. Last year, her songs received 36.6 billion streams, but her aesthetic has never attracted the same kind of attention. Unlike her contemporaries, she isn’t necessarily a fashion icon. She rarely attends Fashion Week and frequently misses the Met Gala. She favours light-blue wash denim shorts, a faded pink vest and unassuming sneakers.

Despite being quite nondescript, this style is notable for how Taylor Swift really is. Her attire suggests that she may be performing at a local talent show even though she is playing to tens of thousands of fans on a stadium tour. Lots of slogan T-shirts, sparkly bodysuits and prom dresses with meringue skirts. Her current tour, dubbed Eras, is a retrospective of the outfits from each of her 10 studio albums.

However, a lack of fashion cred is not always a terrible thing. She is a sincere and cinematic hitmaker who effortlessly navigates embarrassing confessionals on Lover and small- town stagnation on Midnight (2022). All of this is done with an unfashionable authenticity.

Swift is portrayed in pop culture as the wise best friend that her followers wish they had when they were teenagers (the Swifties actually exchange friendship bracelets). She is someone who may have covered their eyelids in glitter after being rejected by their preferred prom date, a person who would take great satisfaction in creating the ideal ‘heartbreak’ sundae with heaped piles of whipped cream, Oreos and chocolate syrup.

Swift’s songwriting, in contrast to that of so many of her peers, is more likely to make references to her pet cats and a home-for- the-holidays crush than a Hermès bag. And this ordinariness resonates with many more people than perhaps she ever imagined when she first visited Nashville as a child and dreamed of making it big.

Euphoric Rise: Zendaya, the youngest Emmy award winner

At just 24, Zendaya already has a Marvel role, an Emmy and a certified platinum song under her belt

At an age where most people are only just starting to navigate their career paths, 24-year-old American actress and singer Zendaya just took home the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in the smash hit HBO show, Euphoria. She’s the youngest actress in history to win the award, beating out stiff competition from Tinseltown veterans like Laura Linney, Sandra Oh and Jennifer Aniston. She has also been lauded for playing the straight-talking MJ in Marvel’s wildly successful Spider-Man franchise, released two hit albums and recorded a platinum-selling song – Rewrite the Stars, from the soundtrack of the 2017 musical drama The Greatest Showman. The world, it seems, just can’t get enough of Zendaya.

Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman – to give her full name – was born on September 1, 1996, as the only child of teachers Claire Marie Stoermer and Kazembe Ajamu, a.k.a. Samuel David Coleman. Painfully shy from the get-go, she was forced to repeat kindergarten in order to socially acclimatise with her schoolmates. At six, she was introduced to acting when she and two of her friends, the only black children at their private school, convinced the principal to allow them to perform a play for Black History Month. “I was Bessie Coleman,” she remembers, “My friends were Harriet Tubman and Madam C.J. Walker. We just felt we needed to raise awareness about the importance of these women.”

From that day on, Zendaya was smitten. Every summer, she would accompany her mom to her second job at the California Shakespeare Theater, acting in several of their productions. She also signed up for dance lessons and joined a dance troupe for three years. Her first taste of stardom, though, came when she landed one of the lead roles of Disney Channel’s Shake It Up in 2010. By the time she graduated high school, the multi-talented teen had starred in two more Disney TV shows, penned an inspirational book for tweens titled Between U and Me, and released a solo album featuring a song, Replay, that went platinum. She also starred in season 16 of Dancing with the Stars at 16 years old – then the youngest-ever contestant on the show – and wound up finishing strong in second place.

The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes On Fashion - Arrivals — Zendaya and Law Roach at the 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for THR)

Never one to rest on her laurels, Zendaya also found time in her busy schedule to indulge her love of all things sartorial. In 2016, she found her own clothing line, Daya by Zendaya, and also starred as a guest judge on the 15th season of Project Runway. Two years later, she was signed by fashion label Tommy Hilfiger as its global women’s ambassador and collaboratively released several Tommy Hilfiger x Zendaya capsule collections.

71st Emmy Awards - Arrivals — Zendaya at the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

The crowning achievement of her young life, though, possibly came earlier this year, when she nabbed the coveted Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her leading role as Rue in the HBO hit series Euphoria. Loosely based on the Israeli TV show of the same name, Euphoria delivers a vibrant, almost brutal depiction of contemporary US high school life, burnished with the very real issues of social media, drugs and more. Zendaya was lauded in all corners for her gritty portrayal of the reckless recovering teen drug addict, with The Guardian calling her performance “mesmerising” and “astonishing”, and The New Yorker even dubbing her “the best part” of the series.

“Although Euphoria was amazing and exciting, it was also extremely stressful. It gave me anxiety every week”

Eager to give back, the actress has found a unique way to raise funds and awareness for different causes – by using her birthday as a means to raise funds for worthy initiatives. When she turned 18, she partnered with Convoy of Hope – a philanthropic relief organization with whom she has been connected since 2012 – to raise money to feed over 100 malnourished children in Haiti, the Philippines, and Tanzania. The following year, following a trip to South Africa with UN AIDS, she hosted another fundraising project, this time to help the country’s AIDS orphans. To celebrate turning 20, Zendaya once again teamed up with Convoy of Hope, this time managing to raise US$50,000 for the organization’s Women’s Empowerment Initiative.

Spider-Man: Far From Home Premiere — Zendaya attends the Premiere of “Spider-Man Far From Home” at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Glenn Francis/Pacific Pro Digital Photography)

Speaking about her passion for charitable and social endeavors, she says, “I don’t just sing, dance, and act because I love it,” she says. “You have to have a purpose, and mine is to connect with the world, to get across messages that are important. I’d much rather be known for leaving a little stamp of positivity on one person’s life than for the last project that I did.”

“I’d much rather be known for leaving a little stamp of positivity on one person’s life than for the last project that I did”

She still does, however, have multiple projects looming on the horizon, with her next high-profile appearance set to be in the upcoming remake of Frank Herbert’s cult science-fiction novel Dune (2021) alongside co-star Timothée Chalamet. She has also reunited with Euphoria director Sam Levinson in the upcoming drama Malcolm & Marie, a production that was shot in secret during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Perhaps her most anticipated silver screen return, though, is the reprisal of her beloved role as MJ in the as-yet untitled third sequel of the Spider-Man franchise, set for release in 2021. After that, the path seems less clear, though given Zendaya’s smart choices – both onscreen and in the charity sphere – chances are her star can only continue to rise.

Text: Tenzing Thondup

Photos: Dominic Miller, Bulgari