Emmy Award-winning actress Zendaya was the runner-up in the 16th season of Dancing with the Stars back in 2013, with singer Kellie Pickler and her partner, Derek Hough, finishing first. Though this was a remarkable feat for the then 17-year-old, she admits she doesn't watch the show.
In an interview on Entertainment Weekly's podcast The Awardist that dropped on Thursday, October 3, Zendaya, now 28, looked back on her time on Dancing with the Stars, on which, she competed with dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy. She described competing on the show as "a very stressful experience" and his since realized that perhaps the show wasn't for her.
"I didn't really watch Dancing with the Stars before I was on Dancing with the Stars. I don't think I was the target demographic," she said. "My grandma loves Dancing with the Stars. That's her bag."
Since Dancing with the Stars, Zendaya has gone on to star in big film and television roles, including MJ in the Spider-Man franchise, Shani in Dune, Tashi in Challengers, and Rue on HBO's Euphoria. The lattermost has earned her two Emmy awards for Lead Actress in a Drama Series — the first time in 2020 and again in 2022.
Though Zendaya doesn't seem to remember her Dancing with the Stars days fondly, Chmerkovskiy has always spoken highly of the actress. After her first Emmy win in 2020, Chmerkovskiy gave her a shoutout on Instagram, and noted that this win was just the beginning for her.
"...I remember telling her that one day you'll be winning an Oscar and part of the reason why will be this feeling of defeat you feel right now," said Chmerkovskiy. "A few L's will teach you lifelong lessons you'll turn into dubs real soon. It was definitely not said this eloquently nor sound remotely as cool, and it isn't an Oscar yet, but I always knew you were special. Our season on DWTS, and now your continued success since has brought me ridiculous amount of joy."
According to several reports, Euphoria will begin filming its third season in January 2025.
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