Zendaya Opens Up About The Pressures Of Dealing With Fame: 'This Part Isn't Natural'
While promoting Dune 2 at a recent screening event in New York City, alongside the film's director Denis Villeneuve and her co-stars Austin Butler and Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya opened up about the pressures and challenges of dealing with fame.
The conversation was moderated by journalist Erik Davis, who opened up questions from the audience to the stars. One attendee commented on the similarities between the warnings of the film's Messianic cult and the current state of celebrity fandoms in society today.
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Before Zendaya answered, Chalamet, who plays Paul Atreides, jokingly stated: 'If I start answering, you guys need to answer too though', to which Zendaya replied: 'I'll have your back, I gotcha.'
The Challengers and The Greatest Showman actor revealed the struggles she faces with being a global celebrity. 'I feel like, often, I am not cut out for that part of it,' Zendaya said. 'I do love my job, I'm so grateful. I love doing the work, I love being on set, I do love moments like this — don't get me wrong, but I am terrified of that part of it, often,' she said.
She also revealed how fashion has played an important part in her journey. 'I was a shy kid, always have been, and so this part isn't natural — that is a huge reason why fashion became important to me because it became like armour to pretend to go out and do the job.'
The star's long-term stylist Law Roach has been a major credit to evolving Zendaya into not only a major actor, but also an equally successful name in the fashion industry.
Zendaya then discussed how she wants to be viewed as a person before anything else. 'I don't necessarily know if I want or can handle all of that or want [that] — some people that's part of it, they enjoy the power that comes from it, and I don't know if that's for me,' she said.
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