Content Advisory: This article discusses celebrity romance rumors, fashion photography, and comments about race and on-screen representation. Reader discretion is advised.
Zendaya is giving fans plenty to talk about, from a striking new Elle photoshoot to rare comments about Tom Holland.
The 29-year-old actress appears on Elle’s Summer 2026 ‘The Epic Issue’ as part of the magazine’s feature on the women of Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film ‘The Odyssey’, which hits theaters on July 17. The shoot features Zendaya alongside Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, and Charlize Theron, with Elle spotlighting how the women around Odysseus shape his journey.
Zendaya’s photoshoot quickly drew attention online for its darker, sharper, and more dramatic mood. Fans praised the styling, the tones, and the way she carried the images.
One commenter wrote, “She gives more than most models these days,” while another said, “If she had chosen modeling instead of acting she would absolutely be a supermodel.” Another fan simply called her “magnificent.”
Zendaya’s Elle Shoot Gets Fans Talking
Elle’s Instagram post described Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ as a major attempt to bring Homer’s epic poem to the big screen, with a cast full of A-list stars.
Zendaya plays Athena in the film, and the magazine positioned her alongside the other actresses as part of the mythological world influencing Odysseus’ long journey home.
The shoot leaned into a raw, cinematic feel rather than soft glamour. With Law Roach styling and Norman Jean Roy behind the camera, Zendaya’s cover story immediately became another reminder that her fashion presence remains one of the strongest in Hollywood.
Fans also joked about her role, with one asking whether the shoot was giving Athena or “Zathena.”
Zendaya Calls Tom Holland Her Best Friend
Inside the interview, Zendaya also opened up about working with Tom Holland on both ‘The Odyssey’ and ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’.
Speaking about Holland, she described the experience as deeply personal.
“I could have cried, I was so proud,” she said.
Then she turned to ‘Spider-Man’, calling it a dream because she gets to work with “my best friend, the person that I love.”
Zendaya added that the set feels like home because the pair grew up through those movies together.
“We bring our dogs to work; it’s like a family affair,” she said. “It’s like coming home.”
Zendaya Shuts Down Marriage Rumors
Zendaya also addressed the speculation around a gold band on her ring finger and whether she would confirm rumors that she and Holland are married.
Her answer was blunt. “No, I’m not going to do that,” she said. “They’re always searching for something.”
That response fits the way Zendaya and Holland have handled their relationship for years. They rarely feed the rumor cycle directly, but small details still send fans into overdrive.
This time, she gave enough to confirm affection, while refusing to hand over the private details people keep chasing.
Zendaya Talks Age, Work, And Complicated Roles
Zendaya also reflected on how busy her schedule has become. She recalled filming a night shoot for ‘Euphoria’ while learning Chakobsa lines for ‘Dune’ and preparing for a quick turnaround trip to Iceland for ‘The Odyssey’.
“It’s not like I have a lot of lines in ‘The Odyssey’, but I was working with Christopher Nolan!” she said.
She also spoke about wanting more layered roles for Black women on-screen.
“I am drawn to complicated characters who I have to earn the audience’s empathy and trust for,” she said. “I want to expand the roles someone like me is allowed to do, or can do.”
Speaking about Athena, Zendaya said the role carries “a real heaviness” and “a real responsibility,” especially because the story connects to how people see, or fail to see, the humanity in others.
Between the Elle shoot, the Nolan role, and her rare Tom Holland comments, Zendaya gave fans a lot without giving away too much. That may be exactly why people keep watching.
