Zendaya is offering a rare look into her personal life with fiancé Tom Holland, sharing what it’s like splitting her time between the U.S. and the U.K. while building both a relationship and a career.
The 29-year-old actress spoke about her partner in a new interview with the Daily Mirror, published Saturday, where she described Holland as her “favorite person to work with” and opened up about how the couple balances love, work, and privacy.
Zendaya addressed how some might assume working alongside your partner could be uncomfortable, but for her, it’s the opposite.
“Honestly, I know people might think it's awkward,” she said. “On set, he has this huge calming presence that not only puts me at ease but also everybody he works with.”
She went on to add: “I might be a little biased but he is not only my favorite person, he is my favorite person to work with.”
While the pair enjoy spending time together both professionally and personally, Zendaya emphasized that they are intentional about protecting their private life.
“Neither of us want to hide and not live our lives and do normal things, like go out for dinner, but at the same time, we want to protect our privacy.
You have to accept that to a degree, some aspects of your privacy are going to be out of your control. But the parts that are in our control, we fiercely protect.”
When they’re not on set, the couple divides their time between Holland’s place in Richmond, West London, and Zendaya’s longtime home in California.
Born in Oakland and raised in Southern California, Zendaya admitted she’s grown especially fond of life in England — though not without a few humorous complaints.
“I think because so much of our work is in LA, [the UK] can't be a permanent home right now, but it does feel like a home to me,” she shared.
“When I go to the UK, I don't feel like a visitor anymore. I understand British slang, I get the culture, and I know a ‘nice cup of tea’ makes everything right. It really feels like coming home, and I love the people. But I will never understand the fascination with Jaffa Cakes. They just don't make sense to me,” she joked.
Zendaya did, however, praise one particular part of British cuisine.
“One thing you guys do really well is Indian food,” she said, recalling a recent outing with Holland and his family. “We went to see a show just before Christmas and we had the best curry.”
The actress also reflected on how starting her career young shaped her perspective on privacy.
“I have a really complicated relationship when it comes to starting in the industry so young,” said the former Disney Channel star. “On one hand, I am grateful for the opportunities and experience; then, on the other, there is no doubt I missed out on a lot of regular teenage stuff.”
She credited her parents for helping her navigate fame early on, adding, “My parents were and are super protective of me. I wouldn't have been able to navigate being in the industry at such a young age without them.”
Zendaya and Holland first met in 2016 on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming, sparking romance rumors the following year before confirming their relationship in 2021.
Now, the couple is set to reunite onscreen once again, starring together in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, arriving July 17, as well as the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, set for release July 31.